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Compare and contrast "Daoism and Confucianism
Confucianism and daoism ancient china
Relationship between Confucianism and Daoism
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Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism have differing perceptions of language and its role in society. The beliefs of philosophers in each of these Chinese philosophical traditions are stated in the Analects in Confucian philosophy, the Tao Te Ching in Daoist philosophy, and the Platform Sutra for Buddhist philosophy. The specific beliefs in regard to language are stated in relation to its role in the overarching principles societal relations. The perception of language in Confucianism is rooted in the relationship between words and their meanings. The definitions of key words in Confucian philosophy are vague since they represent broad terms and relationships. Despite the obscurity of the definitions of these words, they are conceptual words …show more content…
While Confucius noted the importance of “correct” language in Daoism, language is said to cause divides and differences within society in Daoism, thus taking away the wholeness associated with the Dao. The Dao is impartial to all things, as it runs through everything and is eternally present in all things. In the first lines of the Tao Te Ching, it is stated that “The unnamable is the eternally real. Naming is the origin of all particular things.” While Confucius believed in the importance of correctly naming things and correcting language, it is evident that language is perceived as less important in Daoism. In the previous quote from the Tao Te Ching, one can understand that the “unnamable” has no need to be named or characterized. The things that can be named are not considered eternal by the philosophy of the Tao Te Ching. One potential explanation behind the perception of words having a lessened role is because the Dao cannot be expressed in language. If the Dao, the most basic principle of the philosophy of Daoism cannot be expressed in words, then words should not be as important as they are in Confucian philosophy. Not only is language considered less important by Daoism, it is potentially harmful and divisive. When things are deemed to have a particular characteristic, such as good or beautiful, then other things are deemed bad or ugly,
As was the case in China, Cao depicts the two forms of belief existing alongside one another, and not necessarily practiced exclusively to one another. Confucianism involves the concern for worldly affairs and order within a rigid social hierarchy, with importance placed on filial piety and family relations. Daoism is a way of thought that encompasses ideas of transcendental worlds of spirit through observation of simplicity, a comprehension of natural law and order, and a desire to lead with compassion, rather than force.
During the Warring States period China was going through chaos. The teachings of Confucianism and Daoism were welcomed by society to bring order, stability and liberate people from the misery and oppression. The rulers were greedy and desirous of political power and their own agendas; however they were looking for a new way to unite their people. It is often said that Confucianism and Daoism are the yang and yin, respectively, of Chinese religion. That is, they are not rivals so much as complementary traditions, working together to produce an overall balance in the lives of the Chinese. This is not true because the two religious philosophies were different from one another. Confucius believed that the traditions and virtues that were studied and taught in the old days by the Ancients was the best way to organize society (trickle-down approach). Also followers of Confucius believed in education, a moral force and human goodness to advance and progress within society. Daoism on the other hand relies on human nature and a balance of good and evil (Yin-Yang) to bring about social order. It neglects education, virtue and cultural norms because it is said that people are born faultless.
As stated in the first line of the Tao Te Ching, “The Tao we can speak of has already lost its wholeness.” This means that the Tao is a concept too large for humans to comprehend that it cannot be defined or perceived. This is very similar to the idea of Nirvana or Enlightenment that Buddhists believe. It is a state that cannot be understood by those who have not attainted it. An individual who has reached Nirvana can only help others reach it but is not able to describe it. In Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha, Govinda lived his life believing that he can achieve Nirvana through doctrines and teachers. However, through Siddhartha, he learns that Nirvana can be achieved not through doctrines, but through direct experience with the world. Siddhartha explains that he doesn’t believe in teachers and doctrines because wisdom must be learned on your own. It is something that can be influenced but not communicated. Similarly, Chapter 17 of the Tao Te Ching describes that the way of th...
Taoism and Confucianism are two major Chinese philosophies. I say that they are philosophies because religions tend to worship deities and Taoism and Confucianism don’t seems to worshiping anything. To some they appear to be different, even clashing but to me, they seem very much alike but they come at it from different points of view. Both philosophies strive to reach harmony but in to very different ways. I do believe the reason they can co-exist is because they see Tao from two different ways.
Confucianism is a philosophy and way of life formed in China by Confucius, an early Chinese philosopher. It began as a simple concept with ideals of personal virtue, simple filial piety, and basic gender distinctions and social inequalities. But, over time with the emergence of Neo-Confucianism it began to transform into a way of life that was degrading towards women with certain hostilities towards rivaling religions. In its early period, from around 500 B.C.E to the Common Era, Confucianism changed in that it became the leading belief system and a major part of Chinese tradition. From the transition into the Common Era to the end of the Classical time period, Confucianism was altered because of a loss of popularity following the collapse of the Han dynasty and the corruption in the governing political system. In its ending period, the post-classical era, Confucianism underwent perhaps its biggest adjustments with the emergence of Neo-Confucianism. The ideas and virtues presented in the “rebirth of Confucian philosophies” of intolerance of foreign religions and extreme filial piety...
