Preview

Comparing Daoism And Confucianism

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
676 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Comparing Daoism And Confucianism
In 1027 BCE after the rebel tribe, Zhou overthrew the Shang dynasty (pg 220) a time of cultural sophistication, and philosophical achievement began (pg 221). According to Henry Sayre, author of The Humanities Culture, Continuity & Change the "Zhou dynasty sought to define the proper way to behave in the World" (pg. 222). The Zhou Dynasty lasted between 1027 - 256 BCE during this period two philosophical ideas would arise, Daoism and Confucianism.

Initially, we review Daoism and Confucianism differences in that Daoism focused on the existential nature of unseen forces that surround us by developing mindfulness within individuals. Whereas, Confucianism centered around the automatic assumption of goodness within individuals, and continued education would support people's good intentions. According to Sayre, Daoism "...is deeply embedded in nature and to attain it, the individual must practice the art of "not-doing."" Kevin Newton of study.com explains that Daoism also known as Taoism concentrated on
…show more content…
Many Chinese would apply Confucian principles to their work lives where they have a variety of relationships with co-workers and the Taoist philosophy of finding balance with nature while at home. …show more content…
Next I discuss Buddhism, Hinduism. Hinduism originating about 4,500 years ago in India and is the oldest practiced world religion. Two essential beliefs in Hinduism is Dharma and Karma. Dharma is a practice of values and ethical responsibilities that call for followers of Hindu to keep an open-mind, be courteous, and exist peacefully. Karma is a method of reward and punishment for one's actions and intentions. (study.com) Buddhism follows the teachings of The Buddha, followers observe persons daily activity as having spiritual importance and believe in

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Daoism: philosophical system developed by Lao-tzu and Chuang-tzu advocating a simple honest life and noninterference with the course of natural events…

    • 2526 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The people of the Shang dynasty developed bronze and were the first in China to write. The Zhou dynasty ruled from 1054 BC to 256 BC, making it the longest ruling dynasty. During this period, the beginning of two important philosophies, Confucianism and Daoism, were introduced. China used to be divided into small states, sometimes allied, sometimes at war. But in 221 BC, the Qin dynasty conquered all states and united them as one.…

    • 654 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Preferred rational reflection and self-examination, a life in harmony with nature 2. Laozi, founder of Daoism, allegedly wrote the Daodejing a. Classic of the Way and of Virtue 3. Zhuangzi (compendium of Daoist philosophy) 4. The Dao--the way of nature, the way of the cosmos a. Elusive concept: an eternal principle governing all the workings of the world b. Dao is passive and yielding, does nothing yet accomplishes everything c. Humans should adapt their behavior to the lifeless and easy nature of the Dao d. Desire and activism had only brought the world to chaos e. Doctrine of Wuwei: disengagement from worldly affairs, simple life f. Support small, self-sufficient communities 5. Political implications: served as counterbalance to Confucian activism…

    • 1399 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Many found solace in Daoist thinking, even emperors. Indeed, emperors did not fret the spread of Daoism because it offered little political threat. This movement considers political activity and learning to be of no consequence to a good life. The best way to achieve Daoist harmony with nature is through humility and frugal living. Daoism promoted an elaborate spirituality which created a distinctive division in Chinese philosophies. Daoism, Legalism, and Confucianism all shaped classical China’s civilization.…

    • 866 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Confucianism vs Daosim

    • 355 Words
    • 1 Page

    Around 500 BCE Confucianism and Daoism both came to light. They were more considered philosophies than religions due to their lack of deities and specific afterlife. Unlike Confucianism, Daoism taught more about independence and self-help, while Confucianism taught social harmony, and keeping social order. The Daoists believed that education was corrupt and unimportant, while Confucius was himself a teacher, and taught everyone had the same potential but education kept them in social harmony and that it made people “stay in line”. Although Daoism and Confucianism are almost completely opposite; and one created basically in spite of the other, they do have something in common. Ideals from each philosophy/religion can be seen in modern Chinese religion, philosophy and government.…

    • 355 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    KIM EXAM FINAL 1217

    • 1636 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Confucians believed that people become fully human by being social; Daoists believe that one becomes human by being natural; we need to be ourselves…

