Tokens, symbols

Tokens, symbols

Energise the heart.

 

What I learn

heritage in chinese civilisation

 

2.6.1  Four realms of life according to Fen Youlan (Chinese philosopher)

i. universe realm – the highest realm (tian di)
ii. moral realm – dao de (he overcomes the true, the counterfeit and enters dao de)
iii. utilitarian realm – material world (gong li)
iv.  nature realm – natural (ji ran)

2.6.2  The Eight Immortals

i. Is Journey to the East (is about Taoism) written by Wu Yuantai; written in Jiajing era, Ming Dynasty

ii. versus Journey to the West

iii. based on eight trigrams, e.g. Lu Dongbin is Qian, Pure Yang; HeXian’gu is Yin; the rest is combination of Yin-Yang

iv. prefect representation of 

- man : LuDongbin

- woman: He Xian’gu

- young: Han Xiangzi

- old: Zhang Guolao

- honored rich: Cao Guojiu

- lowly poor: Lan Caihe

- sick: Tieguai Li

- fit: Han Zhongli

v. deeper meaning of JtoE: advocates

- law of nature/Tao

- non-interference; destiny

 - Zhang Guolau reflects non-action and freedom

 - Tieguai Li reflects inner world which is more important than outer appearance (Zhaungzi’s advocate)

2.6.3  Zhou Yi

i. It is the law of development of things

ii. There are 64 hexagrams – permutations and combinations

iii. Confucius: about the mandate of Heaven; wrote the “Ten Wings” or Great Commentary

iv. Qian lines are all auspicious lines

v. Used to change fate – by mandate of Heaven; by law of causation

* Heritage in brief, for contemplation

What I learn

heritage in chinese civilisation

 

2.5  Respect and reverence

i. respect is external; reverence is internal; respect must be accompanied by reverence at heart

ii. respect your parents do not mean worship them

iii. to disagree with parents is not unfilial; to be filial to the dead means to uphold their values and virtues; to behave in ways in which they would be proud of you if they were alive

Why mourn for late parents for three years?

A baby is carried in his parents' arms for three years, before he can be said to be able to move away freely from his parents.

iv. reverence for spirits/deities:

- Confucius – “While you are not able to serve men, how can you serve their spirits?"
- saying -  "ren zai zou, tian zai kan" (man acts, heaven observes)

2.5.1 Meaning of Qing Ming

i. Life Qing Ming: remember one’s past

ii. Ecology Qing Ming: arrival of spring

iii. Political Qing Ming: remember Jie Tu; Hanshi/Cold Festival

* Heritage in brief, for contemplation

What I learn

 

heritage in chinese civilisation

2.4 The Doctrine of Mean (a dose)

(4 great books:  The Analects, The Great Learning, Mencius, The Doctrine of Mean)

i. of impartiality, balance, fairness, consistency in principles (but does not mean need to be equidistant, thus been mediocre, taking the safe position)

ii. of understanding variables, in order to make decision (but does not mean taking extremes, to produce balance, e.g. taking cold drink on a hot day vs hot drink on a hot day which is better to keep cool)

iii. Confucius: “I can tackle the question by exploring it from end to end and then come up with the answer.”

iv. 'zhong' does not mean equidistant; it is a variable, impartiality, e.g. balancing a Chinese scale (steelyard)

v. TDoM also refers to putting self in other’s shoes; also, proper limit

* Heritage in brief, for contemplation

What I learn

heritage in chinese civilisation

 2.3 Wisdom of Zhuangzi (a dose)

i. involvement in affairs of society is like an egg or carrot or tea in boiling water (a person decides which one he wants to be)

- the egg turns hard

- the carrot becomes mushy

- the tea releases fragrance

ii. “neither fear death, nor court death” – allow nature to take its course: birth, growth, sickness, old age, death

iii. “everything exists for an implicit and established reason”; “nature has beauty which is not explicit” – understand what is explicit truth, what is established reason

iv. do not be spiritually confined but have an open clear view

v. inner fast = spiritual fast: keep out distracting thoughts; keep calm in the heart

vi. a sage is calm at heart; many things are covered by noise.  Water is clear when it’s calm, so too will spirit be

* Heritage in brief, for contemplation

Seek

Seek and you'll find

freshness, vitality

even in the least expected.

 

What I learn

heritage in chinese civilisation

 

2.2  Significant values of Chinese culture 

1. Confucian values
i. Benevolence

ii. Compassion
- harmony
- social responsibility
- ceremony courtesy
iii. based on: 
- words of benevolence vs western values
- righteousness vs democracy
- rites vs human rights
- intelligence vs liberty
- fidelity vs constitutionality
- integrity vs dignity of individual

2. Challenge to cultural identity, traditions, core values of Chinese culture, in a modern, open, foreign society - threat or co-existence?

3. Filial piety need not be obedience but mutual growth/progress

4.  Treat nature as a community
Heaven is Father/Earth is Mother

5. Bring food to the mouth or mouth to the food

6. Why does the lotus rise from the mud?

7. Eight fears
i. pride
ii. ignorance
iii. anger
iv. jealousy
v. wrong view
vi. miserliness
vii. attachment
viii. doubt

8. Where is the road?  Under your feet.

When there is no road but you keep going, a road will open up.
Go with the flow = keep going, especially when fatigue or in doubt/uncertain.

* Heritage in brief, for contemplation