Download Ancient Chinese Religion

Ancient Chinese Religion
In the Shang Dynasty (about 2000 BC), the earliest period we know much about,
people in China worshipped a lot of different gods - weather gods and sky gods - and
also a higher god who ruled over the other gods, called Shang-Ti. People who lived
during the Shang Dynasty also believed that their ancestors - their parents and
grandparents - became like gods when they died, and that their ancestors wanted to be
worshipped too, like gods. Each family worshipped their own ancestors.
By the time of the Chou Dynasty (about 1100 BC), the Chinese were also
worshipping a natural force called t'ien, which we usually translate as Heaven. Like
Shang-Ti, Heaven ruled over all the other gods. Heaven also decided who would be
the Emperor or Empress of China. The emperor or empress could only rule as long as
he or she had the Mandate of Heaven (as long as Heaven wanted him or her to rule).
You knew when the emperor or empress had lost the Mandate of Heaven because he
or she would then be overthrown by somebody else who would become the new
empress or emperor.
Around 600 BC, under the Eastern Chou Dynasty, and for the next two hundred years,
there were a lot of new ideas in Chinese religion. First, a Chinese philosopher named
Lao Tzu (he may be mythical) created the philosophy of Taoism, which became very
popular. Taoism holds that people should not try to get their way by force, but
through compromise and using natural forces in their favor. It is partly a philosophy,
and partly a religious faith. Taoists believe that there is a universal force flowing
through all living things, and that respecting that force is essential to a happy life.
Not long after Lao Tzu, another Chinese scholar called Confucius created a different
philosophical system we call Confucianism, which disagreed with Taoism but also
became very popular. Confucianism holds that people should do their duty and follow
their leaders and the gods faithfully. Order is the way to peace. If everyone just does
what they are told, and what they are supposed to do, there won't be any fighting and
nobody will be upset.
But these new philosophies did not end the old religious practices. Everybody kept on
worshipping their ancestors and the traditional Chinese gods, and they kept on
believing in the Mandate of Heaven.
Summarise the different religions during these four
different dynasties in the boxes on the next page. Put
a dot point note for each number.
Shang Dynasty
1 people
in China
worshipped a lot of
different gods
2a
higher god who ruled
over the other gods
Chou Dynasty
1 ),
the Chinese were also
worshipping a natural
force called t'ien, which
we usually translate as
Heaven
2.
Like Shang-Ti, Heaven
3 . People who lived
ruled over all the other
during the Shang Dynasty gods
also believed that their
ancestors
3 Heaven also decided
who would be the
4 their parents and
Emperor or Empress of
grandparents - became
China.
like gods when they died
4 The emperor or empress
5 their ancestors wanted
could only rule as long as
to be worshipped too, like he or she had the
gods.
Mandate of Heaven (as
long as Heaven wanted
6 Each family worshipped
him or her to rule).
their own ancestors.
5 You knew when the emperor or
empress had lost the Mandate of Heaven
because he or she would then be
overthrown by somebody else who would
become the new empress or emperor.
7
6
7
Eastern Chou Dynasty
Confucius
1 Around
600 BC, under
the Eastern Chou
Dynasty, and for the next
two hundred years, there
were a lot of new ideas in
Chinese religion
1 Not
long after Lao Tzu,
another Chinese scholar
called Confucius created
a different philosophical
system we call
Confucianism,
2.
First, a Chinese
2 it , which disagreed with
philosopher named Lao
Taoism but also became
Tzu (he may be mythical) very popular.
3 created
the philosophy
of Taoism, which became
very popular.
4 Taoism
holds that
people should not try to
get their way by force,
5 through
compromise
and using natural forces
in their favor
6 It
3 Confucianism
holds that
people should do their
duty and follow their
leaders and the gods
faithfully
4 Order
is the way to
peace
5 If everyone just does what they are
told, and what they are supposed to do,
there won't be any fighting and nobody
will be upset.
is partly a philosophy,
6 these new philosophies
and partly a religious
did not end the old
faith.
religious practices
7 Taoists believe that
7 Everybody kept on worshipping their
there is a universal force ancestors and the traditional Chinese
and they kept on believing in the
flowing through all living gods,
Mandate of Heaven.
things, and that
respecting that force is
essential to a happy life.