Confucianism and Taoism

A detailed Summary of Confucianism and Taoism


Religion is religion, right? Not necessarily. There are people in this country who don't believe in Christianity yet still follow the basic teachings of living. Confucianism and Taoism are just two of those religions practiced in this country, alone. The differences between the two are wide. From the legends surrounding them, to the ethical systems involved, to the preaching styles of the two founders, Confucius and Lao-Tzu.

Confucius(Kung Fu-Tzu or Master Kung) was born in the year 551 BC, in the state of Lu. At the age of three his father died leaving him to basically raise himself. Through his early years, in menial jobs, he forged a bond with the common people. In his 20's he began a string of unsuccessful positions in government. They didn't last very long because he was always in opposition with his superiors. After an equally ineffectual marriage he set himself up as a teacher. And as a teacher, the word spread, creating a following, which became his greatest achievement(H


Confucius' need to reach the rulers of his country was strong. He was almost obsessed with trying to make them see. His goal was to become important in his country so that his philosophies would be taken seriously. For years he trudged the countryside, making himself known to rulers and common people alike(Huston Smith, The World's Religions, p. 155). Confucius wrote many books. There were 5 Canonical Classics: The Canon of History, The Canon of Poetry, the Canon of Changes, Book of Rites and the Book of Filial Piety. There was also the Book of Great Learning, which taught virtue, the Doctrine of Mean, which taught moderation, and the Analects, which are the sayings of Confucius. Lao-Tzu, on the other hand, didn't preach. He firmly believed and that's all that mattered. When he got tired of people not living in harmony with nature, he left to retire on a mountain. If it weren't for the gatekeeper who asked for him to write down his teachings all we would have from him is a legend

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