China: Questions for Reflection

Questions for Reflection
China & Japan

Religions: Taoism, Confucianism, Shinto

Purpose: to encourage students to think more deeply and creatively regarding issues related to the religion in question and to think about how these issues relate to the real world and even to the student's own life.

Cognitive Skills: application, analysis, synthesis, evaluation

Learning Styles: active (if discussed with classmates), reflective, sensing, intuitive, global

Intelligences: intrapersonal, interpersonal (when discussed with others), logical-mathematical

Use: in classroom, at home, on-line discussion board

For: individual, pairs, small groups

Estimated time: 2 - 5 minutes (or more when done as journaling at home)

Materials needed: none (other than pen and paper)

The Activity: several options for use

In the classroom: These questions may be presented in class for students to think-write-pair-share
At home: Questions may also be suggested to students for personal reflection and written response as a journaling exercise (which may be a graded assignment)
On line: Questions such as these would make for ideal on-line discussions for distance learning classes

The Questions: These are just some suggestions. Teachers may feel free to modify these or use additional questions they may think of themselves

The I-ching
Have you ever worked with the I-Ching? Discuss your experience and thoughts regarding this "oracle."
How do you feel about divination? Having read the lecture notes and recommended web pages on the I-Ching, has your understanding and appreciation for divination changed? In what ways?

Other Web resources

Yin-Yang
Do you think there is an absolute good and absolute evil? Or are you more like the farmer who lost his horse (here's one version of the story) and see "good" and "bad" as relative and subjective human value judgments.

Web resources: see story at any of a number of other Web pages

Chinese Healing Arts
Have you experienced any Chinese medicine or healing techniques? Practiced Tai Chi or Ji Gong? Tell us about your experience.
The Tao Te Ching
Having read the 81 brief "chapters" of this primary Taoist text, what is your impression of and response to it?
Do you have any favorite chapter(s)? How would you interpret or apply the lessons in this text?

In class or online discussion: Select one (or more) chapter(s) you don't understand. Perhaps your classmates can offer some assistance. Perhaps you can offer your understanding of chapters your classmates are confused by.

The Playful Sage
Having read some of Chuang Tzu's stories at the recommended websites (linked to the course lecture notes on Taoist Philosophy) what do you think of them? Pick a favorite and offer an interpretation: what does it say to you? What lessons is Chuang Tzu trying to teach us?

Web resources: Read some stories from the Chuang Tzu here and here

Confucian Virtues
Do you think the Confucian virtues could/should be incorporated into our own culture without compromising our own religions? Why or why not? Do we actually already have some of these values in our own culture/religions? How are they evident in our culture?
Neo-Confucianism
Which holds more appeal to you: the original teachings of Confucius or those of the Neo-Confucians? Why?

Of the two Neo-Confucian schools presented in the lecture notes ("School of Reason" and "School of Mind") which appeals more to you? Why?

Do you think the Neo-Confucians were being true to Confucius' teaching or was the Neo-Confucian teaching something that would have been entirely unfamiliar to Confucius?
Is Confucianism a religion?
Do you think we can really consider Confucianism a "religion"? Why or why not? If not, then why do you think it is discussed in texts about the world's religions?
If you say it is not a religion then what would you say it is?
Taoism vs. Confucianism
Which appeals more to you: Taoism or Confucianism? Why?
What do you see to be the strengths and weaknesses of each philosophy?

Shinto:

A Nature Based Religion
How do you respond to the Shinto idea that divinity can be found in nature?
Shinto worship
Do you think you would enjoy Shinto worship (as described in class discussion, the text and any other sources you've read)? Why or why not?
State Shinto
Do you think State Shinto was a good or bad idea (or perhaps it was a little of both)? Explain.

Web resource: to learn more about Shinto: The Shinto Online Network Association

Alternative possibilities: Reflective questions can be a developed for any course. The main point is to design questions that elicit creative, original thinking and encourage students to relate what they are learning to the real world and to their own life - to see and make connections.