Confucianism and Taoism: philosophical traditions and core principles

Confucianism and Taoism

Confucianism is a moral and religious system of China, dating back to the Analects and the teachings of Confucius, and to ancient commentaries, including that of Mencius (Confucianism pp). Before the third century B.C., it was basically a system of ethical precepts for the proper management of society, envisaging man as a social creature bound to others by "jen," a term meaning humanity or human kindness (Confucianism pp). Jen is expressed through five relationships: sovereign and subject, parent and child, elder and younger brother, husband and wife, and friend, all of which function smoothly by the exact adherence to "li," which denotes a combination of etiquette and ritual (Confucianism pp). In many of these relations, an individual may be superior to some while inferior to others, thus, if someone in a subordinate status wants to be treated properly, then he or she must apply a principle similar to the Golden Rule, that is, one must treat his or her own inferiors with propriety (Confucianism pp). Moreover, the ruler, as the moral exemplar of the entire state, must be irreproachable, however, every individual has a deep obligation to be virtuous (Confucianism pp).

Although it is seen more as humanism, Confucianism does have a religious character since the definition of religion focuses on identification of an Absolute and transformation of the individual then Confucianism is a religion because the end result of Confucianism is "Sagehood," which is the "transformative process that takes the seeker toward the realization of its Absolute, T'ien, Heaven, or Tien-li, Principle of Heaven" (Taylor pp).

Taoism is a Chinese philosophical system attributed to the scriptures, Tao Te Ching by the Chinese philosopher Lao Zi in the sixth century B.C., although they apparently it was the third century B.C. before they were compiled (Taoism pp). The "tao" or "way" denotes the hidden principle of the universe, placing less emphasis on doing good deeds than on harmonious interaction with the environment, believing that harmony ensures right behavior (Taoism pp). This is illustrated in the book of divination, the I Ching or Book of Changes (Taoism pp). Taoist believe that the universe is kept in balance by the opposing forces of yin and yang (Taoism pp). Yin is female and watery, the force in the Moon and rain which reaches its peak in the winter, while yang is masculine and solid, the force in the Sun and earth which reaches its peak in the summer, and it is this interaction that shapes all life (Taoism pp). Taoist rituals developed from the second century A.D. And were largely responsible for its popular growth, for it stressed physical immortality by means ranging from dietary regulation and fasting to alchemy, and by the third century, worship of gods began appearing, including that of the stove god Tsao Chun (Taoism pp). Taoist texts record the tradition of mental and physical discipline, as well as the methods to use in healing, exorcism, and the quest for immortality (Taoism pp).