Shintoism And Daoisms: A Comparative Analysis

Religions of East Asian comprise of several components. Japan’s Shintoism and China’s Confucianism and Daoism are among the oldest and most extended geographically. While each tradition has its own history and peculiarities, they also share important ideas and a core worldview. We will consider some of these aspects and concentrate in particular on how Shintoism, Confucianism and Daoism developed a syncretistic goal: living in harmony in and with the world.

Chinese people, contrarily to other societies, have a strong sense of belonging to their physical place. They have not conquered the land where they live and have developed a distinct “sense of place, of the cycles of nature, and of lineage” (Ellwood & McGraw, 2005, p. 189). This lead to

For Chinese people, the universe is one united entity that incorporates all and everyone: “smaller than an electron, it contains uncountable galaxies” (Tao Te Ching, Verse 32). Heaven, earth and society is one unique world in which humans travel and follow the flow of nature. By committing to revere its defunct family members, Chinese are deeply connected with the infinite. Their place in society and family, as Ellwood et al. (2005) stated, represents their ultimate ideal and the “value center” (p. 188). Integration and harmony with family and community represents one’s perfection. Family, including ancestors, and community link the individual with its greater and fundamental progenitors, Heaven and Earth. Living a balanced life with all the parts of the unity is a common goal for humankind in East Asian traditions: “the unending perpetuation of the good life for

As Lao-Tsu wrote, “if powerful men and women could remain centered in the Tao, all things would be in harmony. The world would become a paradise. All people would be at peace, and the law would be written in their hearts” (Lao-Tzu, Verse 32). Lao-Tzu’s concern, similar to Confucius, was to achieve a peaceful world, to contrast the political turmoil of the time. Harmony is found in nature and its flows and forces. The divine proves on earth, in mountains, rivers and trees. In a period labeled the “Warring States”, Yin and Yang presented the answer to questions such as how can we find peace in society and among rulers. How can I find reconciliation in a time of lost morality? Confucianism and Daoism provided a powerful solution by leading the path either within human society and its traditions or by observing nature and its mystical and inspiring dimension. (Ellwood et al, p. 191). Through either rationalism or sensitivity, humans could regain a peaceful and serene society. In Yin and Yang, the universe and all its units balance and complement. It would be sufficient to observe the world and the alternating forces of night and day, dark and light or the visible and the invisible, to understand that the universe is perfectly crafted. By replicating this harmony in one’s life, East Asian civilizations were capable of achieving both the internal personal well-being and the political and social