Differences and connections between Confucianism and Taoism
Both Taoism and Confucianism originated in the late Spring and Autumn Period. Taoism originated from Laozi's thought at first, and it was not until the Han Dynasty that people called it? Tao? Confucianism is a relatively complete ideological system formed by Confucius on the basis of summarizing and inheriting the traditional culture of Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties.
Laozi understood some important contradictory laws in the early days of Taoism, especially the law of mutual transformation between positive and negative sides, which later became the essence of Laozi's theory. This thought later created the enduring TCM regimen. The philosophical system structure of Laozi's thought is obvious. Based on Yin and Yang, the phrase "Let nature take its course and govern by doing nothing" was put forward, which has been circulated for thousands of years and also gives people enlightenment. Personally, I think its purpose is to conform to heaven and imitate the laws of nature, so as to achieve the purpose of governing the country and keeping in good health.
At the same time, Confucianism has also entered the primary stage. Different from Taoism, the society was turbulent at that time. Confucianism and schools of thought that appeared at the same time mostly put forward solutions to specific social problems. Confucius injected the spirit of the past into his ideological system in order to seek a new harmonious order in troubled times. And then what? Ritual therapy? Takuji? Rule by man? Its core thought has long been regarded as orthodox thought because it conforms to the interests of the ruling class at that time. Confucianism is still the guiding ideology with the spirit of the times, but if required? Three obedience and four virtues? Women's ideas should not be condescending, but fair and humble? Hierarchy must be abandoned.
Because it is widely circulated, it is no exaggeration to say that Confucianism has formed a large part of the core of China people's mainstream thought and is an inseparable part of Chinese civilization. At the same time, Taoism has been inherited and continued, giving people more spiritual pursuits in their lives, which is of great help to nature, cultivation and life. The two thoughts are not in the strict sense, but their vigorous development in different directions and their respective strengths have enriched people's spiritual realm in many ways and formed the essence of Chinese studies and Chinese civilization.
The differences between Confucianism and Taoism are shown in the following four aspects.
First, from the representative figures, Confucius and Mencius are masters and representatives of Confucianism, while Laozi and Zhuangzi are masters and representatives of Taoism. As a sage of Confucianism, Confucius and Mencius set up an image of a moral (ethical) master for later generations, with perfect moral personality, taking saving the world and comforting the people as his own responsibility, full of ideals, and inculcating others until his death. Lao Zi and Zhuangzi, as the supreme figures of Taoism, set up the images of masters of wisdom (Lao Zi) and art (Zhuangzi) for later generations. They have a high degree of understanding and thinking ability, take tranquility and indifference as their ethics, are indifferent to the world, yearn for self-satisfaction and follow nature. The Confucian theory of human nature sees the social attribute of human beings and the importance of spiritual civilization education, while the Taoist theory of human nature sees the physiological and psychological attribute of human beings, and perceives that the hypocritical and complicated patriarchal ethics destroys the relative personality of human nature, which is both rewarding and biased. Confucius, a descendant of Shang Dynasty, was born in a declining aristocratic family. Facing the political situation of the collapse of rites in the late Western Zhou Dynasty, he inherently maintained the old feudal system. He advocated politically? Governing the country by virtue? Advocate? Ritual therapy? Attach importance to the political role of rites and music. He once said? Changing customs is not good at music, and governing the people is not polite. . This shows that the Confucian thought of rites and music is ultimately the product of its class thought. Similarly, as a representative of Taoism, Zhuangzi also had the status of a declining aristocrat, and inherited Laozi? Tao? On the basis of natural law, it is in line with nature and human nature to think that life should get rid of the bondage of ceremony. ? Small country and few people? ,? Old and dead? ,? Governing by doing nothing? This idea is the political ideal of Taoism, and the theory of heavenly music is the product of Taoist political idea. On the other hand, it also reflects the negative thought that some declining slave owners were helpless in the face of reality in the Spring and Autumn Period.
