A Hermeneutic Investigation into Heaven: The Key Concept of Chinese Faith System

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.