Compare And Contrast Hinduism And Confucianism

Buddhism and Confucianism are both unique religions that have their origins in the continent of Asia. While they both share similarities, Buddhism and Confucianism are also very different from each other and through the elements of religion I will be comparing what makes Buddhism and Confucianism so unique. The elements of religion I will be covering in this essay are founders, history, practices, teachings, scripture, worship, worldview, and ultimate goals. The objective of this essay is to emphasize the qualities these two religions share, as well as to identify what makes them different.

Although Daoism believes in modesty, and Confucianism emphasizes honesty, ruling a kingdom effectively during a time of turmoil requires sovereignty. Legalism is a system of pure power that demands restraint and discipline with an emphasis on strict laws. Daoism maintains the balance of nature and embrace harmony by utilizing “The Dao.” Confucianism highlights virtues and morality wanting people to become The Superior Man. For an East Asian Kingdom plagued by famine, war, and civil unrest, Legalism would bring order to the Kingdom by a centralized and powerful government, strict laws that govern the people, and once peace ensues, a secure economy.

Asia was shaped during the classical era by different religions that influenced it socially and politically. Confucianism and Islam are two beliefs that came about during the Classical period of China and Islam. However, they both flourished in China, and both became very different religions and philosophies. Although both beliefs possessed a few similarities, they were still two very distinct. Where the two beliefs compare in minor topics such as a caste system, they differ in beliefs as a whole. Confucianism is a philosophy, not a religion, and is a very unique idea. Whereas, Islam is in fact a religion and can be compared to the religion of Christianity.

During Classical period (600 B.C.E - 600 C.E), religion and beliefs had a big impact on society and culture development. They helped the societies create more special characteristics, and bring social order in the societies. Hinduism in India, and Confucianism in China, both did help to influence and improve the societies deeply. Both of them introduced their moral rules, and added classes system, but they both had differences on their goals of people’s individual responsibilities, and also individuals focus.

Before the emergence of Buddhism, the Mauryan empire in India had the belief of there being a caste system in place in the society which separated the Indian citizens into social groups ranging from the untouchable to the kings and priest. In China, Confucianism emphasized a five key relationships social structure which was ruler to subject, father to son, husband to wife, elder to younger, and friend to friend. In Confucianism, the king or emperor was the highest authority in the land. After the emergence of Buddhism in India, the caste system was abolished because Gupta thought that the caste system was unethical which allowed it to appear to the lower class and creating a large base of Buddhist in India. On the other hand in China, people also adopted Buddhism because it allowed the lower class not accepted in Confucianism to be accepted and Buddhism gave women some sort of religious equality  and importance to men, which was rare during those

Confucianism is the value of ceremonies, "ritual propriety". The need to create meaning and value in completing a task or in understanding ones role in a society. The teachings of Confucianism are based around the structure of a society or a meaningful idea around the importance of ones culture. In my own religion, Hinduism, and in my culture, being Guyanese, the idea of obeying a parent and knowing ones place as well as caring for them when they get old is the same as in Confucianism. Sticking close to them and helping them in their old age is an idea held by the cultural understanding that my parents will grow old one day and will need someone to take care of them as they did for me. Although many westerners don't understand this idea due to the push for individualism, many cultures in Asia give meaning to life through helping the community or helping your family prosper. Hinduism focuses on the idea of building ones dharma and therefore your karma in which both are interlocked to help advance you up the latter of life to a higher being. This is different in comparison to Confucianism in which there is no central god or gods but there is still this idea of going up the latter of life through understanding your position in it and how you can follow these

Buddhism is a religion that is practiced by millions of people across the world. It is a religion that heavily focuses on a variety of traditions, beliefs, and spiritual practices that are based on the teachings of the Buddha, also known as Siddhartha Gautama. Periodically viewed as a philosophy or a religion, the teaching of Confucius also known as Confucianism, is concerned with primarily ethnical principles; the way of life. Buddhism and Confucianism are both spiritual beliefs that sought ways to end peoples suffering across the world. For those that practice the Buddhist faith or that of Confucius can see many of the similarities and differences that both these practices share. To understand the similarities and differences one needs to be exposed to the pathways of Confucianism and Buddhism.

