Chinese philosophy encompasses a myriad of philosophies that speak on religion, human nature, tradition, how to govern and essentially how to live. Among these collections of schools of thought are Confucianism and Toaism. While there exists both similarities and differences between the Confucian sage and the Taoist sage their political beliefs communicate different methods of achieving a prosperous and ethical state. However, based on the apparent adaptability and separation from potentially inadequate socially imposed structures, the philosophical approach introduced by Taoist thought is more favorable in creating a healthy and strong state.
Confucius as a teacher was concerned with moral conduct, tradition and history. The sage by
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What is right is already laid out in Confucian thought in the form of established ideals. Morality is thus predefined. All members of the state must adhere to a moral law passed down from ancient exemplars. However, a ruler with direction will have a proper functioning government, as his example will encourage morality in others. Operating in this fashion will omit the need to enforce laws since others will follow in their way. The ministers will function according to loyalty by following the way, regulating wayward others.
Taoism is modeled after a living philosophy. Naturalism is practiced and the role of the supernatural is downplayed. Ancestor worship is used as a way to pay reverence to the ancient elders of the past to reinforce honours and values of the culture through storytelling and practice teaching. The soul is regarded as being connected to the physical world in order to view the self as bound to Earth. The Taoist sage is free, they follow the way and respond to situations without prejudice regardless of circumstance. The sage practices wu-wei or non action, where the sage will essentially do nothing. Being the focal point of society, all affairs will revolve around them, their own job being to lead through example of proper conduct. Non-action is bound to the momentariness of nature and is in tune with the instantaneousness and constant flux of nature. Living in the moment means there is nothing to do,
In China during 406-221 BCE, the battling states between the Zhou and the Han Dynasties? were in a state of governmental disorder. Although the era was in a disruptive state, it ushered in a cultural opening that left a long lasting imprint on the Chinese history. As a result, three major belief systems surfaced Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism in an attempt to achieve a sense of political order in a disorder period. There are distinctions in the way each of the belief systems approached the many problems that plagued the Chinese society. First, all of the founders were contemporaries in China. As well as considered philosophies, who studied the future, and sat out to focus on the present rather than the past. In contrast, Confucianism, Daoism and Legalism established various paths in search of an optimistic future for the success of China. Second, both Legalism and Confucianism developed a social belief system, but are considered a religion. However, both Legalism and Confucianism purpose was to create an orderly society in the hopes of prosperity. In contrast, Daoism does
Unlike the Confucians, who actively tried to change the political system, Taoists pursue wuwei (nonaction) in living. According to the Tao Te Ching, by not acting one is not doing any harm which is the result of surrendering to the Tao. By doing such, one no longer has a corrupt nature and is moral and perfect human. If a person is in harmony with the Tao they are also in harmony with all
Ancient China has three philosophies: Confucianism, Legalism, and Daoism. These three philosophies explain how people should behave and how the government should rule the people. The philosophies were guidelines to the people. Confucianism, Legalism, and Daoism have different values, beliefs, and ideas of what is important and expected, but the main goal is to work towards peace and harmony. These cultures are the same way in being rewarded due to their actions, but different in government regulation because of the people in command.
However, the Confucian culture is exclusive to the contemporary political culture. In contemporary China, although socialist political culture has been widely spread and the actually implemented with the aid of the power of the state apparatus, people are still unable to completely get rid of the influence and control of traditional Confucian culture. In Confucian culture, the unity political view had the most influence, and the divine right of authority and the benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and faith, combined with the Chinese characteristic of the small peasant consciousness, made socialist political system also exist some traces of traditional political culture inevitably, and a large amount of the residual traditional culture values affect the process of political development in a variety of ways (Bell, 2010). Today as you can see, the development of market economy makes profound changes taken place in people's social interest structure. Corresponding to it, while people's political consciousness is fundamentally unified under the banner of socialism and patriotism, but the concrete political tendencies such as political attitude, emotion and policy orientation appear differentiation, which
Chinese has always been a confident nation most of the time. As they believe that China is the Celestial Empire of the world, Chinese rulers and scholars are reluctant to accept heterodox knowledge, especially religion. For hundreds of years, Confucianism had been the essence of Chinese Philosophy. However, By the middle of the second century A.D, the great Han Empire was on the edge of disintegration. “The upper level of Han socio-political order was riven by conflict
China is a country with long history, which at the same time comes with a complex philosophy system. Date back to the Warring States period, the rising of Confucianism, Daoism, Legalism, and some other schools captured the attention of the society. These schools created their different and special philosophies, which in some way guided the trend of the society development. With several hundreds years of inherited and people applied their own thoughts to the original philosophy and tried to explain that in their own way, some philosophy look different from what it used to be. However, some people’s opinions will give a philosophy a new life. Zhu Xi, an unforgettable person in China history, is “generally ranked as second only to Confucius in influence and as rivaling Zhuang Zi in philosophic acumen in the Chinese philosophical tradition (Thompson, 2).”
