Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Different question: Does anyone here understand the difference between Tao and Confucius teachings?

My sons and I have been reading about ancient history, right now we are discussing China's history. The Tao seems interesting and I understand Confucius was a bit different although respectful. Your thoughts please?|||This is based on the readings that I have done.





Confucianism teaching are more of a moral code. It teaches how people should behave, meaning in what position they are in, they should behave what is required from the position and nothing else. In confucianism, some of the topics that are touch on include, friendship, ruler and officials relationship, political governance and learning.





Taoism on the other hand strongly believes that for everything there is a 'natural' flow of things and we should just go with it, instead of interrupting it. Laissez faire approach.





Since you and your sons are studying these two school of thoughts,I suggest you'll make a study on Han Dynasty to know them better, especially the reign of Han Wudi. This is because the Han Dynasty, before Han Wudi, adopted Taoism as the central political thought until Han Wudi changed it to Confucianism. There is a 'power' struggle during the process of changing.|||I have heard from many they are both more really philosophy rather than theology but know little about either|||I would say Confucianism is more a moral code than a religion - it's very ritualistic but not really focused on the adoration or worship of gods.





Taoism is a religion, although not an unified one.|||The book about Taoism I have found most useful is Arthur Waley's translation of Tao Te Ching (Lao-Tzu): "The Way and Its Power: A Study of the Tao Te Ching and its Place in Chinese Thought" Arthur Waley has also translated "The Analects of Confucius." Waley also published a book called "Three Ways of Thought in Ancient China"; the 3rd way being the "Realists."





If I remember correctly, The Tao Te Ching is written somewhat in the form of a treatise on how a society should be ruled. However, its advice is somewhat paradoxical or contrary to Confucius.





There has been a relative recent find of an ancient text of Lao-Tzu. A discussion of this and a translation have been published by Robert G. Henricks: "Lao-Tzu Te-Tao Ching: A New Translation Based on the Recently Discovered Ma-wang-tui Texts."|||Basically, the difference between Taoism %26amp; Confucianism is, Taoism emphasizes man's relationship with nature, %26amp; Confucianism emphasizes man's relationship with his fellow man.|||Lao-Tzu wrote the Tao-Teh-King and Tao means " the way to solving the mystery which underlies all mysteries" it didn't just mean "the way". He left after this and was never heard from again.


Confucious was a contemporary of Lao-Tzu but it seems he never wrote anything down, he was mostly reported by those around him, his disciples.


( Confucious say..... etc). His material was from, or gave credit to, some ancient Chinese works, one of them was probably the Book of Winds. (very old)


Confucious was a model philosopher to have in a government, a great apostle of conservatism and worshipped in his century on many levels in China.


But he was mostly codifying conduct.


The great philosopher of that period was Lao-Tzu, though less known.

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