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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.