World Religions - Chapter 7: Encountering Daoism and Confucianism: Two Views of the Eternal Way
Note: This is a reading guide, not a study guide. Complete it while you read. It directs you to specific passages, keeps you engaged, and helps you gather evidence as you move through the chapter. The goal is comprehension and evidence-gathering, not review.
World religions can involve unfamiliar beliefs, practices, historical developments, texts, and ways of understanding the world. This guide will help you identify the chapter's most important concepts so that by the time you finish reading, you will have a solid grasp of the material and be prepared for the Chapter Quiz.
Step 1: Go to each page indicated. Find the sentence using the opening words provided, then type the entire sentence verbatim into the matching evidence box. Step 2: Answer the review question in your own words using the anchor sentences and the surrounding textbook passage as evidence. No outside research is needed or permitted.
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Question 1
Section:
China before the Rise of Daoism and Confucianism (ca. 3000-500 B.C.E.)
Anchor 2 - Page 159: Find the sentence beginning with: “When the dead…”
What role did the practice of feng shui play in ancient Chinese religion?
Focus Areas for Students: Review the origins of this practice in the Shang dynasty. Note what it was originally used for and how the flow of energy was believed to affect the spirits of the deceased and their living families.
How did the concept of Tian (Heaven) change during the Zhou dynasty?
Focus Areas for Students: Review the shift in religious beliefs about heaven that occurred between the early Chinese periods and the Zhou dynasty. Note how the idea of a personal god transformed into an impersonal cosmic force.
Question 3
Section:
Confucius and the Origins of Confucianism (551-479 B.C.E.)
Anchor 2 - Page 164: Find the sentence beginning with: “Confucius's sense of…”
What role did Confucius see himself playing regarding Chinese history and culture?
Focus Areas for Students: Review the textbook's description of Confucius's relationship with antiquity. Consider whether he saw himself as a creator of new revolutionary ideas or a preserver of old traditions.
Question 4
Section:
The Near-Destruction and Revival of Daoism (1644-1980)
Anchor 1 - Page 163: Find the sentence beginning with: “During the Great…”
What happened to Daoism during the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution?
Focus Areas for Students: Review the actions taken by the Chinese communist government under Mao Zedong between 1966 and 1976. Note the specific impacts on Daoist monks, temples, and the practice of the religion as a whole.
What were the main features of the Daoist teaching of wu wei?
Focus Areas for Students: Review the definition of this term, which is sometimes translated as "nonaction." Note what it actually requires a person to do in relation to the natural world and their own desires.
Why is the concept of filial piety (xiao) significant in Confucian ethics?
Focus Areas for Students: Review the definition of this key Confucian virtue. Consider what duties it places on children regarding both the living and the dead, and what inner attitude Confucius demanded to accompany it.
Question 7
Section:
Confucian Ethics: The "Perfect Man" (Junzi)
Anchor 1 - Page 177: Find the sentence beginning with: “The term junzi…”
Anchor 2 - Page 177: Find the sentence beginning with: “More than any…”
What are the main features of the junzi in Confucianism?
Focus Areas for Students: Review the literal meaning and the practical meaning of this term. Consider what kind of person it describes and how someone attains this status in Confucian society.
Question 8
Section:
Daoist Views of Qi
Anchor 1 - Page 169: Find the sentence beginning with: “Qi is the…”
What role does qi play in the Daoist understanding of the human body?
Focus Areas for Students: Review the definition of this cosmic energy. Note how a person acquires it, how it moves through the body, and its direct relationship to human health.
Question 9
Section:
The Traditional Chinese Funeral
Anchor 1 - Page 180: Find the sentence beginning with: “It still reflects…”
Anchor 2 - Page 180: Find the sentence beginning with: “Symbolic paper money…”
Why are traditional Chinese funerals important to Daoists and Confucianists?
Focus Areas for Students: Review the religious activities that take place in the home during a period of mourning. Consider the specific offerings made to the deceased and why they are necessary for the afterlife.
Question 10
Section:
Daoist Teachings on the Dao
Anchor 1 - Page 170: Find the sentence beginning with: “The important thing…”
Anchor 2 - Page 170: Find the sentence beginning with: “The Dao is…”
What are the main features of the Dao in Daoist teaching?
Focus Areas for Students: Review why the Dao cannot be fully described in words. Focus on how it guides the universe and human life, its relationship to the natural world, and why Daoists do not consider it a god.
Anchor 2 - Page 183: Find the sentence beginning with: “As a result,…”
What are the main features of Confucius Institutes in North America?
Focus Areas for Students: Review the purpose and funding source of these modern institutions. Consider how they promote Confucian values without operating as traditional religious temples.