Abstract
From cosmology to salvation, the concept of heaven always plays an indispensable role in Chinese faith system as much as God does in the Abraham faith system in the west. For Chinese, heaven is the creator, lawgiver, moral admonisher, and savior. The relation between heaven and the creature is one of integration between them, in this cosmic integration the specific one between heaven and man bearing distinguishable prominence. Since Chinese cosmology is categorized as evolutionary one instead of an absolute otherness creation by God, every sentient being like human beings shares by nature the holiness of heaven, hence introducing in a universal incarnation exhibiting unique initiative and dynamic in human beings, so-called the embodiment of sacred heaven by man. The religious message bestowed on heaven, the natural celestial body, reveals the peculiar feature of Chinese culture. Heaven is the orthodox source for all possible worlds of Chinese: emperors are sons of heaven, people are the civilian of heaven, laws are the reasons of heaven, fates are the mandates of heaven, morals are the hearts of heaven, the whole worlds the spheres under the heaven, and therefore heaven is condemned to be the justification for Being and beings.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
Ji Shi, Analects of Confucius (lunyu, jishi).
- 2.
Sima Qin, “A Letter to Ren An” (shiji, bao ren an shu), in Historical Records (Contrasted Version between Ancient and Modern Chinese), edt. by Yang Zhongxian and Hao Zhida. (International Cultural Press, 1992), Vol. 5, p. 787.
- 3.
Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi, The Posthumous Works of Cheng Brothers (er cheng yishu) (Shanghai: Shanghai Classic Press, 1992), Vol. 21, II, p. 215.
- 4.
Yao and Shun are the two most popularly worshipped legendary sage kings in Ancient China.
- 5.
Tai Bo, The Analects of Confucius (lunyu, taibo).
- 6.
Feng Youlan, The Complete Works of Three Pines Hall (sansongtang quanji) (hengzhou: Henan People’s Press, 2000), Vol. 9, p. 591.
- 7.
See “The Doctrine of the Mean,” in The Four Books of Modern Chinese (baihua sishu), edit. and translated by Yang Bojun (Changsha: Yuelu Press, 1989), chapt. 26, p. 300.
- 8.
Autumn Flood, The Works of Zhuang Zi (zhuangzi, qiu shui).
- 9.
Liu Yuxi, “On Heaven,” in The Works of Liu Yux i (liuyuxi ji) (Shanghai: Shanghai People’s Press, 1975), p. 51.
- 10.
Sacrifices to Heaven, The Book of Proprieties (liji, jiao te sheng). (Changsha: Yuelu Press, 1989), p. 383.
- 11.
Explanation to Divinatory Symbols Part II, The Book of Changes (zhouyi, xugua zhuan xiapian).
- 12.
Tai Bo, The Analects of Confucius (lunyu, taibo).
- 13.
Liang Hui Wang, Xia, The Works of Mencius (mengzi, lianghuiwang xia).
- 14.
Tai Bo, The Analects of Confuci us (lunyu, taibo).
- 15.
Xu Zhongshu, “Ru Appeared in Oracle-Bone Inscription,” in Journal of Sichuan University (Chengdu : Sichuan University Press, 1975), Vol. 4.
- 16.
See Lü Daji, and Mou Zhongjian, An Introduction to Chinese Religion and Chinese Culture (Beijing: China Social Science Press, 2005), p. 161.
- 17.
Sima Qian, “Biographies of Qu Yuan and Jia Yi, Historical Records (shiji, quyuan jiasheng liezhuan),” in The Twenty - Four Histoires (Version of Simplified Chinese Characters) (Beijing: Zhong Hua Shu Ju Press, 2000), Vol. 84, p. 1933.
- 18.
Zi Han, The Analects of Confucius (lunyu, zihan).
- 19.
Shu Er, The Analects of Confucius (lunyu, shu er).
- 20.
Yan Yuan, The Analects of Confucius (lunyu, yanyuan).
- 21.
Xian Jin, The Analects of Confucius (lunyu, xianjin).
- 22.
Tai Bo, The Analects of Confucius (lunyu, taibo).
- 23.
Qu Li, The Book of Proprieties (liji, quli) (Changsha: Yuelu Press, 1989), p. 293.
- 24.
Jin Xin Shang.,The Works of Mencius (mengzi, jinxin shang).
- 25.
Li Lou Xia, TheWorks of Mencius (mengzi, lilou xia).
- 26.
Dong Zhongshu: “Responding to Gifted Appointment, Chapter 3 (ju xianliang duice),” in A Brief Resources in Chinese History of Philosophy, Part I , from Western and Eastern Han to Sui and Tang Dynasties (Beijing: Zhong Hua Shu Ju Press, 1963), p. 18.
