Qin Shi Huang Di
"The Tiger Emperor"
The First Emperor of China
A special work in History A
Spring 1997 by Anders Blixt
Teacher Nils-Gustav Gustavsson
Komvux in Huddinge, Sweden
Translated into English, Summer - Winter of 1997
Contents
Preface
Due to the all the references to Confucius and the Taoism, I have made a short presentation: Confucius, Chinese philosopher and founder of religion. Born 551 BCE, dead 479 BCE. Born in a poor but noble family in the state of Lu (now Shantung province), he became an orphan at an early age, as a young man he held several minor posts in the government; in his latter years he advanced to the post as Minister of Justice in his home province. But he held these posts sporadically and then only under short periods of time mainly because of conflicts with his superiors. But during his entire life he was known mostly as a teacher. When he died at 72 years of age, he had taught his teachings to more than 3,000 disciples and they continued to do his teachings.
He was heavily tied to the feudal system because of his heritage, he demanded mostly loyal subordination: by the subjects to the prince, the wife to the husband, the younger to the elders. The greater part of Confucius teachings is that the past surpasses the present.
One major part in Confucius teachings is the belief in Tien, (heaven), the leader of the universe and providence, which established the state, in which it is every humans duty to be a good citizen, the other part is the "middle course", the principle for human life, which should be guided by the common sense, the feeling for the appropriate and a scrupulous observance of rituals. Confucianism view of life is optimistic; mankind is good by nature.
Taoism
"Tao probably means impersonal Nature which permeates all things, and from which all things are evolved. According to the teaching of Lao Zi, true peace comes from ceasing to strive and by living in harmony with the leading of Tao. The cause of disorder in the world is the development of what is artificial and unnatural, and the only remedy is a return to Tao." (Pott's "A Sketch of Chinese History.") Tradition makes Lao Zi a librarian of the royal court of Zhou. After the completion of his philosophical work, he retired to an unknown place, leaving the all-important reform movement to be perfected by Confucius.
Lao Zi tied his teachings, Taoism, to the ancient Chinese belief of a dualistic world image: the universe rests on two forces, yin, the dark, earthly, passive, female principle, and yang, the light, heavenly, active, male principle and the connection between them, Tien Tao, (heavens way), the natural order. He made this teaching to Tao, (the way), the everlasting, creating and arranging principle in the existence, which only one can achieve that has made oneself free from the world. Taoism has developed into a simple, folk religion with numerous deities, temples and priests. Taoism teaches the believer to live a long and tranquil life by removing mans lust and aggressive impulses.
Taoist religion
Often considered as an offspring to the Taoist philosophy, the Taoist religion started about 300 BCE with such practices as alchemy (making elixirs designed to insure the immortality of the body). Alchemy was practiced by priest-magicians at the court of Qin Shi Huang Di. These magicians were told to spiritual mediums and experts on levitating. They were descendants to the ancient folk religion in China, which had been rejected by the early Confucianists.
Among the more prominent treats in Taoist religion is the belief of immortality, alchemy, breathing control and hygiene (internal alchemy) and a world of deities. The holy scriptures of Taoism, Tao Te Ching, is hundreds of separate works which together adds up to more than 5,000 chapters!
Last update: 19 January 1999
