Preview

Daoism, Confucianism, Legalism

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
424 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Daoism, Confucianism, Legalism
Confucianism, Daoism, Legalism

Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism are all forms of different ways of thinking. These different “thought processes” are considered, in different ways, a big influence on different cultures. The differences in all of these philosophies is what makes them unique, they are, in my opinion, way beyond their own time period. Many people think of these as mostly religion or philosophy, but either may be true. This essay will present the facts associated with each of these ways of thinking.
Confucianism was founded around the fifth or sixth century BC, and it is still surviving with around five to six million followers. Confucianism was not exactly founded by Confucius himself, but he was more of a transmitter to teach other people about this way of life. It greatly impacted the way of life and culture in China, even today it still affects the Asian countries such as Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. The main belief in Confucianism is to achieve benevolence, as it signifies excellent character and virtues.
Daoism was founded by Lao Zi, and not much is known about him due to many stories of him are thought to be legends and cannot be confirmed. The teaching is about an energy that was given off by all living things. This energy was called “Dao”. Daoism teaches to forget all worldly possessions and wants and attempt to commune with nature. It basically teaches how people to treat nature and the natural world, as well as themselves personally.
Legalism was a way to make all citizens of China model citizens to act as the dynasty at that time wanted them to. They made laws very harsh therefore nobody would be brave enough to break any. It gives the people almost no civil rights or personal freedoms outside of the laws they must abide by. The legalists believed in the well-being of the state or region, not an individual person. Legalism was also founded in about 770-221 BC, and the founder was Hsun Tzu.
As you can clearly see, these three

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Daoism: philosophical system developed by Lao-tzu and Chuang-tzu advocating a simple honest life and noninterference with the course of natural events…

    • 2526 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Ian Cabalo October 2012 Period Two AP World History Unit 2: Chapter 8: The Unification of China In Search of Political and Social Order (continued) C Legalism 1. The doctrine of practical and efficient statecraft a. No concern with ethics and morality b. No concern with the principles governing nature 2. Shang Yang (ca. 390-338 B.C.E.), chief minister of Qin and Legalist writer 3.…

    • 1399 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Crap it all

    • 4302 Words
    • 18 Pages

    Confucian ideology and legitimate rule a. Importance of people’s welfare b. Civilize locals and support elites c. Confucian ideals became imperial doctrine i. No more rule by fear 6.…

    • 4302 Words
    • 18 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Many found solace in Daoist thinking, even emperors. Indeed, emperors did not fret the spread of Daoism because it offered little political threat. This movement considers political activity and learning to be of no consequence to a good life. The best way to achieve Daoist harmony with nature is through humility and frugal living. Daoism promoted an elaborate spirituality which created a distinctive division in Chinese philosophies. Daoism, Legalism, and Confucianism all shaped classical China’s civilization.…

    • 866 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Confucianism vs Daosim

    • 355 Words
    • 1 Page

    Confucius, the founder of Confucianism, started off teaching his ideals to only a few students of his, but after he died these beliefs became more popular and even became the framework of some government in china, mainly the Han Dynasty. Confucius believed that keeping family and government parallel to each other and keeping social order was the way to peace. Loyalty and the five relationships; ruler-subject, husband-wife, parent-child, older sibling-younger sibling, and friend-friend, were used to maintain social order. Confucianism stressed the importance of relationships, while Daoism was more about self-worth and finding peace with yourself. People needed to follow their own Dao (way of life) and oath through nature, and not think about hierarchy and obedience to rulers. In Confucianism everyone has their own place, but in Daoism you ignore what society says and find your own way.…

    • 355 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Early Indochina

    • 909 Words
    • 4 Pages

    1.) Why did the political chaos of the Period of the Warring States give rise to philosophies such as Confucianism, Legalism, and Daoism? Compare and contrast these philosophies and explain which would be the most effective in ruling a large, complex society such as China.…

    • 909 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The idea of ruling a powerful government based on the principle of using two conflicting ideologies at the same time appeared foreign to most dynasties of early China. In early Chinese times, after the Period of the Warring States, two ideologies emerged: Legalism and Confucianism. Legalism stressed a strong central government that expressed harsh laws while Confucianism had a decentralized government, placing trust in conscientious and learned individuals to work together to solve political issues. These two schools of thought were in stark contrast to each other and, up until the Han dynasty, had never been combined with each other through government policy. The Qin dynasty, for example implemented a strict Legalist government while the Zhou dynasty applied a decentralized Confucianist government, which, as with the Qin dynasty, did not last long. As opposed to the Qin and Zhou dynasties, the combination of Legalist and Confucianist values led to a successful government in the Han dynasty because it gave way to a strong central government along with a rise in cultural and intellectual thinking while also checking each of the ideologies to prevent one from becoming too dominant.…

