Diffusion: The Diffusion Of Confucianism

After imperial structure was restored, the Chinese began to disapprove of Buddhism (docs 4, 6). Chinese government authorities increasingly saw Buddhism as a threat to their political power and moved to discredit it. Imperial Tang advisor Han Yu saw Buddhism as evil, anti-Confucian, and illegal (doc 4). Han Yu’s position and livelihood greatly depends on Confucianism remaining dominant, especially due to the civil service system, which provided him with his government job. Due to this, he is not a very reliable source on how the average citizen and even the Chinese emperor felt about Confucianism remaining dominate (doc 4, POV).

Many people have mistaken Confucianism as a religion. However, it is a system of belief, a philosophy. This belief emphasizes on respect and harmony of relationships. Moreover, it pushed for a well-ordered society by accentuating human relationships, a righteous leader and a good education. Confucius, a philosopher and a teacher, founded Confucianism. He grew up in the period of warring states, a time of chaos and internal hostilities during the Zhou Dynasty. Therefore, Confucius’ ultimate goal was to transform the Chinese society into a state of unity and righteous. However, Confucianism did not flourish until the Han Dynasty. It also played a different role in the Song Dynasty.

The civil service examination system, which were central to confucian teachings, was present in both the Tang and Song dynasty. Therefore, only the most high ranking officials were scholars who mastered Confucianism the best. The emperor was recognized as the Son of God. According to Confucian teachings, the ruler of the people should be honorable while the citizens should be respectful and obedient in return, but that was not the case. “In reality, however, the system was heavily biased toward the authorities (Littleton 114).” This being a cause that led to the Tang Dynasty follow Buddhism. “Confucianism never disappeared from sight and in fact continued to dominate elite family life and governmental service (Bethrong).” Although Neo-Confucianism was withering, it never truly was gone. Confucianism was a very important factor to the government

The base layer of many cultures is their religion, or philosophy of how they should live. The religion, or beliefs of a culture or region, can shape and mold that society in many different ways, whether it is how they view society, nature, and civilization or how they treat one another. Both Daoism and Confucianism played a pivotal roll in the development of Asian cultures. Confucianism came from the early teachings of the Dao or the “way of life” which began “The classical period beginning in the Xia, Shang, and Zhou kingdoms, including the justly famous Warring States philosophers at the end of the Shou kingdom from (1700-221 BCE), while Daoism started after in 200 BCE. While Daoism started to develop in 200 BCE and on. Both Daoism and Confucianism believed in the power of the Dao or the “way of life”. Although, while the followers of Confucianism had much more leeway and had the freedom to create their own destiny, in Daoism, the people let the Dao determine what path their life would take.

One of Lao Tzu’s successors, Zhuang Zi was also a major influence to the religion, who wrote another crucial book to the religion. In addition to the influences made by certain people, Taoism morphed over time due to the influences from religions. In the beginning, Taoism was a religion focused on simple meditation and recitation of verses, but during the 5th century AD it stole some concepts from Buddhism including reincarnation (unity with the universe) and cosmology. During the 6th century many talismans and rituals became part of Taoism. By the 1200s, the differences between Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism became subtle and less defined. Furthermore, we have knowledge concerning how the concepts and beliefs of Taoism

In ancient china there were two widely different philosophes being so excepted within the same culture. The two philosophes were Confucianism and Legalism. Confucianism was during 55 B, in China. Legalism was during 475-221 BC, also in China. Confucianism is a belief or an idea. The purpose of this was to show people how to be in harmony with their place in life. Legalism is a ruling made by Shi Huangdi, who was a strict ruler in china. The purpose of this ruling was to get the people of china to follow the rule, and if they didn’t there was a very harsh punishment. Although confucianism and legalism have some similarities, but the differences between the two are amazingly clear.

The Ancient Chinese had interesting ways of thinking. Legalism beliefs were a more negative way of thinking than the beliefs of Confucianism because if one did not believe in Legalism, they were tortured, killed, or enslaved (HB). Confucius thought more positively and he said: “Wherever you go, go with all your heart” (BrainyQuote). Confucius was the scholar and philosopher who founded Confucianism. Han Feizi introduced the beliefs of Legalism (WS). Both Confucianism and Legalism were formed in ancient China (HB). Confucianism existed from - and Legalism took place from 280-233 B.C. (WS). Although Confucianism and Legalism have some similarities, the differences between the two are clear.

