RELIGION AND

BELIEFS IN
ANCIENT CHINA
YEAR 9 ELECTIVE

Mandate of Heaven
(Because China was under Heaven)
The "Mandate of Heaven" is an ancient Chinese philosophical concept,
which originated during the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BCE).
The Mandate determines whether an emperor of China is sufficiently
virtuous to rule; if he does not fulfil his obligations as emperor, then he
loses the Mandate and thus the right to be emperor.

There are four principles to the Mandate:

1) Heaven grants the emperor the right to rule,
2) Since there is only one Heaven, there can only be one emperor
at any given time,
3) The emperor's virtue determines his right to rule, and,
4) No one dynasty has a permanent right to rule.

Ancestor Worship
Ancestor worship is a ritual practice that is based on the belief
that deceased family members have a continued existence, take
an interest in the affairs of the world, and possess the ability to
influence the fortune of the living.
Worshipping ancestors and past kings
The social or nonreligious function of ancestor worship is "to
cultivate kinship values like, family loyalty, and continuity of the
family lineage.
This belief system began in the late Neolithic period (XIA
dynasty)

MYTHS
Ancient Chinese had myths about creation and how the world came to
exist.
One myth is that at the beginning there was nothing in the universe
then appeared water, heaven, earth, wind, spirits etc.
Another myth is of a man called Pan Gu which create the world and its
elements, the more he grew the more balanced Yin and Yang became.
Most ancient Chinese myths tell stories about the land and how they
came to be.

CHINESE
ASTRONOMY
Ancient Chinese civilizations used to follow and interpret
the stars. They believed that heaven expressed itself with
the changes of its face (the night sky).
Messages could be interpreted through astronomical
changes such as planets lining up, this would mean that a
dynasty is about to end. This waa the case at the end of
the Shang dynasty in 1059BC and in 205BC with the fall of
the Qin and rise of the Han.

SPIRITS AND GHOSTS

Chinese people believed in the afterlife (Life after death).

Spirits went to Heaven and ghosts roamed the earth and caused
trouble until they found their rightful place.
A Chinese person had a Po (physical body) and Hun ( their spirit).
Proper funerals and rituals would ensure that the Po and Hun stick
together and are bound with a jade plug at the mouth.

CONFUCIUS (551-479BC)

Not a religion, but Confucius is a Philosophy or way of thought/ belief system

Chinas most famous teacher, philosopher, and

political theorist, whose ideas have influenced the
civilization of East Asia.
Believed that the Zhou dynasty was the perfect
system of government and society.
Confucius developed a philosophy (idea) for every
relationship in society.
Everyone in society had a role and kings must be
just to their empire.

http://www.britannica.com/biography/Confucius

Taoism/ Daoism
Translated The Way

(No date for when it began as it emerged from existing beliefs)

Developed my philosopher Lao Zi
Believed in Yin and Yang
Suggests that life should be lived in harmony with nature.
Instead of focusing on the individual in society, Taoism
suggests that the purpose of life is to adapt to the rhythm
of the universe. (Time, seasons, change).
The Tao(way) is notGodand is not worshipped. Taoism
includes manydeities, that areworshippedin Taoist
temples, they are part of the universe and depend, like
everything, on the Tao.
Some practices include meditating, martial arts and
reading and chanting scriptures.

SECTION TWO OF POWERPOINT TASK:

RELIGION AND BELIEFS

1. What type of belief or religion/s existed in your dynasty?

2. Explain what the belief /religion was about.

Work Together!
Each student can
complete one question
and put it all together!
This will make it easier
and save time!

3. How did people practice or participate in this religion/belief?

4. Who started it? Or did it rise on its own between the whole civilization?
5. Are there any signs or symbols for this belief/ religion? If so, what do they
look like and represent?
6. What are some key terms to remember about the religion and what are their
definitions? Try and find at least two. (e.g. Yin and Yang)
7. Provide a bibliography or reference list of the websites sources used for this
section.