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penance and extreme, disciplined, nonviolent conduct. In Jainism, sadhus (holy men) and sadhvis (holy women) try to separate themselves from the everyday world through a vow of poverty and may not own any property except a broom, simple robes, bowls for food, and walking sticks. They may not live in buildings except for brief periods and must beg for all their food. They are not allowed to kill any living creature, and Jain monks wear a veil or mask over their mouths, so they don’t accidentally swallow any insects.

Small in number, with some 4 million adherents worldwide, Jainism has been influential, nonetheless. Laypeople, or followers who are not priests or holy men and women, observe a less rigorous code of conduct, and support the priesthood. Many of them are businesspeople who have flourished, in no small part, because Jainists enjoy a reputation for scrupulous honesty in commercial activity that does not directly involve killing any living thing.

CHAPTER SEVEN

EVERYWHERE UNDER HEAVEN

The Myths of China and Japan

The mountain rests on the earth: the image of splitting apart. Thus those above can insure their position by giving generously to those below.

—I Ching (Book of Changes), twelfth century BCE

To be able to practice five things everywhere under heaven constitutes perfect virtue…gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.

—Confucius, 551–479 BCE

The Way of Heaven has no favorites. It is always with the good man.

—Lao-tzu, c. 520 BCE

Before heaven and earth had taken form all was vague and amorphous. Therefore it was called the Great Beginning. The Great Beginning produced emptiness and emptiness produced the universe…. The combined essences became they in and yang, the concentrated essences became the four seasons, and the scattered essences of the four seasons became the myriad creatures of the world.

—Huai-nan Tzu, second century BCE

What are oracle bones?

How did the ancient Chinese think the world began?

What role do “family values” play in Chinese myth?

Who’s Who of Chinese Gods

What do fortune cookies have to do with Chinese religion?

What religion shunned the Confucian approach?

Who was Japan’s first divine emperor?

How did Shinto become an “Asian fusion” religion?

Who’s Who of Japanese Gods

MYTHICAL MILESTONES

China

Just as Egyptian history (see chapter 2) is traditionally divided by the dynastic ages, ancient Chinese history is also characterized by long periods of ruling dynasties following the prehistoric and so-called legendary periods.

Before the Common Era (BCE) Prehistoric and Legendary Eras

c. 8500 Earliest Chinese pottery is created.

c. 7000 First farming villages formed in the Yellow River basin.

c. 3500 Wet rice farming begins near east coast.

First planned villages appear in northern China, with distinct residential and burial areas.

c. 2700 Silk weaving practiced.

c. 2500 First walled cities are built.

2205–2197 Reign of Yu, legendary emperor of first Xia Dynasty.

c. 1900 Boldly painted burial urns are first used in western China.

Shang (Yin) Dynasty (1523–1027)

1300 Oracle bones made from deer bones and tortoise shell, with written inscriptions, are used in divination.

Chinese script is created.

Royal burials with human sacrifice are practiced.

Zhou Dynasty (1027–221)

c. 1000 Chinese bronze casting is at advanced level unrivaled elsewhere in the world at this time.

Origin of the Yi Jing (I Ching, Book of Changes).

841 Beginning of accurately dated history in China.

State-sponsored exploration and early mapping of China’s geography.

c. 650 Silk painting, lacquer work, and ceramics become highly skilled.

c 563–483 Life of Buddha.

c. 551–479 Life of Confucius, most influential philosopher in Chinese history.

c. 520 Speculative birth of Lao-tzu (Laozi), philosopher and traditional founder of Taoism.

513 First mention of iron; casting techniques allow for production of huge quantities of tools and weapons.

371–289 Life of philosopher