Confucius only taught around 3,000 students during his lifetime in the Zhou Dynasty, but his ideas and values became integrated with the Chinese culture of the past and the present (Ames). He created a syllabus for mastering the “six arts” and inspired those who followed his principles to become effective citizens. Although no one knows much about his life, he greatly influence the way China grew into what it is today.

Daoist philosophy places emphases on an instinctive awareness, supported by balanced contact with nature, and rejects everything that is not natural. The principles of the Daoist encouraged isolation from humanity for personal development in nature and attaining balance between yin and yang. Confucian philosophy seeks order and social stability. The philosophy states that junzi (superior person) who has ren (human heartedness), exemplifies the ideal social order sought. An individual could become a junzi by promoting certain qualities like understanding of suffering and a quest of morality and righteousness. Confucius and his disciple Mencius had an influence on Chinese thought and social practice. Chinese traditions of worshiping deceased ancestors and exceptional leaders inspired the growth of Confucianism as a philosophic custom and religion. Confucianism was established as the state’s official doctrine by Emperor Wu of the Han dynasty. However, both philosophies of Confucianism and Daoism believed that anyone can develop wisdom or skill, regardless of social status or birth.

The third is younger and older siblings, older sibling were supposed to be considerate toward their younger siblings and in turn the younger sibling are supposed to be respectful to their older siblings. The fourth is friend and friend, the confucianism categorize this the same as the older and younger sibling relationship. The last relationship is father and son, fathers are taught to be kind to their sons and sons are taught to be obedient and listen to their fathers. Confucius also called Kongzi or Kongfuzi in chinese is the founder of Confucianism in 770B.C to 476B.C. He devoted his whole life to education and he had around 3,000 disciples. He also believed that political order would be found by the proper ordering of human relationships. He said that a good government must be filed with people who are well educated and consciences people which are called Junzi. Chinese people built temples to commemorate Confucius. Confucius temples are also called Kong Miao in Chinese. Temples are where people of confucianism worship, and the most known temple is Qufu in Shandong Province. It consists of the cemetery of Confucius, temple of Confucius, and the confucius family

As Buddhism spread from India to China at the beginning of the first century C.E., it was received with differing opinions ranging from advocating to discouraging its spread from opposing social classes within China, ranging from government officials, Buddhist scholars, and Confucian scholars.

Confucius original name is Kong Qiu and is also known by his honorific name Kong Fu Zi. He lived during the end of Spring and Autumn Period (770BC – 476 BC) and beginning of the Warring State Period (471BC - 221BC). Confucius was one of the few men who have deeply influenced human history by the force of their personal and intellectual gifts and achievements . He believed strongly in filial piety, loyalty and benevolence. His belief and philosophy is known as ‘Confucianism’ but it has always been disputable whether or not is it an established religion. However, his set of tradition that began in China

Buddhism, initially widely accepted in China over the centuries has been criticized. Rather than having a positive effect, Buddhism has been condemned due to its “barbaric” nature in comparison to Confucianism. Buddhism was a faith that has been deemed as an outcast due to it only being recently adopted in China. Before Buddhism, Confucianism was the religion that dominated from 206-220 BC, originating in China by a Chinese philosopher known as Confucius. Buddhism is a universal religion that originated during the 6th century BC in India and was practiced in various regions, and came to prevail in China due to the fall of the Han Dynasty; China, lacking political structure, turned towards Buddhism. Though both Confucianism and Buddhism are

It can be said that opposites attract as well as complement each other. Within the religions of Daoism, Confucianism, and Shinto lay harmony, respect, and ethical behavior towards nature, ancestors, oneself, and others. Although Daoism and Confucianism are native to China and Shinto to Japan, East Asian cultures integrate these religions and practices with openness and acceptance. They are the light and dark without reference to good or bad as the opposites necessitate one another. (Fisher, 2014, 201) Instead the interwoven religions of Daoism, Confucianism, and Shinto compliment each other in addition to having distinct differences.

Originated from China, Confucianism, an ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of Chinese philosopher Confucius, is considered as one of the largest religions in Asia, concerned with the principles of good conduct, practical wisdom, and proper social relationship. Among Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, Vietnam and Singapore are profoundly affected by Confucian ideas in many aspects of life such as economy, policy, society and especially in education. Although both Vietnam and Singapore’s education have been influenced by Confucianism, there are similarities and differences between two countries in terms of origin, moral education