Neo-Confucianism Research Paper

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Recommended: The influence of confucianism upon the Chinese people

Focus Question: What are the similarities and differences between Confucianism and Neo-Confucianism?

Thesis: Although Confucianism and Neo-Confucianism revolve around original Confucian core values, Neo-Confucianism also has influences from Taoist and Buddhist culture; Neo-Confucianism adopted the idea of finding one's inner Dao from Taoist ideology and Buddhist morals of acting with self-spirituality.

Theme: Belief systems- change and continuity over time.

Relationship Between Question and Theme: The focus question relates to the theme, belief systems-change and continuity over time, because Neo-Confucianism revolved around the ideals of Confucianism. Due to Confucianism falling out during the Song dynasty, Confucian followers found the need to re-popularize Confucianism. Seeing Buddhism and Taoism rising in popularity during the Song Dynasty, Confucian teachers began to re-establish Confucianism while adding in aspects from Buddhist and Taoist culture. Thus, Neo-Confucianism was born.

~Confucianism: an outlet for KongFuzi, known as Confucius, to spread his ideas of the rehabilitation of a traditional Chinese society.~

KongFuzi, known as Confucius, established Confucianism as a way to share his ideas with the people of China. Confucius believed in creating harmony throughout society, thus Confucian classics were established. Confucian schools and teachers followed Confucian classics as a source of establishment from right and wrong.

~The concept of Neo-Confucianism revolves around the recreation of Confucianism through the eyes of Zhu Xi; and in attempt to re-familiarize China to Confucianism after Buddhism and Taoism gained popularity. Following the same core values as Confucianism, neo-Confucianism believes in spirit...

... middle of paper ...

... utmost values of a person: awareness, kindness, and wisdom.

Buddhist Influence on Neo-Confucianism

Neo-Confucianism sough out a less realistic approach towards society, in comparison to Confucianism. This is due to the use of Buddhist doctrine within the philosophy. Through the aspects of spirituality, Buddhism influences Neo-Confucianism by taking it through a more idealistic advancement on society. Adopting aspects of the Buddhist cultural, especially spiritually, opened up Neo-Confucianism to a larger group of people; because they had Confucian core values they were able to gain Confucian followers. However, by adding Taoist and Buddhist ideas, Confucian teachers were able to craft a philosophy that mostly followed Confucian core values, yet they still managed to regain followers of Taoist and Buddhist philosophy by adopting aspects from those philosophies.

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