Hinduism, Confucianism and Buddhism are three of the world’s most distinguished belief systems of the past and for some, still in the present. The guidelines they provided influenced the social, political and religious lives of people within the societies that followed them. Hinduism emerged when the Aryans arrived in ancient India and began to combine their ideas with those of the Dravidians, the native population. One major Hindu idea was the caste system, which influenced the social lives of its followers and provided the state with political stability. Confucianism first saw an emergence of numerous followers during the Warring States period, when many philosophers were developing ideas for how to return order to China in this era of chaos.

Confucianism and Daoism are the most popular religions in the Chinese society. In short, Confucianism respects the virtues of love, good treatment of the other persons, respect for older people, and reverence of the family. Good manners remain the core of Confucianism religion as it mentioned in the Analects “what you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.” On the other hand, Daoism, unlike Confucianism, does not consider the work as a priority. In order to reach a harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, Daoism encourages its followers to practice meditation and solitude in fantasy and remote islands. It is against the civil aspects because it believes that those aspects play a crucial role on corrupting human beings.

Although Islam and Confucianism represent two totally different worldviews, they have similar characteristics, which provide a potential idea, that both can be from a common source. Mirza Tahir Ahmad, who was a Caliph in Ahmadiyya Muslim community, supported this idea in his book “Revelation, Nationality, Knowledge & Truth”. He supports his idea saying, “All humans are God’s creation; it stands to reason that God not only guided people in the Middle East through Abrahamic prophets. He also guided other people through prophets like Confucius, Buddha and Zoroaster.” His claim is based on the existence of common themes between Islamic and Confucian teachings. Another supporting evidence is that God in one of the verses of Quran in which He

their ancestors. Many followers of different religions at this point in time started to see

On the outside looking in you only see that there are a few present day religions that are very active in our society. This is how I saw things at least however, there are many different religions and most of them practice different things. In this classes I learned a lot about Buddhism, Hinduism and many others. Although they may be different in many ways they are still classified as Religions of the East. In this course I found myself looking into many different ethics and their background. Confucianism and Buddhism are very strong in the Eastern religions and they are very different. Even the themes of the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita are very similar and different.

Confucianism and Daoism are two very influential Chinese philosophies. Originating during a time of chaos and separation of the Chinese people, it was the Golden Age of China intellectual thought blossomed. While both are two separate philosophy’s, it was common for people to follow a blend of both beliefs. These moral codes sought to lead order amongst the political disorder disintegration. The existential thinkers of Confucianism and Daoism preached their doctrines to the people of China and gained followers no matter if they were or were not successful and political additions. Through the comparison of Confucianism and Daoism, both originated in China and both focus on self-improvement, but their social gender inferiority and goal of philosophy set them apart making them both alike and different one from another.

Throughout much of China the major religions include Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. In the Confucius religion, the focus is on filial piety which is respect. This would include respect for one’s parents, elders, ancestors, and so forth through moral harmony. Confucianism is first and foremost a philosophy that seeks to regulate the five sets of human relationship: parent-child, spouse-spouse, elder brother-younger brother, elder friend—younger friend, and ruler-subject. According to Confucius, we live out our humanity in the context of human relationships, under the watchful eye of heaven. Further, there seems to be a paradox in this religion to many westerners because Confucius never spoke about a God, or supreme being, but talked heavily

Thousands of years ago, two main religions of Ancient India were known as Hinduism and Buddhism. The ethical and spiritual of both religions profoundly shaped Indian civilizations. Both of the religions share common beliefs as well as their differences. They are widely practiced, and have survived for centuries. Hinduism was created by the Aryans after they emerged through India by migration, according to the Khyber Pass, while Buddhism was created by a high caste system named Siddhartha Gautama. Hinduism and Buddhism have their key beliefs that influenced those who believed in the two religions.