|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Understanding the Death in Han China
Laštovková, Andrea ; Nešpor, Zdeněk (advisor) ; Novák, Aleš (referee)
Bachelor thesis "Understanding Death in Han China" deals with, as the title says, death in China during the four centuries of Han dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD), the way this phenomena was viewed, and the changing perspectives towards the afterlife and the various forms of immortality in addition to death itself, all of which were essential at this time and which greatly influenced the following centuries of imperial China. The Han dynasty period was a sort of bridge between ancient and medieval China, which is apparent when looking at how the understanding of death was changing at that time. Death was first understood as a separation between the body and two souls, one of an animalistic nature, the other of an intellectual nature. This double nature of soul disappeared following at the end of Han dynasty. The concept of immortality was changing as well. Magical Taoism with its Taoist alchemistry was beginning to gain more attention, which increasingly started to influence immortality, though the influence of magical Taoism was strongest at the end of Han empire and during next dynasties. A variety of influences transformed the Chinese understanding of death but the concept of the cult of ancestors has remained the same. Regardless of the changing ideas towards death, the Chinese maintain a solid belief in the...
|
guest ::
