Monkey Journey To The West Summary

Immortality has been made into this ultimate goal. Literature and films have often painted immortality as a gift only given to the few who have proven themselves worthy of it. A life full of great wisdom, experience, and many other joys. In Journey to the West, it opens up with the birth of Monkey and follows him as he tries to achieve immortality. Monkey wants immortality and is willing to do anything to get it; thinking immortality will bring him a an enlightened life. After reading Journey to the West, I believe immortality should not be something that is prized as the ultimate gift. I think living an immortal life would be far worse than a mortal one and throughout this paper I will discuss why.

The region of China is extensive and profound. “In China lay people did not belong to an institutionalized sect, nor did their religious life have anything to do with signing articles of faint. Religion in China was so woven into the broad fabric of family and social life that there was not even a special word for it until modern times, when one was coined to match the Western term” (Thompson, 1). In China, Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism are all blended. In the earliest period, Shang Dynasty (2000 BC), people in China had worshipped a lot of different gods (polytheism) such as weather god, river god. People in the Shang Dynasty believed that their ancestors become like gods after they died, so people worshipped their

The term “Confucianism” is often regarded as a complex mechanism of social, political, moral as well as religious beliefs that have considerable influence especially upon the civilizations belonging to the East Asian countries such as China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, North Korea, South Korea along with Singapore and Vietnam. With reference to the observation made by Reid (1999), it can be viewed that a clear depiction about different principles and beliefs exists within the sphere of “Confucianism”. Therefore, the major purpose of this report is to briefly review of T. R. Reid’s book “Confucius Lives Next Door: What Leaving In The East Teaches Us About Living In the West” through concisely unfolding the experience of

Confucianism and Taoism are some of the major religions in China. They have greatly influenced the culture of the Chinese people as well as their world view. The connection between the two religions has influenced many people over time. It can also be said that when the principles of both philosophies are put together, the outcome is a well-rounded person. The following is a discussion of the principles and philosophies behind these two religions as well as how the two religions interact and connect to influence an individual.

In Valerie Hansen’s, The Open Empire, she described the history of China as an Open Empire due to several reasons. The term Open Empire emphasized ways in which Chinese Culture and Society has been influenced by foreign cultures. Some evidences of these influence was Buddhism, Adoption of Chinese Ways, and China’s Golden Age. Most of these greatly impacted the lifestyle for many Chinese. These influences did not only create an empire with foreign influences, but also led to the development of new language and culture. Without further ado, we shall begin exploring Buddhism.

This books adds a supplementary information to that which is already available in general history books. He adds new perspective that I have not read before on the topics of homosexuality and religious influence in China that were not written about or gotten incorrect by previous

Concerned by the popularity of this outside faith, the prosperous Song dynasty actively promoted neo-Confucianism to support “native Chinese cultural traditions...[and limit] the influence of foreign religions” (Traditions and Encounters pg226).

At the core of any nation’s culture are its religious beliefs. In China there are the “Three Jewels” Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism, as described in Lopez (1996). There are small numbers of people practicing other religions such as Christianity and Islam, but these are the three dominant beliefs of the region. While they are separate in content, they have coexisted for several thousand years. Lopez (1996) goes on to say, “Historical precedent and popular parlance attest to the importance of this threefold division for understanding Chinese culture…Buddhism is the sun, Daoism the moon, and Confucianism the five planets…suggesting that although they remain separate, they also coexist as equally indispensable phenomena of the natural world.” Each belief system stands alone, and at the same time needs the other(s).

From the ancient Chinese’s advanced religion, government and treatment of one another, we can derive many lessons to apply to our lives today. Some of these lessons include: firstly, when the government demonstrates its support to the working middle class through benefits, the country is strengthened by the middle class’ new allegiance, expanded borders, its new ability to provide itself with an education, and its opportunity to be apart of the government and ensure equality through even representation. Secondly, a country whose belief system about gods and ancestors is accessible to every person benefits the social structure, motivation morale than an institutionalized religion provided. Lastly, when

The major Eastern religious traditions have had a shaping effect on their societies in how they look at the world and the “hope” they offer their followers. Their traditions and beliefs are different than in the west. The four major religious traditions in the East are all older than western religions. Each religious tradition can be examined for common concepts and differences. Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism and Confucianism have several common concepts and several differences in: their worldviews, their views on the nature of reality as a whole, the nature of persons, the perspectives on the “human dilemma,” human spiritual goals, the significance of moral values and the hope each offers its followers for their lives.

The three pillars of Chinese religions are Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism. Their concepts interrelate, beliefs coinhere and they have influenced Chinese traditions tremendously through over a thousand year. Honorable, genuine relationships have made empires and the hierarchy system successful. Built from Confucius principles of six relations and their corresponding duties. One of the most controversial and often

the current one examines the issue of how culture, embodied invarious types of narratives and functioning as a “tool-kit,” or “repertoire of resources,” provides both a framework for areligious “role” or “type” and molds one’s perception of religionand one’s religious quest. On the basis of his previous annotatedtranslation of Ge Hong

The religions, Confucianism and Taoism, both originate from indigenous Chinese beliefs and practices. Although they come from the same area in the world, they have several differences alongside their similarities. Additionally, they both are influenced by the Tao; however, they have different meanings behind the concept. Taoism can be summed up as appreciating all that is natural; whereas Confucianism is ideal society model created through a lifetime of relationship dedication. Neither of these religions worship a “god,” but they do have their own unique form of worship. The likenesses and differences of Confucianism and Taoism can be found in their beliefs and concepts of self-cultivation, texts, and society and nature.

Not only was the stage incepted by religious rite but it has remained dependent upon Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism for theme and character and symbol.” (Buss, 2015) Buss talks about a multitude way the different regional religions have influenced Chinese Drama. First, she points out that the theme of superstitions in Chinese theatre is a direct result of Buddhist and Confucius teachings, “Superstitions inherited from Buddhistic principles frequently denude the stage of mortality and are the playwright's inspiration for extravaganza; he may create a mise en scène in terrestrial immortality and people it with nostalgic gods and provoking genii and find it more absorbing to an audience than the type of play that transpires on an earthly plane and presents the principles of morality that Confucius meditated upon.” (Buss, 2015) Second, Buss concluded that the concept and concurrent theme of filial piety in Chinese drama is from the lessons of Confucianism. Third, she explains the mix and match of using different concepts and theme from different religions into one play comes from the cultural acceptance of mixing and practicing multiple religions, “Chinese sometimes confuses, and often has belief in, all three. A Confucian may worship in a Buddhist temple and follow a Taoist ritual.” (Buss, 2015) Religion has had an oblivious influence on Chinese

Teiser, Stephen F. "The Spirits of Chinese Religion." Http://afe.easia.columbia.edu. Ed. Donald S. Lopez. 1996 Princeton University Press.