Although Buddhism was an import to China with roots in Indian belief, together with Daoism and Confucianism the Three Doctrines are collectively formed that have profound influence on Chinese culture and history. Development of the trio creates a strong focus within the basic elements of Chinese beliefs, especially in nature. Many similarities and differences exist between the eastern religions. Each has its own unique purpose and type of people. Daoism and Confucianism are two of the most powerful schools of thought in ancient China.
They searched for imported doctrines to replace it, such as the "Three Principles of the People" with the establishment of the Republic of China, and then Communism under the People's Republic of China. In the late twentieth century, Confucianism was credited with the rise of the East Asian economy and revived both in the People's Republic and abroad. The core of Confucianism is humanism, or what the philosopher Herbert Fingarette calls "the secular as sacred." The focus of spiritual concern is this world and
Chiara Tuzzato, major in Chinese language and culture at Ca’ Foscari University Identity, Heritage and Globalization: Mid-term paper The problems of Chinese Identity: Han versus Minorities Identity China has always had a strong tendency in consider itself as a united and unique country, separated from the rest of the world. Since the Han period (206 B.C.-220A.C. ), and later through the succession of the Dynasties, the shifting territories that belonged to the Empire had developed a primeval idea of Chinese identity, based mainly on the imperial central authority and a symbolic conception of power. This complex political symbolism combined the traditional cosmological theories, which had a Confucian matrix, with the influence of other cultures, such as the Tibetan Buddhism. Even if there have been several influential predominant cultures that penetrated and conquered the leadership throughout the centuries (namely Mongolian and Manchurian cultures, Buddhism and also partially Islamism).
These Sages, who were given “Zi” at the end of their names, went around the kingdoms, explaining to the ruler what they thought the best solution was for uniting China. The most prominent ideas were usually any of the three sects, Daoist, Confucianist or Legalist. Daoism was based on the ideas of Laozi and Zhuangzi, Confucianism on those of Confucius (Kongzi) and Mencius (Mengzi), and Legalism on those of Han Feizi. Confucianism was not adopted in Confucius’ life time. It developed later,
Applying this to social action essentially creates a utopian society. Both of the ideologies acknowledge that individuals must be united through the pursuit of “the way” for it to succeed. We must ignore our individual greed because in the end everyone will suffer, society will never achieve harmony as long as we walk over other to benefit ourselves. For example according to Lao Tzu “The government is divided, fields are overgrown, granaries are empty, but the nobles’ clothes
Table of Contents Introduction 2 History of Confucianism 3 Confucian influence on social and political aspects of society 4 Confucian Institutes 6 Lei Feng 7 Conclusion 10 Bibliography 11 Introduction Liang Shuming, 梁漱溟, 1893-1988, a Chinese philosopher, reformist and follower of the Confucius teachings, who believed Confucianism combined with various Western values to be especially significant to the creation of a harmonious society, defined culture as a people’s way of life – spiritual, social, and material, and furthermore meant that the value of a culture lies in its distinctive differences from others. (Sor-Hoon Tan, 2008, pp. 144). China is one of the oldest societies of world history, dating approximately 5.000 years back, and roughly half of this period has mainly been dominated by Confucian influence shaping the before mentioned values. The founder of Confucianism, Confucius, is considered the most influential thinker and moral philosopher of the Chinese civilization, which is also strengthened by the name he was given, Xianshi, 先師, the teacher from the past or the foremost teacher.
By the turn of the twentieth century, elements of Indian nationalism and Chinese revolution existed in embryonic form. In the years to follow, Mahatma Gandhi would emerge as the leader of the Indian Independence Movement and Mao Zedong led the Chinese Communist Party. Both countries were forever changed by the movements led by these two leaders. Although the inherent political and intellectual differences between Gandhi and Mao eliminate any blatantly obvious connections, similarities exist in both of the leaders’ universal goals of enacting economic, political, and social changes within their respected countries. For both China and India, the early twentieth century marked a period of radical changes that were not common to these highly traditional societies.
During the study of world religions, one will undoubtedly cover Taoism. So why then, is it not considered to be a genuine religion? Taoism is many things; but an organized religion, it is not. Those who do research on Taoism will find that it is purely a profound philosophy on how to live your life, according to the Tao. Taoism was introduced into the Chinese culture more than two thousand years ago (Encyclopædia Britannica).
The alternative political cultural philosophies of China (Daoism, Legalism, and later Buddhism) mostly broadened the attraction of Confucianism. However, the Confucian bureaucracy was a core cultural identity throughout the China Empire. The China Empire nurtured foreign religions usually during times of imperial disorder. When referring to the role of the emperor, the Chinese selected a man who could control the imperial family and court because they believed that eventually the Mandate of Heaven would pass from one dynasty to another. The Qin,
The Qin Dynasty is well known for beginning the Great Wall of China. The other major contributions of the Qin include the concept of a centralized government, the unification of the legal code, development of the written language, measurement, and currency of China after the tribulations of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods. The Han Dynasty emerged in 206 BC, with its founder Liu Bang proclaimed emperor in 202 BC. It was the first dynasty to embrace the philosophy of Confucianism, which became the ideological underpinning of all regimes until the end of imperial China. Under the Han Dynasty, China made great advances in many areas of the arts and sciences.