Confucianism, Daoism, and Shinto

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Confucianism 

 

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In this section you will learn about the origins of Confucianism and how it's changed over time, the importance of kinship, and the value of respecting the flow of nature and its seasons. 

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Introduction: Confucian Statement on Ecology 

"Confucianism sees its primary role to be the promotion of education designed to enable people to become truly human. Its purpose is the cultivation of a virtuous, responsible and caring person. Learning to be genuinely..." Read More & Listen to Mary Evelyn Tucker 7.png

 

Daoism 

 

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In this section you will read sections from Daoism's sacred text, the Dao, which describe what the Dao is and how to embody its principles. You will also learn about the Ecoological Temple Network and what its doing to promote ecological living.

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Introduction: The Daoist Faith Statement  

"There are four main principles that should guide the relationship between humanity and nature: 1) In the Dao De Jing (TaoTe Ching), the basic classic of Daoism, there is this verse: “Humanity follows the Earth, the Earth..." Read More & Listen to Joseph Pau 6.png

 

Shinto

 

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In this section you will learn about the connection between nature and the earliest Shinto shrines and read a Shinto prayer, poem, and words of wisdom from two Shinto poets.

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Introduction: The Shinto Faith Statement on Nature 

In the beginning of the universe there appeared various Kami, or deities, from the chaos. A pair of male and female deities appeared at the end and gave birth first to the islands, their natural environment, and then to... Read & Listen to Ken Kitatani 5.png

 

Getting A Sounding: Voices from Around the World

 

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Questions for Classroom & Community

 

  • In Confucian philosophy, our humanness (jen) causes us to have the “inability to bear” the suffering of another, including animals, and the material world.  What are some strategies we can avoid being overwhelmed by those feelings into inaction and instead be motivated to protect what we feel is suffering? 

  • According to the Confucian view, all humans are innately good and have seeds of virtue which need to be cultivated.  How would embracing this point of view change the way you relate to others?    

  • What are some ways that you might, in the Daoist sense, obey the earth in its “rule of movement?” 

  • How might someone learn what the earth can sustain— in terms of actions or ways of living – that aligns with the Daoist imperative to preserve harmony and balance in nature? What does it look like to live in a way that preserves harmony and balance in the world around you?  

  • How might we relate to the earth and nature in the “the spirit of reverence and gratitude” as the Shinto tradition encourages? 

  • What practices of purification do you do regularly (or on special occasions), that a follower of Shinto may see as a spiritual act? If you don’t currently do any purification practices, how could you incorporate one into your daily life? 

 

Additional Resources

Interested in learning more? Explore the additional resources below:


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