- 27.
Dong, “Sophistication on Divine Mission (ji yi),” in Luxuriant Dew of the Spring and Autumn Annals (chunqiu fanlu) (Shanghai: Shanghai Classic Press, 1989), p. 74.
- 28.
Zhou Dunyi, “Volition (zhi xue),” in Universal Scholarship (tong shu) (Shanghai: Shanghai Classic Press, 1992), pp. 14–15.
- 29.
Quotations from Zhang Zai , see Feng Youlan, The Complete Works of ThreePines Hall (sansongtang quanji), (Zhengzhou: Henan People’s Publishing House, 2000) Vol. 10, p. 135.
- 30.
Deng Qiubai, The Book of Changes in Modern Chinese (baihua yijing), (Changsha: Yuelu Press, 1993), p. 273.
- 31.
BaYi, The Analects of Confucius (lunyu, ba yi).
- 32.
Liu Xiang, Classic Advices in Modern Chinese (baihua shuo yuan), trans. by Qian Zongwu (Changsha: Yuelu Press, 1994), p. 507.
- 33.
Da Ya·Zheng Min,The Book of Poetry (shijing, daya zhengmin).
- 34.
Wang Yangming, The Complete Works of Wang Yangming (wangyangming quanji shang), Vol. I, edit. by Wu Guang, Qian Ming, Dong Ping and Yao Yanfu, (Shanghai: Shanghai Classic Press, 1992), chapt. 20, p. 791.
- 35.
Zhu Xi, Recorded Conversations of Zhu Xi (zhuzi yulei), edit. by LiJingde, (Beijing: Zhong Hua Shu Ju Press, 1994), Vol. 65, p. 1612.
- 36.
Wang Yangming, The Complete Works of Wang Yangming (wangyangming quanji shang),Vol.I, edit. by Wu Guang, Qian Ming, Dong Ping and Yao Yanfu, (Shanghai: Shanghai Classic Press, 1992), chapt. 1, p. 31.
- 37.
Gongsun Chou Shang, The Works of Mencius (mengzi, gongsunchou shang).
- 38.
Lu Jiuyuan, “Chronological Biography (Nian Pu),” in The Complete Works of Lu Jiuyuan (lujiuyuan ji) (Beijing: Zhong Hua Shu Ju Press, 1980), Vol. 36, p. 483.
- 39.
Ibid.
- 40.
Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi, The Posthumous Works of Cheng Brothers (er cheng yishu) (Shanghai: Shanghai Classic Press, 1992), Vol. 2, I, p. 17.
- 41.
See Zhang Dainian, The Complete Works of Zhang Dainian (Shijiazhuang:Hebei People’s Press, 1996) Vol. 4, p. 475.
- 42.
See Feng Youlan, The Complete Works of Three Pines Hall (sansongtang quanji), (Zhengzhou: Henan People’s Publishing House, 2000), Vol. 10, p. 20.
- 43.
Lu Jiuyuan, “Letters, to Li Zai,” in The Complete Works of Lu Jiuyuan (lujiuyuan ji) (Beijing: Zhong Hua Shu Ju Press,1980), Vol. 11, p. 149.
- 44.
Zhang Za, “Divine Evolution, Cosmological Enlightenment (zheng meng, qian cheng)”, in The Works of Zhang Zai (zhangzai ji) (Beijing: Zhong Hua Shu Ju Press, 1978), p. 63.
- 45.
Zhang Zai, “Critique of Folly, Cosmic Harmony (zheng meng, tai he)”, in The Works of Zhang Zai (zhangzai ji) (Beijing: Zhong Hua Shu Ju Press, 1978), p. 9.
- 46.
Huang Zongxi, “Teachers, Biographies of Luo Qinshun (shi shuo, luoqinshun),” in Biographies of Confucian Scholars in the Ming Dynasty ( mingru xue an), reversed edition, (Beijing: Zhong Hua Shu Ju Press, 1985), Vol. 1, p. 10.
- 47.
See Feng Youlan, The Complete Works of Three Pines Hall (sansongtang quanji) (Zhengzhou: Henan People’s Publishing House, 2000), Vol. 10, pp. 641–642.
- 48.
See Feng Youlan, The Short History of Chinese Philosophy (Beijing: Beijing University Press, 1985), p. 226.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Chun, S. (2012). A Hermeneutic Investigation into Heaven: The Key Concept of Chinese Faith System. In: Major Aspects of Chinese Religion and Philosophy. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-29317-7_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-29317-7_4
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-29316-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-29317-7
eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and LawPhilosophy and Religion (R0)