Japan and China

Renée Yelle
March 27, 2007
Mini Paper 3


Japan and China

As one looks through the book called Ways to the Center which is written by Denise Carmody and T.L Brink, it becomes obvious as to what kind of book this is. It is about mostly every major religion that there is or was. Going through chapter six, it becomes apparent that Japan and China have a lot of the same similarities.
China has basically two key parts that work within the Chinese boundaries. They are nature and people (160). That is what the Chinese foundation is based upon. Ying and Yang is also important. One does not out do the other; it is to find a nature balance between the two. The balance of the five elements is also important, which are water, fire, wood, metal and earth (107).
Japan is similar in this aspect. Since the beginning Japanese religion has been based upon nature. Kami is also the nature forces (194). China and Japan rely on nature and its effects on them, such as devastation and flooding. But also the greatness that it gives, such as growing things, and seeing the beauty of it.
As for the women’s status within both, women really had no say in anything. They were there to bear children and to take care of the members in her family. There was no real say for women; they did as they were told. The Japanese in the earlier days, there are evidence that women were very much respected, and they had some powerful attributes that made them high up on the scale. The Chinese really didn’t have this. Both religions adapted to the Confucianism ways, which is why women were not highly regarded.
As far as the self goes, Chinese felt that everyone has something to share, to bring to the table sort of speak. Everyone has a mutual understanding of others, therefore creating a mutual respect (184). If someone could act reasonably through the inner mind, then they can act civilized and in harmony. Ren and li play an important role in the Chinese religion. It is symbolized with goodness and propriety (184).
Japanese self outlook is a little different. When Confucianism took over, their self worth was the same as the Chinese. But before that, individualism wasn’t really big back then. Fulfillment comes from the balancing of nature and society, not really responsibility. During the medieval times, the master had basically full control over the peasant or serf. Death wasn’t necessarily anything important; it mostly had to do with the loyalty to the master.
The ultimate reality for the Chinese depends on nature and the balance between the two. Also the five key elements and ying and yang play a key part as well. The physical world is a sacred thing, and that is very important to them. The ceremonies that they held were to acknowledge the realness of its ancestors (186).
The Japanese way of the ultimate is somewhat like the Chinese. Nature and its forces are very important as well. Their shrines that they have are not necessarily to hold ceremonies or anything. The shrines are there for people to pray if they wanted. It is for them to go and visit, and get some peace while they are there. They can make some offering to kami as well, if they wanted.
I would not personally follow either of them. I feel that just their bases on the women aspect are enough for me to say no way. I would not be able to look up to or follow something that thought of women like that. There is no room for that in my life. I like how their bases on the balancing of the five elements and the balancing of nature really intrigue me. I feel that aspect is very appealing, and I would like to read more about it, but the women aspect somewhat ruins it for me.
The two religions are very similar in a lot of ways. The bases of important things for the religion are mostly the same, having to do with nature in some way. The balancing of everything in their life has to do with a lot as well. It plays a key part in each religion, being others basing life’s outlook on them. Either way they are both great religions in some way or another, but they are not for me.