Comparing Daoist And Confucian Philosophy

Yin and Yang is a Chinese philosophy. Yin and Yang connects to Taoism, because it symbolizes balance between opposing sides. It is made of two principles. Yin, the predominately black side,

Daoism has everything to do with nature. It plays the most important role in human development and knowledge . It states that humans should help

In Chinese culture, health and illness concentrates on the balance between body, mind, and spirit, expressed as Yin Yang. It symbolizes the idea that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. There is a belief in part of the Chinese culture, that a physical illness is caused by an imbalance of Yin Yang.

As stated by the Shen-nong website, “Ancient people were greatly interested in the relationships and patterns that occurred in nature. Instead of studying isolated things, the viewed the world as a harmonious and holistic entity” ("Yin yang," 2005, p. 1). Yin and yang

Yin and Yang is an ancient Chinese philosophy that shows the perfect balance between two things. The yin and yang sign is considered an energy which keeps the concept flowing. It is two

Similar to Confucianism, Daoism has concepts of Tien and Te. It also has philosophical and religious concepts that descended from folk traditions. The difference that Daoists has limitations confucius got somethings wrong. “Daoists developed a counterpoint to the Confucian focus on social hierarchy, political involvement, emotional and moral discipline, and ritual regimentation, a counterpoint based on the concept of the Dao” (CIWR, 491). The two founders, Laozi and huangzi, developed harmonious life in line with Tau. Laozi had his own philosophy, and Zhuangzi believed things were better with no politics. Similar to Confucianism, Taoism have a concept of Te, only they have a different way of obtaining it. “The term de in the Daodejing refers to a ‘virtue-power’ that embodies the mystic inner power attained through alignment with the unseen world, the power that allows a sage ruler to infuse his realm with the harmony he has achieved by ‘doing nothing,’ wuwei” (CIWR, 495). Daoists believe that one can point to what something is by implicitly pointing to what it is not. “To use a finger to show that a finger is not a finger, is not really as good as using something that is not a finger to show that a finger is not a finger” (BC, 12-13).Basically, in order to point to a finger and say what’s around it is not a finger, it would be better not to use a fingure. “The fanciful and the historical exist side by

life sciences and medicine drawn from the Taoist traditions of the Yin-Yang and Five Elements

Daoism means “Followers of the way”, although Dao does not means only “way”. According to the BBC religion, the word Dao or Tao can include several concepts such as “the source of creation”, “the ultimate”, “the unnameable” ,“the way of nature as a whole”, “the natural universe as a whole” and “the inexpressible and indefinable.” In Taoism they believe in way of living in which there were not many rules and believes in the philosophy of inaction. They say that you can find happiness through nature and harmony. Also this is where yin and yang come from. As we can see, there are major differences between Daoism and Confucianism, but one of them is very important, the life after death.

It helps balance out the good and the bad in your life. The Taoist government sits back almost as if it has no rule and lets things unfold, but at the same time it still regulates everyone to help keep them balanced. They do this because if there was too much government or too little government there would be chaos. This ties to Yin and Yang. You need to know how to balance out your Yin and Yang. Yin is a receptive, feminine, dark, passive force. Yin is the darker element and corresponds with the night. It is usually symbolized by water or earth, while Yang is symbolized by Fire or wind. Yang is a creative, masculine, bright, active force. It is considered the sunny place and is the brighter of the elements and corresponds with the day. Yin and Yang are described as two primal opposing principles that are complementary at the same time. They are found in all objects and processes in the universe. Most forces in nature can be seen as having Yin and Yang states, which are usually in movement rather than held in absolute stasis. While in Western culture there is a view of “good and bad” meaning there is a preference to being good. Being a good person, a good citizen, and not sinning. In Chinese philosophy the division of “good and bad” doesn’t have a preference or moral superiority to either side. In Chinese philosophy, “good and bad,” Yin and Yang are linked in cyclical processes rather than progress. But in Taoism, Yin is often valued above Yang. But

Inherent in the sacred religious myths of China, the story that unfolds is that of the Dao . This harmonious and mythical story of the Dao is something shared by all yet, concealed in natural forces. It is only in the relationship between the Dao and the individual that one’s authentic self is comprehensible. The totality of creation works via the congruent combinations of the harmonizing opposite’s, yin and yang (Esposito 19). Yin is defined as the passive female

The Yin Yang is one of the primary principles of Taoist teachings. The concept of two forces present everywhere, completely opposite to each other yet balancing and enhancing each other. They cannot be separated because they exist together in comparison, and splitting one apart will only create the other anew. Although one force can take prevalence over the other for a short time, anything that is in a state of imbalance for long will cease to exist. The universe is composed of and held together by the tension of these two forces, and this concept is in Taoist writings on Abstraction. (A2)

Yin – yang is a Chinese philosophical way of embracing human thought which considers two dimensions including humanity, character, and situations in life. This philosophy emphasizes that two complementary forces exists in the universe that are mutually opposed to one another but still remain in unity. According to “Hegelian, Yi-Jing, and Buddhist Transformational Models for Comparative Philosophy”, it is believed that the two forces are dependent on another and are well balanced (Robert 6). This paper intends to explore the major aspects of yin-yang way of thinking, how it affects the Confucius and Lao Zi ways of viewing happenings in the universe and the application of this kind of thought to the contemporary society

Yin and Yang is the most universally recognizable symbol for Taoism. The symbol is a circle with one half black and the other half white. Both halves have a spot with the opposite color which represents being part of the other. Yin and Yang are two complementary, interdependent principles or phases alternating in space and time; they are emblems envoking the harmonious interplay of all pairs of opposites in the universe. (Taoism, 2007) Taoist believe yin and yang exist in all aspects of life. Some believe the white represents good and the black represents evil. If there is good there is bad, if there is wealth there is poverty and if there is woman there is man. In other words there is an opposite to everything. The universe flows in harmony without ever stopping. In chapter 42 of the Tao-Te-Ching there is a reference about yin and yang. The Tao is one, from the one come yin and yang, from these two creative energy (chi), from energy, ten thousand things, the forms of all creations, all life embodies yin and embraces yang, through their union achieving harmony. (Tao-Te-Ching, Ch. 51)

TCM also holds as its central belief that health in all parts of body is due to the relationship between Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang theory is the general principle used to classify in TCM 's holistic approach to health and disease, and also offers a clinical guide to preventing and curing disease.

Mai Mai Sze presents a logical methodology breaking down the often-misunderstood complexity of Daoism. Sze describes tao “in the simplest sense…path” (The Way of Chinese Painting, 17). Continued, “Step-by-step progress requires care and deliberation and, by extension, careful and deliberate conduct or behavior from an inner motivation.” This journey was not something one could accomplish overnight; instead it is understood as a way of living out ones life to the fullest. This journey was not only into one’s own mind, but also into what surrounds them. Including tools, control of the medium was a necessity, just as restrain over the sensitivity of the brush was needed when writing Chinese characters. A minor error in a character could change the entire meaning of the symbol. Symbols are often associated with Chinese culture. From the calendar year to writing, Chinese symbolism is utilized significantly. One symbol often recognized by the Western world is the Yin Yang; however the meaning is often misunderstood. The theory of the Yin Yang is presented as a balance between Male Principle (sun, right) and Female Principle (moon, left). As the two converge inward, they also radiate outward reflecting the ideology of Tao itself. This development of proportion and attention to fine detail required