Chapter SixChapter Six

Chapter 6 Slide 1

Religions and

Philosophies

Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

1. What are ‘religion’ and ‘philosophy’?

2. What were some of the religions and philosophies of the people of ancient India, China and Southeast Asia?

3. How did these beliefs affect how the ancient people lived and organised themselves?

Chapter 6 Slide 2

Is what is happening in the photographa familiar scene to you?

What do you think is happening?

Chapter 6 Slide 3

A religion is the belief in and worship of

a god or gods.

Chapter 6 Slide 4

What Is a Religion?What Is a Religion?

A philosophy is a way of thinking about life that guides a person’s actions

and behaviour.

Chapter 6 Slide 5

What Is a Philosophy?What Is a Philosophy?

Religion in IndiaReligion in India

Hinduism and Buddhism

BC E 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 CE1 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 CE

Beginnings of Hinduism

Birth of Gautama Siddharta

566 BCEDecline of Buddhism

6th century CE

Chapter 6 Slide 6

HinduismHinduism Origins are unknown

Hindu texts such as the Vedas and Bhagavad Gita suggest that:

1. Hinduism is at least 3 000 years old and is the oldest religion in India.

2. It developed slowly over many centuries through a mixing of the beliefs of the Aryans and the Indus people.

Chapter 6 Slide 7

Om, the symbol of Hinduism

Reincarnation and the

Caste System

Reincarnation and the

Caste System

Reincarnation is the rebirth of the human in a new body after death

Chapter 6 Slide 8

Impact of HinduismImpact of Hinduism

Affected almost every aspect of life — the belief in reincarnation explained the caste system, around which ancient Indian society was organised

Almost 83 per cent of the people in India are Hindus

Chapter 6 Slide 9

Spread of HinduismSpread of Hinduism

Spread to Southeast Asia between 200 and 1200 CE

Rulers of mainland Southeast Asia built temples to worship Hindu gods. They also adopted idea of divine kingship.

Southeast Asians, however, did not adopt the caste system — cultural adaptation.

Chapter 6 Slide 10

BuddhismBuddhism

Began over 2000 years ago

Developed from the teachings of Gautama Siddhartha

Chapter 6 Slide 11

A statue of the Buddha

Gautama’s EnlightenmentGautama’s Enlightenment Saw scenes of illnesses, death,

old age and asceticism

Left his palace to search for an answer to “Why is human life full of sorrow and pain?”

Realised the suffering was caused by craving, hatred and ignorance

Enlightenment — found the answers to his question

Now known as the Buddha, “The Enlightened One”

Chapter 6 Slide 12

An illustration of Gautama Siddharta meditating under the Bodhi tree

The Four Noble TruthsThe Four Noble Truths

Life is full of suffering

Human beings suffer sorrow and pain because they desire pleasure, wealth and fame

Human beings can stop their sorrow and pain if they stop wanting these things

The way to stop having these desires is to follow the Eightfold Path

Chapter 6 Slide 13

right understanding

right thought right

speech

right action

right livelihood

right effort

right mindfulness

right meditation

Chapter 6 Slide 14

Impact of BuddhismImpact of Buddhism

Influenced several Hindus, especially those from the lower castes to convert

Powerful kings converted too, helped to spread Buddhism throughout India and rest of Asia

Example is Ashoka of the Mauryan dynasty (269–232 BCE)

Chapter 6 Slide 15

A painting of the Buddha’s first sermon at the Deer Park, found in Wat Chedi Liem

one of India’s greatest kings(269–232 BCE)

Ashoka Mauryan king

Ashoka Mauryan king

won a major battle at Kalinga - a turning point

adopted Buddhism

governed by ‘right conduct’,

not violence

carved edicts on rocks and pillars

responsible for spreading

Buddhism in India and to

Ceylon, Burma and China

Chapter 6 Slide 16

Philosophies in ChinaPhilosophies in China

Confucianism as state ideology

Confucianism, Legalism and Taoism

BCE 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 CE1 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 CE

Confucius 551–479 BCE

Zhuang Zi: Taoist thinker 4th century BCE

Chapter 6 Slide 17

Legalism as state ideology during Qin dynasty

ConfucianismConfucianism Founded by Confucius

Taught codes of conduct of living in peace and harmony

Teachings – proper social behaviour, others before self and filial piety

“Let the ruler be a rule, the minister be a minister, the father be a father, and the son be a son”

Teachings found in the Six Classics and Analects

Chapter 6 Slide 18

An illustration of Confucius

Impact of Confucianism Impact of Confucianism

Made little impact initially

Banned during Qin dynasty (221–210 BCE)

Teachings are still relevant today

Became state ideology during Han dynasty (202 BCE–220 CE)

