Similarities Between Daoism And Confucianism

At the same time Confucius’ teachings were spreading through China, another religion was also having its beginning. In contrast to the humanistic, ethical teachings of Confucius, the mystical, enigmatic beliefs of Daoism appeared. Daoism can be viewed as a philosophy about nature and human life, described in ancient texts like the Dao De Jing, written by Lao Zi, and the writings of Zhuang Zi. Others see it as a religious tradition that emerged around the second century C.E. whose importance has lasted into the twentieth century (“Taoism” n.p.). A concept that has been accepted in Confucianism, as well as philosophical and religious Daoism, is that of the yin and yang.

Long before Daoist and Confucian philosophy had crystallized in China, the view had become popular that two interacting, interdependent, complement forces–yin and yang–are present in reality (Young 120). Although all things emanate from the Dao, there are those elements that are contrary to each other, such as good and evil and life and death. The positive side is known as the “yang” and the negative side is the “yin.” These opposites can be expressed in the following manner:

Yang Yin

Male Female

Positive Negative

Good Evil

Light Darkness

Life Death

Summer Winter

Active

There is a strong sense that there is a right (auspicious) time for actions and a right place to build structures, which are in proper harmony with the interacting forces. The alternation between growth and decline, waxing and waning, of the moon, and success and failure all reflect the cosmic interaction (Young 121). This totalizing position led Confucianism to an eclecticism which sought to embrace everything from royal superstitions to naturalistic cosmic forces (yin and yang) and ground them in a Confucian dao that they could use to manipulate the ruler (Hansen