HUMS 150b1
9/18/2023
Written Response 4
Cannabis
has been used in many different ways in both Daoism and
Confucianism for ritualistic and spiritual purposes as well as a more common use for
recreational and medicinal purposes. Daoism, meaning the way or the path, originated
in ancient China and had a primary focus on aligning with the natural rhythms of
existence or just going with the flow of life. Confucianism is also a religion dating back to
ancient China with a main focus on the development of a just and harmonious society
through education, ethical behavior, and the promotion of good governance.
Cannabis
was used throughout both of these religions for many different
medicinal reasons and rituals. “Hemp is used in a few healing rituals, in contexts similar
to Hmong shaman healers, but the most important and enduring ritual use of hemp in
China is as a vital part of traditional Confucian mourning” (Clarke, 2016, PG. 1).When
looking at ancient Toaists “generated hallucinogenic smoke in their incense burners. It
has been suggested that the incense of Taoist liturgy was at least as much a technique
of fumigation and purification as a sweet-smelling offering to the gods, or at least that it
began shamanistically that way... and it might not have been long before the Taoists
found they could use this as a psychological alchemy powerful indeed” (Needham, Vol.
2. PG. 150). Both of these religions had different uses of
Cannabis
but a lot of different
religions that originated in ancient China used
Cannabis
for medicinal, spiritual, and
recreational purposes as well as used hemp for paper, fiber and food.
Bibliography
Clarke, Robert Connell, et al. Cannabis: Evolution and Ethnobotany. University of California
Press, 2016.
Word count: 263