Chapter 6 Slide 19

Legalism Legalism Philosophy of good

government rather one one that guides people in their lives

Duty of government to rule strictly; those who broke law must be punished severely

Later Chinese dynasties continued to use legalism, but removed severe punishments

Qin Shihuang (221–210 BCE) used it to strengthen his rule

Chapter 6 Slide 20

A modern statue of Qin Shi Huang, located near the site of the Terracotta Army

Taoism Taoism Founder – not certain, many believe it to

be Lao Zi

Teachings found in Dao De Jing

Main teaching - peace and harmony will prevail if people follow the Tao

Began as a philosophy but later developed into a religion

Combined with gods and goddesses from Chinese folktales

Chapter 6 Slide 21

The symbol of Taoism, the Tao Ji

Religion in ChinaReligion in China Worshipped ancestors

Believed in spirits

Adopted Buddhist and Taoist practices

While Buddhism was popular between 3rd and 8th centuries CE, it did not receive royal support

Chapter 6 Slide 22

Religion in Southeast AsiaReligion in Southeast Asia

Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam

Arrival of Buddhism 300 CE

Arrival of Hinduism 1st century CE

BCE 800 600 400 200 CE1 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 CE

Arrival of Islam 11th century

CE

Chapter 6 Slide 23

Hinduism Hinduism

Brought by Indian traders

Arrived in 1st century CE

Adopted by kings and nobles who later built magnificent Hindu temple cities

Chapter 6 Slide 24

The Cambodian flag includes a depiction of Angkor Wat, a magnificent Hindu temple

Buddhism Buddhism

Brought by Chinese, Indian traders and Buddhist missionaries

Arrived c. 300 CE

Palembang was a centre for Buddhist learning

Remains an important religion today in Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam

Chapter 6 Slide 25

The Borobodur complex in Java, Indonesia is an example of Buddhist monument that can be found in Southeast Asia.

Chapter 6 Slide 26

Islam Islam

Arrived in the 11th century CE

Revealed by Allah to Prophet Muhammad in 570 CE

Messages from Allah were written down to become Qur’an

Brought by Muslim traders

Chapter 6 Slide 27

A copy of the Qur’an

1. Allah is the only God, Prophet Muhammad is his messenger

2. Pray 5 times a day facing Mecca

3. Give alms

4. Fast during Ramadan

5. Go on a pilgrimage to Mecca

The Five Pillars of IslamThe Five Pillars of Islam

Chapter 6 Slide 28

Pilgrim offering supplications at Masjid Al-Haram, Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Role of Melaka in the Spread of Islam

Role of Melaka in the Spread of Islam

1. Conversion of local rulers

2. Royal marriages

3. Missionaries

4. Trade

5. Conquests

Chapter 6 Slide 29

Map of Melaka and the neighbouring lands

Impact of IslamImpact of Islam

Many countries in the region today have large Muslim populations

Indonesia has the world’s largest Muslim population ~ 200 million

Rulers of island Southeast Asia converted to Islam but combined the teachings of Islam with those of their older beliefs — syncretism

Chapter 6 Slide 30

Which teachings do the following quotations come from?

Chapter 6 Slide 31

“The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.”

Chapter 6 Slide 32

“Better than a thousand hollow words,

Is one word that brings peace. ”

Chapter 6 Slide 33

“O God Beautiful, O God beautiful !!

In the forest Thou art Green

In the mountains Thou art High

In the river Thou art Restless

In the ocean Thou art Grave ”

Chapter 6 Slide 34

“Prayer carries us half way to God, fasting brings us to the door of His palace, and alms-giving procures us admission.”

Chapter 6 Slide 35

If I have no physical body, if I have obtained the Way and become naturally so, I shall lightly lift myself and raise into the clouds.

Coming and going between empty space, I become one in spirit with the Way. What trouble could I have?

Chapter 6 Slide 36

But the wisdom of the people is useless:

They have the minds of little infants! If an infant's head is not shaved, its sores will spread, and if its boil is not opened, it will become sicker. Yet while its head is being shaved and its boil opened, one person has to hold it tight so that

Chapter 6 Slide 37

the caring mother can perform the operation, and it screams and wails without end.

Infants and children don't understand that the small pain they have to suffer now will bring great benefit later.

Chapter 6 Slide 38

Answers:

1. Confucianism2. Buddhism3. Hinduism 4. Islam5. Taoism6. Legalism

Chapter 6 Slide 39

Learning OutcomesLearning Outcomes

Chapter 6 Slide 40

1. ‘Religion’ and ‘philosophy’ are…

2. Some of the religions and philosophies of the people of ancient India, China and Southeast Asia were…

3. These beliefs affected how the ancient people lived and organised themselves in…