Buddhism Vs Confucianism Essay

China has been the home to various religions. At different times different dynasties endorsed certain religions while repressing others. While Buddhism flourished during the Sui and Tang dynasty, it faced opposition from the government during the Song dynasty. Confucianism lost government endorsement during the Sui and Tang but gained momentum during the Song as Neo-Confucianism. Yuan dynasty promoted Islam and Tibet Buddhism but ignored Confucianism. Different rulers sponsored and protected different religions but Confucianism and some form of Buddhism have always been alive in Chinese society from 600 to 1450.

At the core of any nation’s culture are its religious beliefs. In China there are the “Three Jewels” Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism, as described in Lopez (1996). There are small numbers of people practicing other religions such as Christianity and Islam, but these are the three dominant beliefs of the region. While they are separate in content, they have coexisted for several thousand years. Lopez (1996) goes on to say, “Historical precedent and popular parlance attest to the importance of this threefold division for understanding Chinese culture…Buddhism is the sun, Daoism the moon, and Confucianism the five planets…suggesting that although they remain separate, they also coexist as equally indispensable phenomena of the natural world.” Each belief system stands alone, and at the same time needs the other(s).

According to Reid, a few of the major “Confucianism” ethos and practices involve ‘Ren’, ‘yi’ and ‘li’ which represents the concept of ‘altruism’ along with clear depiction of the humanness for other individuals (Reid 29-66).

Buddhism and Taoism both originated and influenced most the Asian area. They are not just religions but a way of living life with philosophic principles. They are both seeking equality and moral existence. Buddhism have several branches just like the Hinayana, Mahayana, Esoteric, Pure Land, and the Zen Buddhism. Taoism can also be divided into a few. The main ones are the Southern and Northern Taoism. Taoism got many principles borrowed from the Buddhist one they influenced each other through their history. Taoism in the beginning was rather a mixture of mythology, folk, and philosophy teachings. With the arrival of Buddhism, it was forced to renew and reorganize itself. Both of the religion does their practices in monasteries, temples and shrines and also both of them use statues and pictures expressing their beliefs.

practices. I must stress that this was not a formal or universal change in religion but a

Confucianism is a time enduring philosophy that has stood up to invading clans, war, resentment, enforcement and infringement of new philosophies, and eventually, revival. For almost 80 years, up until the late 1970’s, Confucianism and its ideas and values have been all but wiped away from China. Though effort was made to remove Confucianism for good from China by the Communist leader Mao Zedong in 1949, the ideas and values were so deeply embedded into peoples mind and the culture that even suppression could not keep it out of the culture and practices. The main factor that has brought Confucianism back into the limelight in China and other East Asian countries is the recent

Thesis: Chinese Confucianism and Roman Christianity are similar in both set key principles adopted by governments and both were created by leaders who taught by lesson yet different in that Confucianism was promoted by the government whereas political leaders in Rome strongly opposed Christianity.

The origins and founders of these two religions are quite similar, which will be explained in this paragraph. Confucianism was founded by a man named Confucius; which is how the

Confucianism and Daoism seem to be complete polar opposites but there are some similarities between the two. One way that they are similar is that they both focus on the goal of self-improvement. Their teachings both agree that people are responsible for their personal life, individual

Buddhism originated in India in fifth century BCE. In Buddha’s first sermon, he states that sorrow arises from craving and in order to stop the craving, one must follow the “Noble Truth of the Way” (Document 1). Later around 350 CE, China was invaded by central Asian steppe nomads. During this time, Zhi Dun, a Chinese scholar and author and friend of Chinese governmental officials, wrote that anyone who follows Buddha teachings and the path of Buddhism, he or she will be “enlightened in his spirit, and then he [or she] will reach Nirvana.” In Zhi Dun’s perspective, he believes that Buddhism will calm down China through its peaceful method of meditation. Due to invasions, disunity was present in the society (Document 2). As a result, many Chinese scholars saw Buddhism established order and control and found it as a way of reviving China. An anonymous Chinese scholar, who published the Disposition of Error in 500 CE, stated that he who follows the Way will gain “goodness and wisdom” in place of “worldly pleasures” (Document 3). While Confucianism was based on the idea of creating a better world, Buddhism focused more on acquiring more knowledge and being good to oneself. The monks who reach enlightenment give up their worldly views because they want peace in the world over their own desire of a wife and

The ideas of Confucianism and Christianity have both made significant impacts on the world, bringing masses of people together for a common purpose. Both have creeds and principles that have guided millions towards leading a better, more purpose-driven life. However, Confucianism and Christianity have very distinct differences. The practices of Confucianism and Christianity have many differences regarding their doctrines and purpose of life. Both groups are similar in that they have one, clear leader; however, Confucius and Jesus Christ were vastly different from one another.

There are a number of similarities between the eastern religions and philosophies of Confucianism, Buddhism and Hinduism. While Hinduism is centered around a supreme being, Buddhism and Confucianism are centered around the teachings of a man. Each encourages moral behavior, ethical values, such as non-violence, charity, and a respect for the universe. To better understand the philosophical similarities and differences between Confucianism, Buddhism and Hinduism, it is important first to consider the teachings of Buddha, Patanjali and Confucius in their historical context.

As for the early Chinese, the fact that Taoist philosophy dictates the all beings are inherently good and come from the Tao, we are all part of the Tao and all our actions and inaction affect all other beings and thus all beings should align with the Tao and thus, by virtue of Wu wei (no action) act in strict accord with the Tao in it's infinity De (power; virtue; integrity) we become complete and are enlightened. IF you substitute Buddha mind or Dharma for Tao, you have a fair definition of Buddhist philosophy as well. So, it's hard to argue that the two do not share similar understandings.

“It is often said that, aside from the impact of Marxism on twentieth-century China, the only other time when the Chinese looked beyond their own borders for intellectual sustenance was during the period when Buddhism was absorbed from India” (LaFleur 23). Why did this religion appeal to the Chinese when they disregarded so many other external influences? After all, being tied to the rest of the world by the Silk Road meant they were constantly inundated with novel concepts from far and wide. The answer must lie in how Buddhism interacted with the other faiths already established in the country, namely Confucianism and Daoism (sometimes spelled Taoism). While at first glance it may appear that Confucian China would be the last place

Most ancient philosophical ideas developed in the ancient Chinese empires are believed to have their roots from Confucius. Confucianism was a simple way of life propagated by Confucius around the fifth and sixth century BC. Often perceived as a religion and other times as philosophy, it is conceivably best unspoken as a comprehensive humanism that neither slights nor denies heaven. The Chinese populaces have devotedly observed Confucianism for nearly two millennia. It has become an implicit part of their culture. However, there seem to be a cod division among its proponents holding contrasting perspectives and understanding with respect to it. The central focus of this presentation is to address the questions whether Confucianism is a religion or a philosophy or it encompasses both.