Jurnal of Religious Issues

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The Similarities and Differences between Confucianism and Taoism

In the story from the Chaung Zu in section 5, we can see that it tell us the essence of Taoism and Confucianism teachings of person responsibility, ethic, and knowledge. By seeing this story, we can understand that between Taoism and Confucianism have different views of such things. In this short paper, I will try to explain the differences between Confucianism and Taoism according to this story and my knowledge about them.
In this story, we can understand that Confucianism is mainly centered to guide structure and control human nature through convention and learning. Confucianism focuses on the human. It means that what we get now is caused by what we did in the past. It can we see in the story when Zong Ni (Confucius) give a comment to Shung Shan who is toeless. Zong Ni comments that Shung Shan gets toeless because he was not careful in the past by committing crimes. In other word, Confucius believes that Heaven will send something bad to evildoers. However, we can correct this mistake by looking back and learning from previous mistakes and then strive to correct that mistake to better things. We can understand this teaching when Kong Zi said to his attentive disciples that Shu Han has perfect virtue, because he still wants to take on the task of looking back and learning from his previous mistakes.
Contrary with Confucianism that focuses to human, Taoism focuses on what transcends of the human wisdom. Taoism focuses on the individual life in relation to the Tao. In other world, Taoism is more individualistic and personal concerns than Confucianism that stresses in the collective and social. Taoism calls for intuitive harmony with the primal nature of the universe and humanity. Taoism believes in a Natural Law where the world should be allowed to go on unobstructed. "Do not be disturbed, do not be frightened; all things will clarify themselves. Do not be upset; do not be startled; all things will order themselves." Rather than disturbing the balance of nature, or being him/herself disturbed by things beyond their control, they allow nature to take on its own order and find peace in that setting.
Although Both Confucianism and Taoism have differences, they also have similarity. Both are concerned with humanity, and they try to make the social order serve human needs.
In conclusion, what made Confucian and Dao seem contras and critic each other are because of they used different view in seeing world. Confucius stresses social responsibility, Lao Tzu praises spontaneity and naturalness, Confucius' focus is on the human, Lao Tzu's on what transcends the human. Confucianism is concerned primarily with the needs of society, and unlike Taoism, not the ability of a person to live in harmony with nature. Fascinating dialog but little bit confusing for me to allow them, but when rulers operate like in story, type of people like Shoe Shan would inspire to ask what a good life is.

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