Decisions often stand in the way of life. Maybe not decisions themselves, but most certainly the act of deciding. Sometimes, I feel we as humans take too long to decide what we already know we should do. This kind of instinctive ethic, or group of morals is bred into us from the outset of life. In the west, we often base our decision-making process on Christian ethics, or other Western philosophies. However, in the East, there seems to be a variety of other options. In China in particular, Taoism and Confucianism offer two options. Two major philosophers, Confucius and Zhuangzi, not only provide a way of thinking but a way of life through their religions of Confucianism and Taoism, respectively. It can be said that when the principles of both philosophies are put together, the outcome is a well-rounded person. The philosophy behind Confucianism is humanism. Confucius believed that the ancients knew they could ultimately perfect themselves by learning wisdom and willingness to serve others. His theories were based on the Tao, or the way. Confucius felt people …show more content…
Individuals would be aware of their inner-self and cultivate it for the betterment of humanity. Our Judicial systems would also be oriented by this notion, as their primary role would be to fully rehabilitate society (Buckley Ebrey, 49). By combining both Confucian and Taoist principles, people would learn to appreciate the little things that we take for granted including love, laughter, and joy. Such a person would appreciate uncontaminated beauty and thus give way for art of all kinds to develop. Ultimately, Confucian and Taoist principles combined would leave people feeling happy, fulfilled, and self-actualized. It would lead people to stop burdening themselves with the inconsequential events of life, and instead live life to the
To begin, Confucianism is a system of philosophical and ethical teachings founded by Confucius. Confucianism was the code of ethics accepted as the certified religion of most of the immense empires in the territory since the Han Dynasty. Confucianism provided an outline of ethical and religious beliefs that most of the Chinese expanded to make other religions such as Daoism and Legalism. To expand, Confucianism was founded by Confucius and his beliefs on the political and social order of China. Confucius believed that everything would fall into place if children had respect for their parents and if the rulers were honest. In Confucianism, specific roles were followed by each person in the family. The head of the family, the father, was the one primarily in control and then it was the oldest son that was next in line. Confucius had the belief that a ruler has to be everything he wants
INTRODUCTION Confucianism is regarded as one of the primary religions that have profoundly influenced Chinese beliefs and ideologies. While Kongzi, or Confucius, is the founder of Confucianism, he is not the only philosopher who has contributed to such a significant impact on China. Similarly, the Analects of Confucius is not the single text that represents Confucianism. In fact, during different time periods throughout the history, there are a number of eminent representatives of Confucian thoughts, such as Mengzi and Xunzi. Because Confucianism aims at eliminating chaos and maintaining order in a harmonious society, they all agree that the guidance and education of virtuous Confucian pioneers are of extreme importance to achieve this goal.
Confucianism became popular during the Han Dynasty as it was the state religion and had a great impact on East Asia (Confucianism 1, pg. 7). Born in 551 BCE in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, Confucius himself absorbed the teachings of Mahavira and the Buddha (Confucianism 1, pg. 2) He had a set of virtues that he believed a functioning society should stand by such as benevolence, love and rites. Confucius wanted China to return to the old days when people were loyal to their rulers and rulers were polite and caring towards their people. He believed rulers s...
Confucius, the founder of the philosophy, held the belief that people should be earnest, truthful, and kind to others. Doc 3) Taoism was a philosophy like Confucianism but it was also a mystic religion. Taoism is often referred to as a balance between real and abstract. (Doc 7) It is often stated that if you can explain Taoism, you don’t understand it.
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...
The teachings according to Confucius refer to Confucianism. Confucianism is the multifarious classification of ethical, collective, political and pious philosophy developed by Confucius and the old Chinese practices (Bertrand, 1999). Confucianism aim is actually making an individual honorable but also making such an individual the character of learning and of proper manners. The ideal and faultless man has to combine the characters of a saint, an intellectual and gentleman. Confucianism is a religious conviction whose adulation is focused on offerings to the dead. The idea of responsibility is extensive beyond the precincts of morals and holds close to the minutiae of daily living.
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.
..., when we look at the deeper meaning of education as seen in Confucianism and Taoism, we see that they consider education in much the same way. One must know the importance of self-realization and understand how they fit into the whole. This is a very important form of education. In this way, we will be better prepared to integrate the greater whole.
... Confucianism was all about loving each other, and it united the Chinese people in a way they had never been before. Confucius’s ideas helped achieve a peaceful Chinese society. In my opinion, Confucius was right to believe that man can attain the ideal character through education, self -reflection, and self- effort, however, I do not know if society could remain intact if everything were based on the trust system. Even with laws and punishments, people commit felonies, and I can only begin to imagine what the world would be like if the only things stopping a murderer from killing were his morals.
Taoism, known as “The Way,” can be categorized as both a Chinese philosophy and a religion. Taoists believe in accepting and yielding to the ways of life, complementing nature and being by internalizing their goals rather than worshipping a god externally. Taoism, in its metaphysical and philosophical nature, is much like Confucianism, but the ideal interests of the two religions are contrasting. Confucianism was formulated during a time of war and relies heavily upon a moral and political system that fashioned society and the Chinese empire, while Taoism correlates to a time of peace and honors spiritual and metaphysical preoccupation (Taoism 2).
In the category of view of society, each belief has a different view. The Confucians believed that you develop good character through a good life and that everyone has their own role.
Confucianism was the official philosophy of China. Confucius himself was not very interested in the ideas of a God, an afterlife, heaven, and other ideas that we associate with religion. However, when Confucianism became the official philosophy of China, religious functions were incorporated into it. Confucius, together with his ancestors and famous followers, became objects of worship. Confucian temples were built all over China and sacrifices and rituals were performed.
In the Chinese culture there are several major religions, two of these include Confucianism and Taoism, which have dated back for thousands of years. According to. Experiencing the World 's Religions and The World’s Wisdom: Sacred Texts of the World’s Religions, both Confucianism and Taoism originated in ancient China through the religions’ teachers: Confucius and Lao Tzu. “Taoism and Confucianism grew up together, entering Chinese history around the sixth century B.C.E.; Taoism’s beginnings are linked to the legendary figure of Lao Tzu, senior to Confucius by about fifty years. Even though Taoism and many other folk religions have shaped the Chinese mind, Confucianism remains, by any historical measure, its chief mentor” (Novak 113).
Janet Kuskin Chinese Philosophy Essay How did each philosophy’s view of either humans or the natural world shape its approach to establishing order and harmony in Chinese society? Confucianism, Legalism, and Taoism have drastically different philosophies to establish order and harmony in a Chinese society. Confucius, a famous Chinese philosopher and creator of Confucianism, sees the good in humans. He believes they are trustworthy, and should be praised. The bad in society are not corrected by laws, but by disregarding them leading them to self correct.
Confucianism is the central philosophy to the way of Chinese thinking and acting in society. Confucianism is based on the ideas of K´ung Fu-tzu who was known as Confucius in western societies. The exact dates of his time on earth are not known but it was estimated to be 552 – 479 BCE. Confucius was from the small state of Lu located on the Shandong peninsula in northeastern China and was orphaned at an early age. He was from a poor background and therefore had to undertake lowly pursuits such as bookkeeping and stock raising in order to make a living. Confucius’ life was a pursuit of knowledge as he is quoted saying “At 15 I had set my mind on learning. At 30, I could stand on my own feet. At 40 I was determined not to be led astray by irrelevancies. At 50, I fully realized what destiny had in store for me. At 60...