Similarities Between Confucianism And Taoism

During Classical period (600 B.C.E - 600 C.E), religion and beliefs had a big impact on society and culture development. They helped the societies create more special characteristics, and bring social order in the societies. Hinduism in India, and Confucianism in China, both did help to influence and improve the societies deeply. Both of them introduced their moral rules, and added classes system, but they both had differences on their goals of people’s individual responsibilities, and also individuals focus.

Hinduism and Confucianism are two well known religions that have been around for thousands of years. they have a lot of similarities, but also some differences. Both religions are located in Asia, while Hinduism is mainly in India, and Confucianism is in China. Both religions are based around the people’s actions as well as the meaning of life, which are shown through their strict society and social structures. Even though they’re different, both religions have 3 principles or values they go by. They are two of the most peaceful religions on the planet, with both their goals being to bring order in human existence, they both look to bettering the lives of the people within them. Hinduism and Confucianism both believe very much in education and social statues, which is why they have strict policies on them. They have both influenced philosophy greatly since their existence in the early times. Overall, both Hinduism and Confucianism look for the common good that will help enforce peace and brotherhood. Their belief systems go on a basis of making their followers act accordingly, helping to run their government and set a stable mindset for its people.

The I Ching, the Book of Change, the foundation of all Chinese religion and science, is an ancient Chinese divination text that provides influential text in religion, literature, and art. It provided guidance for moral decision making, based on Taoism and Confucianism. The I Ching can be read as a microcosm of the universe, explaining how to keep human behavior in unity with the alternating series of nature. Chinese tradition was divided into Confucianism, the exoteric, and Taoism, the esoteric, but both see the world and ‘God’ as a whole, the cosmos. Although different, both religions allowed their followers to find “God” in all things, Confucianism through the natural order, and Taoism through the Tao. Both of these religions encouraged knowledge beyond the physical world and beyond that which can be known with the senses.

Buddhism and Taoism both originated and influenced most the Asian area. They are not just religions but a way of living life with philosophic principles. They are both seeking equality and moral existence. Buddhism have several branches just like the Hinayana, Mahayana, Esoteric, Pure Land, and the Zen Buddhism. Taoism can also be divided into a few. The main ones are the Southern and Northern Taoism. Taoism got many principles borrowed from the Buddhist one they influenced each other through their history. Taoism in the beginning was rather a mixture of mythology, folk, and philosophy teachings. With the arrival of Buddhism, it was forced to renew and reorganize itself. Both of the religion does their practices in monasteries, temples and shrines and also both of them use statues and pictures expressing their beliefs.

Confucianism and Daoism are both chinese religions. They both incorporated religious practices with daily activities in a way that it pertained to philosophy as well as religion, making the secular sacred. Confucianism was grounded in ethics and virtuous socio-political conditions. Daoism, also known as Taoism, sought to establish the proper relation between humans and the cosmos through discernment of the Tao, or Way. Confucianists are more concerned with social relationships and Taoism is of a more broader nature and more mystically oriented and more philosophical. They both focused on relationships that humans had with each other as well as the relationships that humans had with nature. They were atheistic in a sense that they had no

Confucianism and Taoism are some of the major religions in China. They have greatly influenced the culture of the Chinese people as well as their world view. The connection between the two religions has influenced many people over time. It can also be said that when the principles of both philosophies are put together, the outcome is a well-rounded person. The following is a discussion of the principles and philosophies behind these two religions as well as how the two religions interact and connect to influence an individual.

There are a number of similarities between the eastern religions and philosophies of Confucianism, Buddhism and Hinduism. While Hinduism is centered around a supreme being, Buddhism and Confucianism are centered around the teachings of a man. Each encourages moral behavior, ethical values, such as non-violence, charity, and a respect for the universe. To better understand the philosophical similarities and differences between Confucianism, Buddhism and Hinduism, it is important first to consider the teachings of Buddha, Patanjali and Confucius in their historical context.