Firstly, Confucianism prized the rule of men over the rule of law; that is to promote harmony in the people over the interest of a ruler. If a ruler has appropriate personal conduct the government will be effective without needing to issue order. However, the ruler do not have the correct conducts, his orders will not be obeyed.
Many of these philosophies have been repeated through the ages, such as Jesus teachings of the golden rule “do unto others as you would like them to do unto you” (bible Luke 6:31). Confucius was a man who strived to be a public servant, but other than a few opportunties he was mostly unsuccessful, although still respected. He became a tutor and like many great men, the height of his recognition was not during his lifetime. Even though Confucianism is not a religion, on the basis that it lacks a higher being or God, it is more than just a moral compass to follow. Confucius philosophies have proven to be a set of values that have served East Asia invaluably We can all learn from the concept of Jen, or human goodness, that tells us that there is a basic good in everyone. From the concept of Chun tzu, or the Mature Person, Confucius shows us how a person should behave, respectful, relaxed and someone that others look up to. “Only as those who make up society are transformed into chun tzus can the world move toward peace” (Reid
Confucianism was one of the philosophies that was one solution to create a peace to society. Confucius was the founder of Confucianism, who was known to be ancient China’s first great thinker and teacher. He felt that the Chinese people needed a sense of duty. Furthermore, a duty means that these people should do what others and the community need before they complete their own needs for themselves. In this philosophy, there was the Golden Rule, which was, “Do unto others as you would have unto to you.” Moreover, the rule means people should treat others the way they want to be treated. This philosopher’s sayings
This theory’s major belief was to put the needs of family and society first. For example parents owed children love and children owed their parents honor. Husband's owed their wives support and wives owed their husbands obedience. People who had skills for government were allowed to try to become part of government. Even though Confucius had not so many followers he won some every now and then. A solution to creating a peaceful society was Confucianism. (Spielvogel 288).
The Master Kung, the real Confucius was the world’s greatest moral teacher. He came up with the five basic loyalties that everyone should follow. That being said the basic ethical lesson that Confucius taught was the value of harmony and importance of treating others decently. This shows that ethical values are important to a standing society. The government’s main job is to make this happen in the next generation’s
In Chinese history, there were three main philosophies: Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism. These beliefs helped shape Chinese culture as well as Chinese history. Not only did people believe in these ideas, but the three helped to govern the mighty Chinese dynasties. These dynasties all provided an impact to each doctrine; the philosophy that had the greatest impact was legalism because it ended the Warring States Period, provided structure, and strengthened agriculture, and the military of China. Although Confucianism, Taoism and Legalism had a few things in common and at times tried to resolve the same problem, they were very different from each other in their beliefs, character, and ways of life.
The Taoist philosophy followed an interesting circle. On one hand, that Taoists rejected the regulation of life and society and preached instead to turn away from it to a solitary meditation of nature. On the other hand, they believed that by doing this one could ultimately have power enough to harness the whole universe. That by doing "nothing" one could accomplish "everything".
Within the Analects, one specific line stands out showing Confucius’ stance on a less active government. When asking about what they would do if given a political office, Confucius only agree with the following statement ushered by Tseng His, “In the late spring when the spring dress is ready, I would like to go with five or six grown-ups and six or seven young boys to bathe in the I River, enjoy the breeze on the Rain Dance Altar, and then return home singing” (Chan p. 38). By agreeing, Confucius is noting the preferred method by which an office holder should act, one which amplifies their connection with inner harmony and helps the people enhance their own. This extends into the ruler himself as well, with Confucius noting that “If a ruler sets himself right, he will be followed without his command. If he does not set himself right, even his commands will not be obeyed” (Chan p. 41). Confucius also notes the superiority of filial piety and respect towards one’s family over loyalty to the state, stating that in his (hypothetical) country upright men conceal the misconduct of their children and fathers even when against the law (Chan p. 41). Confucianism in relation to government shows the belief that the inherent goodness in men must be allowed to flourish, even when against
Confucius and those ancient educators as a representative of extensive and profound Chinese culture, Confucianism is one of the most impressed thoughts in Chinese history and benefits billions of people around the world. “Ren” is the core of Confucianism, which simply knowns as Benevolence that derived from internal cultivation. “Ren” is an abstract notion, but when it exists in reality, it turned out to be something that observable and feasible emotions. There are some analects that related to learning that I read and my impression about it.