To What Extent, Tian Is Equivalent To “God”?

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Firstly, they are all the answer of unknown things for ancient people, and help with people’s morality. In ancient time, people don’t acquire sufficient and correct knowledge to explain their unknown things in nature. They use them own theory to understand and explain the nature. Ancient Chinese people thought that Tian is what creates the nature and determines the rule of nature at that time. They thought that rain, thunder, earthquake will be the instructions of Tian. People believe the power of Tian. Later on, even Confucius said the “子不語怪力亂神”, in Confucianism, Tian is still the best, highest and most kind thing. It can guide people’s morality. Tian is related with people but no longer immortal. This shows the humanism. For the people who believe God, they agree that God is almighty that he creates the nature, the human beings and the world. God decides the rule and control the pattern of nature. These people use God to explain their unknown things, such as where is human being comes from, what’s the origin of the world. People believe in God also obey the rules to guide their behaviors. Although, Chinese Tian shows the humanism but Western God shows the spirit of religion, they all help people understand the nature and guide their behaviors. Secondly, they are all related with politics. In Han dynasty, Dong Zhongshu stated that, Tian has its own spirit and intension, human beings should follow the intension of tian (Tian Zhi & Tian Yi). Specifically, he said that the king is the son of tian, the king govern the country in the name of tian (君權神授). All the people should follow the will of tian, so they should also follow the governance of king. Tian helps the kings build their governance in Chinese feudal age. The same situation happens in western countries in middle ages. Justinian is the first person that tried to combine the religionary theocracy with

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