At the core of any nation’s culture are its religious beliefs. In China there are the “Three Jewels” Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism, as described in Lopez (1996). There are small numbers of people practicing other religions such as Christianity and Islam, but these are the three dominant beliefs of the region. While they are separate in content, they have coexisted for several thousand years. Lopez (1996) goes on to say, “Historical precedent and popular parlance attest to the importance of this threefold division for understanding Chinese culture…Buddhism is the sun, Daoism the moon, and Confucianism the five planets…suggesting that although they remain separate, they also coexist as equally indispensable phenomena of the natural world.” Each belief system stands alone, and at the same time needs the other(s).

The philosophies of Confucianism and Taoism both share many attributes, many of which are based around their ideological purposes. Confucianism and Taoism were both created during the warring state period in China, between 600-400 BCE. This is significant because China was in a state of dissension. Because of this, Lao-tzu and Confucius were looking to bring peace to the empire with a set of common values. Both philosophies believed in the importance of education. Confucianism supported a standardized system while observers of Taoism looked for a self-led approach to learning. In addition, Lao-tzu and Confucius each advocated a life of respect. Though Confucianism and Taoism had many similarities, their key differences set their function in modern society apart.

It is worth noting that Confucianism focuses on the human quest for perfection of moral character. While both Mencius and Hsun Tzu were avowed Confucians, the held opposing views concerning human nature. The two

In addition to Confucianism there were two other religions that there allowed which where Buddhism and Daoism also know as Taoism. Confucianism, a religion created by Confucius, deals with moral conduct and ethical living of humans. People have said Confucianism is more of an ethical system instead of a religion. It implements acts committed on earth instead of in heaven or mentions of the afterlife. Confucianism had two major doctrines, ancestor worship and filial piety. Ancestor worship was the worship of dead ancestors whose spirits are said to control fortunes of descendants. Filial piety is the devotion, respect, and obedience of elders in the family by the younger

The teachings of Confucius and the Tao Te Ching are two important schools of thought in China. In Confucius’s Analects, he talks mostly of political and social issues and also speaks about how people must govern by following rules and displaying virtuous qualities such as honesty and integrity. Lao Zi on the other hand talks of how the world has a propensity towards balancing itself and that people should govern by “going with the flow” while the cosmos sort out the events of life. He also mentions that people should have a detachment from many things in life such as material objects. Ultimately, the main difference between the Tao Te Ching and the teachings of Confucius is that the Tao

Two of the popular Chinese religion that we have no yet talked about in our curriculum of this course are Confucianism and Daoism. Using Smart's six dimension of religion to analysis Confucianism I was able to find most of the dimension were present in some form. For the mythological dimension in Confucianism the Analects, which are teachings that came from Kong Fuzi but were complied together by Kong Fuzi disciples after his death fit this dimension. One of the very important teaching from the Analects is that it is “important to remember ceremonies”. This teaching of the Analects speaks to the ritual dimension as stated in the lettuce “Confucianism as a religion is long on rials and ethics by very short on doctrine”(Dan Capper). I only real doctrine I found was that of the Analects but within that doctrine was an abundance of ethical teaching, codes of conduct and what mean westerns could say “Confucius sayings”.

Confucian ethics focused on groups, humans living in communities and in societies advancing human culture and civilization in harmony and balance with each other. Taoist(Daoist) ethics focused on individuals separate lives and personal moral advancement in harmony and balance with nature. Both Confucian and Daoists focus on cultivation of Wen and virtue of Te-power without force. Both also focus on a kind of humility. In Confucianism this is Chun Tzu; in Daosim it is humility to nature and natural order. Both honor the past, tradition, and ancestors, and both have a concern for the future. However, the

Taoism and Confucianism are two primary Chinese ways of thinking. Historically, these two philosophies have been viewed as polar opposites, but upon further research, they have the same mission. The belief system of Taoism viewed in Tao Te Ching, written by Lao Tzu, is the monistic belief that human kind has a connection to the universe, and the “way” controls your life and everything that you do. The “way” has a pre-determined plan for your life, and you must sit back and follow it. On the other hand, Confucianism represented in The Art of War, shows that you have to work and discipline yourself to become complete. The Art of War is essentially a “battle plan”, and “Tao Te Ching “ is a essentially a book of ultimate humility. These two pieces seem quite different with their own different goals. While Confucianism and Taoism have different ways of reaching their respective goals, their goals and their destiny is essentially the same: and that is self-control.