The document provides an overview of three traditions in Chinese philosophy - Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism - which are represented metaphorically in the painting "The Three Vinegar Tasters". Confucius finds vinegar sour, representing his view that life requires rules and duty. Lao Tzu finds vinegar sweet, representing the Taoist view to accept life as it is. Buddha finds vinegar bitter, representing the Buddhist view that life is suffering. The document then briefly discusses Shinto and Zen traditions in Japan before concluding with an overview of Islam, noting some misconceptions Westerners have about the religion.

1. Humanities 102: Micro-lessons
LESSONS
Chinese Traditions
Shinto & Zen
Islam
The Chinese Traditions
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The truth about the vinegar is that it is bitter, sour, and sweet. All three great thinkers are “tasting” the universe, but none
of their models are complete. Life is sometimes about suffering, life is sometimes about our duty to others, and life is
sometimes about just going with the flow. We cannot change the universe, and we cannot change life. We must accept the
vinegar for what vinegar is; and only through all three perspectives do we have a real understanding of existence.
There are three major traditions in China: Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. Each is a
philosophical model in its own right, but through history they became syncretic. This means they
have blended together to such a point, that its sometimes difficult to see the differences. The
painting to the right is known as “The Three Vinegar Tasters” and is used an instructional tool to
inform the viewer the difference between the traditions.
Buddha believes the vinegar is bitter. Life is suffering. Vinegar is only good in moderation. This
aligns with the teachings of the Buddha (we learned in the last lesson).
Confucius tastes the vinegar and finds it sour. This is a metaphor for Confucianism which states
that human beings need rules: each person has a duty to his nation and his community. The way to
righteous behavior, for Confucius, is through education. The vinegar needs a recipe.
Lao Tzu, the founder of Taosim, believes the vinegar is sweet. Life is sweet. The way of the tao, is
to live life as it is. To be. The universe is a massive river, there is no sense going against its pull.

2. Humanities 102: Micro-lessons
LESSONS
Chinese Traditions
Shinto & Zen
Islam
Shinto & Zen
Would you like to know more?
Hayao Miyazaki is a Japanese animator and filmmaker. As a co-founder of Studio Ghibli, Miyazaki has created a
number of ground-breaking and award-winning films: My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving
Castle, Spirited Away, among others. Shinto serves as an undercurrent theme in almost all of his films.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es8iacHu1PA
Shinto is the ancient religion of Japan, and means “the way of the gods.”
Practitioners of Shinto believe that spiritual powers – known as kami –
exist in the natural world: animals, plants, stones, mountains, rivers,
people, and the dead. There are four major tenets of Shinto: 1) family is
the foundation of everything, 2) nature is sacred, 3) ritual brings purity, and
4) the gods and ancestral spirits permeate everything.
Zen is the Japanese assimilation of Buddhism, and comes from the
Japanese translation of “Ch’an” which means “meditation.” Passed from
master to disciple, Zen relies on personal meditation as opposed to
Buddhist scriptures. As in China, Zen blends in teachings of Confucius and
Taosim, and relies on the mythology and heroism of the Zen masters.

3. Humanities 102: Micro-lessons
LESSONS
Chinese Traditions
Shinto & Zen
Islam
Islam
Would you like to know more?
Muhammad lived in a time and place where there were many gods. When he began teaching of the One true God (“there is
no God but He”) his life was threatened and so he fled to Medina. There he completed the Qur’an. After Muhammad’s
death, there was a split in Islam based on who was determined to be the true leader: Abu Bakr (Muhammad’s father-in-
law) or Ali (Muhammad’s son-in-law and cousin). This divide resulted in the Sunnis backing Abu Bakr, and the Shia
backing Ali (a division that still exists to this day).
Islam is the youngest of the three Abrahamic (monotheistic) religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Practicing
Muslims follow the Five Pillars of Islam: declaration of faith, prayer, giving to the poor, fasting, and a pilgrimage to Mecca.
These teachings were revealed by the prophet Muhammad through his works and the holy Qur’an.
Many Westerners, specifically Americans, have a misconception about Islam. The Qu’ran, for instance, contains the
teachings of the Old and New Testament of the Holy Bible, just as the Holy Bible contains the teachings of the TaNaKh
(Torah, Nevi’im, Ketuvim).
All three Abrahamic religions worship the same god, referred to as YHWH (Yahweh/Jehovah), The Lord, and Allah.
(According to a recent Pew Research Poll 2017, nearly 70% of Americans did not realize that “allah” simply translates
“god” in Arabic, and so an Arab Jew or an Arab Christian would use the same word). Likewise, all three religions have the
same prophets: Adam, Methuselah, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and so on.
The Holy Bible and Holy Qur’an also include the narratives of Jesus, as the messiah. Like a number of Christian groups
(Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Unitarians, and Universalists) Muslims do not believe in the trinity (divine Jesus).