Confucius thought that society needed to return to the Dao while Daoism teaches that we need to follow the Dao or else we will not continue to live. Confucius was “not the one who was born with knowledge, [but is the] one who loves the past and is diligent in seeking it” (Confucius and the Analects 51). Both traditions support a following of the Dao, but their approach to living the Dao is very different. Confucianism is very explicit in what is right and wrong. A major source of information for what is right and what is wrong are the Analects, where conversations “focus on the practicalities of interpersonal relationships, personal cultivation in the context of those relationships, and the relationship of personal cultivation on the part of rulers and ministers to the conduct of government” (Confucius and the Analects 42). This is important because it shows how important Confucius thought that human and social relationships were to and how they can help society return to the old ways. In section 2.3 of the Analects, Confucius
Confucianism and Daoism are two influential schools of thoughts that have existed in ancient China around the 6th century BCE. The former, led by the politician and philosopher Confucius, proposed that humans live in society according to a set of predefined rules and that they transform society through political action. Whereas the latter, led by the philosopher Lao-Tzu, promoted the idea of inaction; people should go with the flow instead of taking action to control their lives and dominate their surroundings. Although, at first glance Daoism and Confucianism seem to be two opposing philosophies, a more in depth analysis of two of their key ideas –filial piety and education—reveals that they do share some similarities.
Instead, Taoism advocated doing nothing and obey the orders of nature. In ancient Chinese society, the essence of “Dao” in Confucianism including five factors which are benevolence, righteousness, etiquette, intelligence and honest (Hoobler & Hoobler, 1993), while “Dao” in Taoist can be embodied as the natural orders and principles of universe in terms of the heaven and the ground (Wang & Chanzit, 2004). Specific comparing, Confucianism concentrates on hierarchical ethical order, through a series of manners discipline to improve people 's moral standards. Taoism treats the whole universe as a country, and proposes to follow natural orders and without doing anything as the measure of managing a state. In conclusion, The “Dao” in Taoist is not the “Dao” of moral in Confucianism. Confucianism made the “Dao” actualization and socialization, while Taoism made it
Confucianism is a moral and religious system of China. Its origins go back to the Analects, the sayings attributed to Confucius, and to ancient writings, including that of Mencius. Confucius was born a mandarin under the name Kongzi. It was developed around 550 B.C. In its earliest form Confucianism was primarily a system of ethical concepts for the control of society. It saw man as a social creature that is bound to his fellow men by jen, or “humanity.” Jen is expressed through the five relationships—sovereign and subject, parent and child, elder and younger brother, husband and wife, and friend and friend. Of these, the filial relation is most important.
As one of the greatest founding novels of Taoism, Book of Chuang Tzu serves to strengthen Lao Tzu 's arguments in Tao Te Ching and lays the foundation for Taoism 's place in Chinese philosophy. Because Confucianism and Taoism are two competing philosophy schools that share more outstanding differences than similarities, the followers of both schools often refute and evaluate the ideals of the opposite school. However, the constant appearance of Confucius as the main character in more than twenty chapters in Book of Chuang Tzu not only surprises the readers, but also calls for deep analysis of the roles played Confucius in order to understand the true meaning of this ancient literature. While Chuang Tzu criticizes many of the Confucian ideas
Traditional Chinese art is deeply rooted in its philosophy, encompassing Daoist, Buddhist and Confucian schools of thought. The goal of many traditional Chinese landscape artists, as described by Professor To Cho Yee of Michigan-Ann Arbor, is to “reveal the highest harmony between man and nature” through a balance of likeness and unlikeness (Ho). This metaphysical philosophy borrowed art as a vehicle to search for the truth or the “dao”, which is the path to enlightenment. As early as the 5th century, scholar artists such as Su Shi (1037-1101) of the Song dynasty realized that to create likeness, one must understand the object beyond its superficial state and instead capture the spirit of nature; only then can a point of harmony with nature
Philip J. Ivanhoe. Confucian moral self cultivation. New York : P. Lang, vol. 3, 1993.
Work cited Legge, James, a Trans. Confucius — Confucian Analects, The Great Learning, and the Doctrine of the Mean. New York: Dover Publications, 1971. Nivison, David S. The Ways of Confucianism: Investigations in Chinese Philosophy.
Even though Taoism and many other folk religions have shaped the Chinese mind, Confucianism remains, by any historical measure, its chief mentor” (Novak 113). Therefore, since the two religions grew up together, there are similarities, such as their views on humans, attempting to find harmony in life and in nature, and serve as guides for their followers through self-cultivation and improvement techniques. Confucianism believes that their congregation should have human conduct over the idea of God in their lives, whereas Taoism is formed on the belief that its congregation should create a relationship with nature. This is pointed out by Smith in Experiencing the World’s Religions, “Confucius represents the classical, Lao Tzu the romantic; Confucius stresses social responsibility, Lao Tzu praises spontaneity and naturalness; Confucius focus is on the human, Lao Tzu’s on what transcends the human” (Smith 218).
Analects, a compilation of Confucius’ teachings, is greatly recognized as a work of utmost importance and influence in the Chinese culture. The book conveys Confucius’ beliefs on a wide variety of topics, including propriety, education, family relations, and government in efforts to enhance social order.