Compare And Contrast Daoism And Confucianism

Daoism and Confucianism are two antique Chinese approaches to existing. The former is based on the idea of harmonious and well-balanced living. The latter considers that it is necessary to set appropriate examples through five relationships, which are ruler and follower, older and younger relative, wife and husband, friend and friend, and father and son, for others to follow. Both these philosophies have some features of religion, but mostly they seem to oppose each other. Confucianism seems to be worldlier. It focuses on a person’s social needs and his/her everyday life. Daoism is different; its main idea is to hold Dao. It concentrates on an individual’s relationship to himself/herself to achieve inner agreement. That is why it is possible …show more content…
Lao-Tzu once mentioned that it is possible to understand the real Dao without leaving the house. It actually became a classical statement of Daoism. Confucianism was an attempt to release tension between a man and society, to strengthen a social-political system of China by improving it. Daoism, in its turn, worked out its own quite unique system of person’s cultural development. Confucianism was the elite doctrine of well-educated, intellectual stratum of society. Daoism became a democratic philosophy, which searched for spontaneity and naturalness. Daoists were the opponents of Confucians considering that a person should not follow social doctrines. According to the former, it is necessary for human beings to long for natural and spontaneous behavior. Daoism also includes the idea of people’s inborn equality and need to come back to their natural state. Daoists had their own clergy, temples and sacred books. Their saints were appreciated and worshiped in China. Daoism refused the authority of political and military relations (“The World 's Religions: Taoism (Daoism)” …show more content…
It was not important for them to follow the world’s progress. They did not appreciate egoism or aggressive capitalist society. Their desire was to break away from rage and fighting. Daoists searched for spontaneous flow of life. It was the practice they tried to bring to a real life. Confucianism has different ideas about everyday life and society importance. One of its significant concepts is to adhere to accepted norms and principles. People’s relationships have to follow a number of responsibilities and duties. Each person should understand and feel comfortable in his/her own role. People, who act correctly, can improve and reorganize the society. Only if one explores the surrounding world, he/she will become smart. Knowledge brings sincere thoughts and ideas while an open mind improves a person’s character. An educated and sophisticated individual makes his family better. Families, in their turn, regulate the state. The peace in the world will be achieved only if there is harmony in families (Smith 158;