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Tian |
Also found in: Wikipedia | 0.06 sec. |
Tianor T'ien(Chinese; “Heaven”) In indigenous Chinese religion, the supreme power reigning over humans and lesser gods. The term refers to a deity, to impersonal nature, or to both. As a god, Tian is an impersonal power, in contrast to the supreme ruler Shangdi, but the two are closely identified and their names are sometimes used synonymously. In later references, Tian is likened to nature or fate. Scholars generally agree that Tian was the source of moral law, but they long debated whether Tian responded to pleas and rewarded and punished human actions or whether events merely followed Tian's order and principles. How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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| I am strongly tempted to give the names of two or three of those little boys, as a testimonial of the gratitude and affection I bear them; but pru- dence forbids;--not that it would injure me, but it might embarrass them; for it is almost an unpar- donable offence to teach slaves to read in this Chris- tian country. The Mar- tians and their appliances were altogether invisible, save for that thin mast upon which their restless mirror wobbled. |
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