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Chinese Religion Summary

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In "Chinese Religion" by Laurence G. Thompson, it covers traditional Chinese religion from the family level of religion, the community level religion, Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. The book starts with explaining traditional Chinese religion, dealing with the types of ceremonies and the way the family unit worships the divine world around them like the small gods of the home, the gods of the earth, and the sky. It also talks about ancestors' worship and how they put a lot of devotion to ancestry worship because that's really important in the Chinese philosophy and in the Chinese religion. Then it takes it up a level to the community religion. The religion of farming and fishing and overall weather patterns and the way the Chinese use …show more content…

The name of Lao Tzu means old master or masters and his writings the Tao Te Ching may be a collection of the Chinese philosophies of the time. The Tao Te Ching is filled with wonderful insights about how to be one with the Tao, Harmony, the way, nature and how to live a life of wisdom. For instance, it speaks of living a simple life, free of vanity, of riches, humility, pacifism, and naturalism. There is almost a stoic message in this text, one which encourages one to embrace life as it unfolds and thus to live a worry free peaceful life. There are three types of Taoism, the first is philosophical Taoism, that focuses on the philosophy of the Tao teaching. The second kind of Taoism is yoga Taoism, which tries to maximize Qi or energy by altering one's diet, utilizing movement or exercise in the form of Tai Chi, and focusing one's mind in the form of meditation. The third form is Taoism is religion Taoism, it was concentrated on shamanism and magic and is really blending of this Chinese philosophy with the occult. While Taoism, especially the philosophical version zeroes in how to live a life with the Tao, both transcendent and eminent in

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