Second, Confucianism emphasizes doing, while Taoism emphasizes doing nothing. The core of Confucianism is benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom and faith, while the core of Taoism is only one? Tao? Here? Tao? It should be the natural law of heaven and earth and the universe, the original and universal law of the universe. As far as the outlook on life is concerned, the Confucian outlook on life takes the achievement of moral personality and salvation as its value orientation, cultivates self-cultivation, is full of kindness, helps the people abroad, and manages the country abroad to level the world. This is the way of inner saints and outer kings. He has a positive attitude towards life, a strong concern for social reality and a sense of historical mission, and takes the world as his own responsibility. It emphasizes human social responsibility, attaches great importance to the collectivity of human life, and explains the characteristics of human group life with ethical relations. The Taoist outlook on life, on the other hand, takes transcending the secular interpersonal network and gaining personal inner peace and freedom as its value orientation. It not only opposes taking the mind as a form of service, but also does not care about the success of social undertakings. As long as each of them obeys nature and does not interfere with each other, it will inevitably lead to a harmonious and peaceful society. Its attitude towards life is passive and self-protective, with the lowest goal of avoiding all disasters and the highest goal of protecting its own life. Confucianism is an example. Taoism? Inaction consciousness? Dominate and advocate a kind of? Do nothing, do everything? Social concept, emphasizing the natural things inside people. That is, through the pursuit of ideal personality, constantly improve and develop themselves. In Zhuangzi, it is said that Confucianism is outside the Tao, and the Party refers to society. Therefore, it is often said that Confucius and Mencius value Buddhism, and they are old and solemn, which shows that Confucianism entered the WTO and Taoism was born. What do Mr. Feng Youlan think are the two trends in China society? Roughly equivalent to the two traditions of classicism and romanticism in western thought? [A Brief History of Chinese Philosophy by Feng Youlan, Peking University Publishing House, 20 13, p. 22]
Third, Confucianism advocates joining the WTO, and its theory focuses on social life. This paper expounds how to be a man and how to deal with interpersonal relationships, which is also the proper meaning of being a man. Therefore, philosophy of life and ethical thoughts are developed, philosophy, ethics and politics are in a trinity state, and the theory determines the characteristics of Confucianism, so Confucian philosophy can be called ethical philosophy. Confucius and Mencius' theory of benevolence, Gou Zi's theory of propriety, Confucian classics in Han Dynasty, Zhu Cheng's Neo-Confucianism, Lu Wang's theory of mind, and practical learning that appeared after the middle of Ming Dynasty all formed and evolved around the two basic contradictions, namely, internal sage and external king, temperament and ethics. So-called? The way of inner saints and outer kings? It is to solve the problem of how personal accomplishment is related to the social cause of the group; The contradiction between temperament and ethics is to solve the problem of how to coordinate the human nature of the subject and the moral norms of the object. Different schools of Confucianism have different ways and emphases to deal with these two pairs of contradictions, but they all regard the moral cultivation of the subject as the starting point and key to deal with all other problems. Taoism also pays attention to social life, but its vision has already greatly broken through the scope of social life. Taoism advocates being born, facing nature and facing the whole universe. Cosmology and epistemology are relatively developed, paying attention to heaven, loving nature and respecting physics, and containing more natural science knowledge. Even the exploration of people can focus on people's physiological structure and characteristics, and put forward valuable ways to keep fit. Confucianism emphasizes cultivation, while Taoism emphasizes health preservation. Taoism has made a unique contribution to the development of ancient physiology. The basic contradiction that Taoism has to deal with is the contradiction between man and nature. People here refer to society and individuals, and the sky here refers to people's living environment and natural state. Taoism tends to learn from heaven and opposes using cleverness to violate heaven. Its starting point is natural heaven, so Taoist philosophy can be called natural philosophy. Both Confucianism and Taoism regard the harmony between man and nature as the highest spiritual realm, but Confucianism infers the harmony between man and nature, while Taoism infers the harmony between man and nature. They are similar in appearance, but they are different in fact.
Fourth, there are essential differences between the outlook on life of Confucianism and Taoism and that of being born. Similarly, facing themselves, they also show different attitudes towards life. According to Lu Chunqiu? According to Guisheng, a man named Zi Huazi once said: Life is the best, loss is the second, death is the second, and forced life is the second. ? The whole life, that is, the six emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, love and hate, can be satisfied in life, and the loss of life can be partially satisfied. The forced life is to live under oppression and live in the world without autonomy like a walking corpse. What Confucianism pursues is the whole life, which can also be said to be a happy life, which needs to be reflected in a poor and happy way. What is the purpose of having fun? Hongdao? . ? Hongdao? What is the base point? Cultivation? , its purpose is in? An ren? ,? Xia Tian? Let the people of the world and the whole society be happy. Is this Confucianism? Le sheng? 、? Self-cultivation, peace of mind? 、? Self-cultivation and self-interest? . ? World peace? , is its ultimate goal and highest ideal. Similarly, Taoism also pursues a happy life, while Taoism in the pre-Qin period was more about philosophy and less about life and death. They admire nature and think that life and death are natural. Life is not happy enough, death is not sad enough. ? Life and death, life also; This is an ordinary night and a day. ? They believe that life and death are common, and death is just another way of existence needed by heaven. Therefore, this fatalistic attitude naturally embodies a meaningless attitude, and gradually moves towards a contradictory integration in the later development. On the one hand, they continue to achieve immortality through alchemy and other means, but their mouths are clamoring? Life and death are life, wealth is in the sky? . Confucian attitude towards life holds that life is rare and man is the spirit of all things. Born to be human, we should grasp life, make full use of ourselves and give full play to the important role of human beings. Confucius said:? Cultivate one's morality to help others? ""Go to college? Learn from the times, know others and discuss the world, cultivate one's morality, and rule the country and level the world? To form a complete system, people should devote themselves to this huge system engineering and contribute their lives to this huge project. Taoism, on the other hand, is not demanding.
In essence, the main ideas of Confucianism are benevolence and righteousness, giving up one's life for righteousness and governing the country with benevolence and filial piety. The main ideas of Taoism are natural harmony, natural Taoism and inaction.
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