Confucianism And Daoism Similarities

Analysis of the Similarity and Differences between Confucianism and Daoism
Throughout the 2500 years of ancient China history, Confucianism and Daoism were always important philosophy systems, which had great influences on Chinese people’s thought. （不齐？Confucianism and Daoism emerged at the same time. Confucianism was mostly adopted by governments while Daoism was popular among normal people. Even there were a lot of temples for Daoism. However, the philosophies of Confucianism and Daoism had great differences, and they even contradicted with each other sometimes. I am curious about how could two totally different philosophies existed together in China for so long time. So I read the primary texts of Confucianism and Daoism to find the answers. …show more content…
For the paragraphs of Confucianism, learning, filial piety, humaneness, rites, morality, and loyalty were the ideas that Confucius was trying to advocate. Confucius stated that to learn, and at due times to practice what one has learned, is a pleasure (Confucius Analects, 2). Learning is essential for a “noble person”. Being filial and fraternal is the root of humanness (Confucius Analects, 2). In addition, Confucius advocated that using de(moral force) and li(rites) would make people have a sense of shame and would correct themselves so that the society would be in harmony. For the paragraphs of Daoism, the Dao(“way”) is “the door to all marvels” (Lao-tzu Tao Te Ching,1), which means the origin and the way of everything in the world. It is the force of nature. There is nothing it doesn’t do (Lao-tzu Tao Te Ching,3). Laozi considered that the world was in the balance of something good and something bad. Making something good means something bad emerges at the same time. Therefore, in order to keep the order of that Dao, he advocated non-action to comply with the rules of Dao. …show more content…
In Confucianism, Confucius was trying to create a harmonious social moral system to make the world in a good order, which includes Ren(humaneness), Li(rites), Filial Piety, and Loyalty. Confucianism admits the inequality between people, and governors were the highest class. It is very interesting that this idea is totally the opposite of the method in the western world, which was the law. Nearly exactly the same time, the law was created in Rome empire. Confucius called the people with these characteristics the noble people. Confucianism states that filial devotion is people’s differences with animals (Confucius Analects, 3). In addition, Confucius said in rites, it is better to be sparing than to be excessive. In mourning, it is better to express grief than to emphasize formalities (Confucius Analects, 3), which shows that Confucianism doesn’t mean to force people to be in a strict order, such as formalities in mourning. Instead, Confucianism hopes to form the right order in people’s mind, such as expressing grief in mourning. Therefore, Confucianism tried to spread their moral theory so that the world could be back to harmony and it finally succeeded 400 years later. On the contrary, Daoism doesn’t want to make an order for the society, because Laozi thought the best order was “Dao”, the way of nature. If people try to break

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