    • 1636 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hinduism and Buddhism are two of the most dominant and profound religions around the world. Both religions have similar foundations and philosophies that began in India before the Common Era. (Citation?) They are among the top five major religions in the world.(Citation?) Hinduism is the third highest ranked organized religion and has been around much older than Buddhism. Since Buddhism evolved from Hinduism, they are very similar, but they are two different faiths, with different sets of beliefs and interpretations on life and enlightenment(Citation?). They have survived for centuries and are still widely practiced around the globe.…

    • 449 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The definition of Ultimate Reality is different across all religions. Based on chapter one of the textbook, Ultimate Reality can be categorized into three different terms. These terms are theistic, monistic, and non-theistic. The religions studied so far all have different beliefs in the Ultimate Reality, as well as some similarities between them. Out of the seven religions that have been covered so far, all of them believe in different Ultimate Reality’s whilst also being inspired by some other religion.…

    • 488 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Confucianism and its ideals stood for a rigid hierarchical behavior. A person had their set role in society, and one had many moral obligations to follow. Taoism, on the other hand, stood more for the person, and not for the society; closely related to the Greek and Western classical ideals. This stood in complete objection for the Confucian ideals, which is one of the reasons that Daoism originated, in opposition to Confucianism.…

    • 281 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    One of the greatest areas where Confucianism and Taoism differ is in their primary focus. Confucianism focuses on the social, earthly orientation of everyday life. According to Confucius, humans are innately social beings with a natural capability for goodness, which, if followed, leads to social harmony. If you behave in a way that is expected by the greater harmonious society, you become superior. In Confucianism, a superior man is one who has taught himself to follow societal expectations. On the other hand, Daoism places much more focus on the person’s connection to himself to achieve inner harmony. Daoism is based on the book Tao te Ching, which translates into “The Way of Life.” Its philosophy concentrates on harmony and balance, while pursuing balance in life through meditation and doing only what is necessary. It is much less earthly in nature and places importance on “coming into harmony” with the Dao, the ultimate reality that formed the universe and everything around us. Daoism is an out of world experience that embraces the Tao, which is the greater reality that is composed of the universe and everything else. While they both dwell on the improvement of the individual, Confucianism looks outward to accomplish this, while Daoism looks…

    • 470 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Scriptures from both the Confucianist and Daoist perspectives on ideal governments and individual life styles mainly depict the two religions in a contrasting manner, but they also reveal some similarities in their purposes. While both religions ultimately seek attainment of a flawless society through the betterment of their people, they accomplish this through much different means: a strict government based on filial piety within Confucianism and a more lax system centered around unity and morality within Daoism. Comparing the scriptures of both faiths allows an almost exact means of understanding their values and religious basis for the creation of their social systems, such as government…

    • 618 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Confucianism vs. Daoism

    • 329 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Daoism (Taoism) and Confucianism are two of China’s oldest and most pervasive philosophies. They arose during roughly the same period in Chinese history, called the Hundred Schools of Thought. Both philosophies reflect this, as their overarching goals are to seek order and harmony in one’s life, relationship with society, and the universe.…

    • 329 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Confucianism vs Daoism

    • 1123 Words
    • 5 Pages

    China is a country that has been shaped overtime by many diverse and wide-ranging principles. Religion has served as one of the most powerful examples of these principles, specifically the three teachings, Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. Daoism and Confucianism, which were both founded in China hundreds of years before the appearance of Christ, appear to approach the fundamentals of religion in the same fashion. Since Confucius and Laozi don’t directly address the question of God or an afterlife and both were concerned more with the present life, one would think their philosophical teachings would almost mirror each other. In the case of Confucianism versus Daoism, it appears that their methods and goals differ in most aspects, especially those surrounding the origins of their religions and the rituals they adhere to in order to achieve their goals.…

    • 1123 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Confucianism is about respect to elders and education was also important. Confucianism also believed in life goals and what you need to achieve. But on the other hand Daoism is all about knowing and understand how the world works around you. And not try to change it but try to working with it. It proves that Confucianism is not about nature and world but Daoism is. That is why China was able to accept 2 different basic belief systems.…

    • 876 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    World Religion

    • 435 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Confucianism and Daoism are two of the most influential schools of thought in ancient China. Both are not only ways of thinking, but ways of life. They are not religions: they have no teaching of worship of gods, or the afterlife; each philosophy focuses on the individual and their behavior. Confucianism and Daoism are often considered polar opposites for several reasons, although they have a few similarities.…

    • 435 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays