Confucianism And Daoism Traditions Essay Example

existence is one that is survived in agreement with the way of this changing nature. Traditionally, the source of Taoist philosophy is uncertain. However, it is said to have begun with the Yellow Emperor supposedly c.a. 2697-2597 B.C.E., In fact, he is believed to have studied with an early sage who educated him about health, meditation, and military standards. The sacred foundation for Taoism is enshrined in the Tao-te Ching which implies the model of the Way and the Power (Liu 492). This concise writing is complete with stunning images of nature, cosmic secrecy plus thoughts regarding the eternal. It provides people with significant aphoristic ways that have quite a number of interpretations. The amount of translations of these writings is only second to those of the Christian holy book-the Bible.

Confucianism

Confucianism on the other hand, as instinctive and receptive as Taoism is, it gets its equivalent in Confucianism, which is a more superficially driven, practical approach to life. Confucianism started almost the same period as Taoism, during the sixth century B.C.E., a period of great religious ideas all over India, Greece, as well as China. For instance, this was roughly the period of the Buddha, possibly Lao-tzu, Persia’s empire, Athens’s Golden Age, and the grand prophets of Judaism. Kung Fu-Tzu (Master K ung) was Confucius name. His teachings were known as Juchiao, the ideas of the academics. Confucius name is an Anglicization of the Latin paraphrase of his name. Confucius is not the original name for the man who started this tradition.

Regarding religion, Taoism is a mixture entailing Confucian virtues, almost Buddhism rituals, plus Taoist bases in terms of meditation as well as the natural

way of life. Quite a number of religious sects known jointly as Hsien (or Immortals) are part of Taoism. Even though varied, they all are distinguished by polytheism, ancestor adoration, and the procedure of worship via the use of priests. Taoist faith, approximated to have started in the first century C.E., is to some extent younger compared to Taoism the philosophy. As a faith, Taoism is more particular as well as defined compared to Taoist philosophy. Like faith, the practice worships ancestors, particularly Lao-tzu who is believed to have gone up into the heavens. In Taoist faith, nature is worshiped. Spirits rule rivers, streams, mountains, plants, animals, and stars. Basically, gods are in control of everything. Confucianism upholds that the existence of the gentleman-scholar is the uppermost vocation. The knowledgeable, learned, public worker is looked at as a person who can dispense human compassion within the community. Jen, which signifies natural goodness, kindness, human- heartedness, which is the most significant virtue celebrated by Confucianism. It is the value in a human being that allows an individual to carry out the Golden Rule of not doing something to somebody that you would not want him/her to do to you. It is not usually documented that Confucius came up with the term Golden for this tenet which is mostly linked to Christianity and Judaism. Social hierarchy is very essential in Confucianism. It is every individual’s responsibility to be aware of her or his role in the family as well as in society in addition to keeping relationships upbeat in that social existence. Respect for a person’s elders is emphasized and driven further with the tradition of ancestor

adoration, known as Li. It is important to stress here that Confucius mentioned very little regarding the godly, concentrating instead on the now-and-here (Little 114).

Conclusion

In conclusion, Confucianism teaches about putting forward good examples for others to emulate, mainly in five primary relationships: ruler and the ruled, husband and wife, younger and older sibling, friend and friend, and son and father. Taoism (also known as, Daoism) empathizes on living cordially; this is where the idea of yin and yang comes from.

Works Cited

1. Liu, Xiaogan. Dao Companion to Daoist Philosophy. , 2014. Internet resource.
2. Little, Reg. A Confucian-Daoist Millennium?Bacchus Marsh, Vic: Connor Court Publishing,
   2006. Print.