Afterlife And The Death Rituals In Ancient China

As we all know death of humans has been one of the utmost mysteries we would all like to solve. Although the ancient Mesopotamia, Egyptian, and Hindu all believed in an afterlife, their understanding and celebration if any, seems to be a little different. Mesopotamians were afraid of death, although they believed in afterlife they also had strong belief about the spirits still being alive. The Egyptians had an understanding and outlook on death, in which they believed in an afterlife, but they also believed in preserving the body. However, the Hindu also had the same perspective on afterlife, they were also very religious, but the way they went about it was much different than those of Mesopotamia and Egyptians.

Pu, Muzhou. In Search of Personal Welfare: A View of Ancient Chinese Religion. Albany: State

Every culture has a unique ideas of the afterlife. This paper will compare how two ancient societies viewed the afterlife. The ancient societies to be discussed are the Egyptians and the Chinese. This paper will compare and contrast the two views in a limited way. It will consider what this suggests about the two cultures. Lastly, it will consider which is closer to modern American beliefs.

Religion? Culture? Ancient China had many distinct characteristics that made it so unique and memorable. Religion, culture, and many other attributes served as a foundation for what we know as ancient China today. Ancient China had many distinct religious and cultural characteristics, but also had huge amount of influence and impact to each other. Philosophy and the distinct way of life was defined by the many practices and beliefs within the Chinese culture. Religious practices in China pushed people to gain god's favor, in other words do good deeds. China's almost too perfect geography kick started the start of a new civilization.

The Zhou Dynasty Around 1046 BC, King Wu, the leader of the Zhou (Chou), a subject people living in the west of the Chinese kingdom, overthrew the last king of the Shang Dynasty. King Wu died shortly after this victory, but his family, the Ji, would rule China for the next few centuries. Their dynasty is known as the Zhou Dynasty. The Mandate of Heaven After overthrowing the Shang Dynasty, the Zhou propagated a new concept known as the Mandate of Heaven.

Ancient China’s rich history has a direct influence on the China of the 21st century. First, the immense importance of the cultivation of rice, which became a staple source of food in China for centuries. Next, the primary source of accounts of ancient china comes from the Shujing, which spanned the Xia, Shang, and Zhou empires. Furthermore, The power women could hold reached its heights during the Shang empire, and underwent a downward trajectory during the Zhou empire. Moreover, regime changes have had a unique outcomes in China due to the “Mandate of Heaven” which gave new regimes the control over the civilians of the conquered empires. Lastly, the decline of the Zhou came about from the power of local rulers who began to seek their own interests. Ultimately, the mandate of heaven bears responsibility for keeping China intact for centuries regardless of conflicts and shifts in power.

Continuity of Pre-Imperial Chinese religion Religion in modern day China is as diverse as its population. From Confucianism to Buddhism, multiple schools of thought have shaped China’s culture across the ages, creating the varied belief’s that are held in the country today. Before these large schools of thought existed, there was popular folk religion that was practiced in pre-Imperial China. Although religion and religious practices have evolved considerably since then, elements are still interweaved in popular religion of the modern day. From the Xia through to the early Zhou dynasty, there is clear evidence that religion in these times set the foundation for later practices and thought.

Ancient Egyptian civilization was based on religion. Their belief in the rebirth after death became their driving force behind their funeral practices. Death was simply a temporary interruption, rather than an end to life, and that eternal life could be ensured by means of worship to the gods, preservation of the physical form thru mummification, substantial ceremonies and detailed burial policies and procedures. Even though many today have varying views of an afterlife, many of the funerary practices that originated in Egypt can be seen in present day funeral services.

Death is one of the only things guaranteed in life and most religions have meaningful and precise customs, traditions, and funerary practices revolving around death. From specific protocols for preparing the body to performing certain duties during the memorial service. The structure that religion provides around dealing with death offers guidance to grief stricken survivors and fulfills religious obligations. The two religions I chose to focus on for this paper is Buddhism more specifically the Mahayana sect of Buddhism and religion I the Mayan civilization. Mahayana Buddhism and Mayan religions have similar aspects in dealing with death and the funerary practices such as cremation.

In early China, the religions Confucianism, Legalism, and Daoism became a basis to all living standards. These religions are different in terms of social respect, government control, and the way of life. Along with differences, Legalism, Daoism, and Confucianism relate in science and the belief that humans have a purpose (Stearns, 83). These three religions impact the Chinese government and society by placing an order and standard in the way people treat themselves and each other. Daoism and Confucianism believed in opposite variables.

The Vedic Age and the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties set the ground work for some of the prevailing spiritual principals of their societies. On the surface, these beliefs appear to be different, but a closer look may uncover some similar experiences and commonalities.

This paper examines the impact of religious beliefs on Egyptian societies, mainly focusing on mummification. Ancient Egyptians believed that when someone died, their soul left their body. The soul would then return and be reunited with the body after it was buried. However, the soul needed to be able to find and recognize the body in order to live forever. The heart, rather than the brain, was regarded as the organ of reasoning.

We have covered the general accounts of human nature found in Confucianism and Taoism in light of the historical backdrop of the Period of Warring States. Use your responses to the following general questions below as an opportunity to refer either to the Smith text and accompanying assigned scriptures(s), Smith video(s) on China, Confucianism, and Taoism, or any additional material covered in class. Look ahead to the next question on the chun tzu in order to plan on avoiding repetition of answers verbatim within each essay if there are areas of potential overlap.

Ancient art and literature and overall life was filled with influence of mythological gods and goddesses. These gods and goddesses were part of everyday life in early history. The citizens would tell stories about the divine to one another and pass them on from generation to generation. A myth, or a traditional story, concerning the early history of a people or explaining natural or social phenomenon typically involving supernatural beings or events, was part of everyday life in the ancient world. The people would pray to the divine for help with all aspects of life from childbirth and farming to war and death. Interaction between mortals and the gods was a very common daily occurrence.

In China during 406-221 BCE, the battling states between the Zhou and the Han Dynasties? were in a state of governmental disorder. Although the era was in a disruptive state, it ushered in a cultural opening that left a long lasting imprint on the Chinese history. As a result, three major belief systems surfaced Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism in an attempt to achieve a sense of political order in a disorder period. There are distinctions in the way each of the belief systems approached the many problems that plagued the Chinese society. First, all of the founders were contemporaries in China. As well as considered philosophies, who studied the future, and sat out to focus on the present rather than the past. In contrast, Confucianism, Daoism and Legalism established various paths in search of an optimistic future for the success of China. Second, both Legalism and Confucianism developed a social belief system, but are considered a religion. However, both Legalism and Confucianism purpose was to create an orderly society in the hopes of prosperity. In contrast, Daoism does