| Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism | |
Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism constitute the essence of the traditional
Chinese culture. The relationship among the three has been marked by both
contention and complementation in history, with Confucianism playing a more
dominant role.
Confucius (Kongzi, 551-479 B.C.), founder of Confucianism, stresses "Ren" (benevolence, love)
and "Li" (rites), referring to respect for the system of social hierarchy. He attaches
importance to education and was a pioneering advocate for private schools. He is
particularly famous for teaching students according to their intellectual
inclinations. His teachings were later recorded by his students in "The
Analects."
Mencius also contributed a great part to Confucianism, lived in the Warring States Period
(389-305 B.C.), advocating a policy of benign government and a philosophy that
human beings are good by nature. Confucianism became the orthodox ideology in
feudal China and, in the long course of history, it drew on Taoism and Buddhism.
By the 12th century, Confucianism had evolved into a rigid philosophy that calls
for preserving heavenly laws and repressing human desires.
Taoism was created by Lao Zi (around the sixth century B.C.), whose masterpiece is
"The Classic of the Virtue of the Tao." He believes the dialectical philosophy
of inaction. Chairman Mao Zedong once quoted Lao Zi: "Fortune lies in
misfortune and vice versa." Zhuang Zhou, the main advocate of Taoism during the
Warring States period, founded a relativism calling for the absolute freedom of
the subjective mind. Taoism has greatly influenced Chinese thinkers, writers and
artists.
Buddhism was created by Sakyamuni in India around the 6th century B.C. Believing
that human life is miserable and spiritual emancipation is the highest goal to
seek. It was introduced into China through Central Asia around the time Christ
was born. After a few centuries of assimilation, Buddhism evolved into many
sects in the Sui and Tang Dynasties and became localized. That was also a
process when the ingenuous culture of Confucianism and Taoism were blended with
Buddhism. Chinese Buddhism has played a very important role on traditional ideology
and art.
Related Links: