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Comparing Confucianism And Daoism

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Contrasting Confucianism and Daoism
Introduction
The purpose of this essay is to contrast and analyze our story through the lenses of Confucianism and Daoism by using three fundamental aspects. The first involves the use of paradoxical language such as positive and negative articulation. The second aspect deals with the use of distinct expression of emotion; Confucianism suppresses emotion while Daoism aims for manifestation of Dao (Cosmic essence). The final feature is the distinct interpretations for the meaning of wuwei (Effortless action or non-action). Early Chinese history plays a significant role in informing that these two beliefs are different from the three approaches mentioned above. In relation to early Chinese history, there …show more content…

As seen in the story, the daughter-in-law obeyed those who were higher in the hierarchical structure than she was by constantly adapting her values, ethics and actions to the situation she found herself in. For instance, “The woman had to learn the customs and ritualized daily life of the house.” Zhengming highlights the value of honesty, humbleness, and politeness of the inner and outer self. As demonstrated in the story, the daughter-in-law practiced self-cultivation until she was perfect, both internally and externally in order to reach social harmony within the hierarchical society. Furthermore, the daughter concealed her emotions by suppressing signs of anger to achieve perfection internally, actualizing inner goodness externally and actualizing social harmony. In the Essential Analects, the master replies to Yan Hui saying that the restraining of oneself and the returning to the rites constitutes as goodness (Slingerland 34) Here we see Confucianism’s emphasis on cultivating and controlling one’s emotions internally and …show more content…

Dao is the sign of a river, which symbolizes the letting go of the mind and social relations. In the story, the daughter-in-law lets go of her relationship with her mother-in-law, realizing that imperfection is perfection. The daughter-in-law told the priest that after letting go, she felt liberated and free from the taunts of her mother-in-law. The daughter-in-law had finally reached a state of wuwei. This symbolizes the essence of Dao, which means to follow the flow of the river even though it is imperfect. “The Perfect Man uses his mind like a mirror – going after nothing, welcome nothing, responding but not storing. Therefore, he can win out over things and not hurt himself” (Zhuangzi 32). The conception of Dao is implicitly referred to as a reflection. We can see that Cook Ding gained his level of learning through practice and exercise. However, when Cook Ding got into a state of wuwei, he did his practice naturally, without thought of his previous training; this is the state of

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