    • 1655 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ming Dynasty Essay

    • 1016 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Taoism or “Daoism” were widely spread throughout the Ming dynasty. Taoism can be defined as a philosophical ideology of a polytheistic…

    • 1016 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    As a conclusion, Taoism originated as almost a rebellion against Confucian thoughts and ideas, rebelling against the rigid hierarchy and roles that were required of the the Confucianist people, and withdrawing themselves from their society to go and be one with nature. The significance of this information may help us better understand the Daoist people’s values and reasons for origination, in opposition to…

    • 281 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Confucianism and Daoism are among the top eight religions of the world. Although they are both ancient Chinese styles of living, they have few similarities. Both of these religions share a similar goal, a goal of departing from being an individual and moving towards becoming a part of a greater whole; a greater contributor to society itself. Additionally, they both focus on the goal of self-improvement, thus improving social order. In Confucianism, the individual improves himself through orderly obedience with codes of behavior and respect for elders. Self-fulfillment is reached strictly in this life. In Daoism, the individual improves himself through examination of himself and universal energy, and the reward is mainly in the next life,…

    • 470 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    He studied and reflected on and taught the "literature" at the center of Chinese culture in its formative period. He consolidated the ancient texts and contributed commentaries upon them. He spoke about and answered questions about the most serious matters of concern to human beings. Confucianism is humanism, a philosophy or attitude that is concerned with human beings, their achievements and interests, rather than with the abstract beings and problems of theology. Confucianism was founded by the philosopher Confucius. Confucius lived from 551-479 B.C. In many ways, Confucian philosophy is a middle-ground between the harsh doctrines of the Legalist school of philosophy. Legalist philosophy adheres to rules and custom, but it pushes punishment and discipline, and it lacks the emphasis…

    • 1569 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    He thought of many rules and even a version of the golden rule saying, "What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others." (The World Book Encyclopedia – 2004 – World book, Inc. – Chicago IL. – Volume 4) Many consider Confucianism as a religion, but it has no clergy and doesn't involve any type of worship. It is more of a guide to mortality and good government. Confucianism originated about 500 BC, and from 100's BC to the 1900's AD Confucianism was the most important single force in Chinese life. This religion influenced education, government, personal behavior, and the individuals' duty to society. Confucianism started because of a philosopher named Confucius, born about 551BC. He believed his society could be saved if it emphasized sincerity in personal and public conduct. The Confucian's believed the key to orderly social life was gentlemen. Confucius believed they were rulers. He wasn't very well known when he came to his death. It was his followers that spread his ideas, Mencius, (390?-305? BC) and there was Xunzi (mid 200s BC). Mencius believed that you were to be born good and he stressed the need to preserve "the natural compassion of the heart" that makes people human. He also emphasized the past as an ideal age and a model for examining present problems. And Xunzi believed "people could be good and live together peacefully only if their minds were shaped by education and clear rules of conduct". (The World Book Encyclopedia – 2004 – World book, Inc. – Chicago IL. – Volume…

    • 812 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Dbq On Confucianism

    • 998 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The first point to be understood about Confucianism is that it is not a religion. Confucianism is an ethical system. However, it does have religious traits (Chiyun 337). The Confucianist accepts the existence of a supreme being. Similar to how Christians accept the existence of a God. The trait of mercy and love is commonly held by Buddhism and Confucianism. Confucianist’s belief in prayer is just the same as a Christian or a Buddhist. The difference of Confucianism in relation to being a religion is that it does not promise nirvana as a reward for believing. The purpose of Confucianism is to convince people to behave by teaching different concepts.…

    • 998 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism were 3 philosophies. They all had a different way of teaching but all of them wanted to end the conflicts in China. In Confucianism everyone had a rule that they had to follow. Confucius believed that well organized society need to have younger ones respect the elders and their parents. Good government and social order should be based on a strong relationship in the family. It also believes that education was important for self and society. Daoism (Taoism) is all about interacting with the society and the world as it already is. Daoism is the understanding of how the world actually works, as in reality isn’t always what we expect. Legalism believed in punishments to maintain social orders and the “free” thinkers with their ideas shouldn’t be spread and should be under the government’s control. They also believed a powerful government is the key to organized society/social order.…

    • 876 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ideology Of Confucianism

    • 1499 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Every “successful” nation, or empire, requires a legitimate social, political, and economical system. These are the foundations that every humanizing system needs to improve and expand the dynamics of the country. The dynamics is the ideology that it follows and lets it govern the nation. The ideology could be a religious, economical, political, or socially motivated force the derives the whole nation forward. I will argue that Confucianism is an ideology that strongly connects politics, “ethics”, and social structures as well as influenced majority of Chinese dynasties to adapt some of its principles.…

    • 1499 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays