Religions of China

In China there are 2 famous religions called Confucianism and Taoism. These religions have
been in China for hundreds of years and until now it is still here. China has a rich history
regarding the formation of these two famous religions starting from what their bases of
beliefs are and also how it is taught. These two religions have different identities and ways
on how it was spreaded across China.

Jun Li, a writer from Western University Faculty of Education, Canada, made an article
regarding Confucianism. The rich and varied philosophy of Confucianism (ruxue or rujiao)
emphasises moral interactions between people or groups within a societal environment that
are governed by ethical norms (li). Since the 6th to 5th century BCE, it has had a significant
impact on Chinese sociopolitical systems, world views, ethics, education, religions, customs,
individual and communal life, as well as intellectual traditions. Confucianism, which was
founded as a state orthodoxy during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE), and which is
based on the teachings of Confucius (Kong Fuzi or "Master Kong," 551-479), and his
students, has dominated the development of Chinese civilisation and shaped the political
and personal lives of Chinese people. Domestically and internationally, Confucianism has
had a renaissance in recent decades. Its core beliefs, in the five principles which are
generosity, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trust (ren, yi, li, zhi, and xin), have been
reaffirmed and reinterpreted to benefit modern living in the context of China's fast economic
expansion and social transformation.additionally, it has had a significant influence on Japan,
Korea, and Vietnam in East Asia.

Confucianism came from a little state named Lu in East China, around 2,500 years ago, a
man was born to a once-aristocratic family. In order to carry on the ancient tradition in a
chaotic environment and to open up a new vista in a period of darkness, the man made an
effort to strive "towards a goal the achievement of which he knows to be hopeless" within his
lifetime (Lunyu, 14:38). His teachings had already become well-known throughout the state
and beyond by the time he passed away at the age of 73. His followers and followers
compared him to the sun and the moon, while his adversaries thought of him as a man "who
does not labour with his arms and legs and who does not know how to discriminate between
different kinds of grain." (Lunyu, 18:7).Yet, there was one thing that neither side was aware
of: the fact that his name would forever be associated with Chinese culture and, to a lesser
extent, East Asian culture, and that the tradition he cherished and passed on would rank
among the finest in the world. Confucianism is the term used to describe this tradition in the
West.

According to legend, Lao Tzu, who is said to have been born about 604 B.C., is the founder
of Taoism. He is said to have been in his mother’s womb for around 82 years and he was
then borned as a wise old man. There are three meanings of Tao : first Tao is the way of
ultimate reality, second Tao is the way of the universe and third Tao is the way of human life.
Taoism was never promoted or advertised by Lao Tzu instead the people saw it as
something precious and contained values. Unlike Confucius, who pestered dukes and
princes in an effort to get his ideas heard or at least get a footing in the administrative
system. Lao Tzu was a man who didn't even bother to remain around to answer questions
because he was so unconcerned with the success of his hypotheses, let alone fame and
money. Nobody really was concerned whether the presence of Lao Tzu was real or fiction.
Even the emperors of China considered him as one of their ancestors. Taoism and
Confucianism are the two native poles of the Chinese character, and they revolve around
one another like yin and yang. Lao Tzu represents the romantic, whereas Confucius
represents the classical. Confucius emphasises societal duty, while Lao Tzu values natural
beauty and flexibility. Confucius focuses on the individual whereas Lao Tzu considers what
goes beyond the individual. Confucius walks inside society, whereas Lao Tzu wanders
beyond, as the Chinese themselves say. Each of these extends out in life in some way, and
without either, Chinese culture would undoubtedly have been less developed.

The 3 articles have concluded that Taoism and Confucianism have an opposite correlation
from each other. Taoism’s founder doesn’t really go and advertise his teachings to others
instead people were the one curious about his teachings meanwhile Confucianism was
promoted by its founder. The other one teaches about the naturalness of the teachings while
the other explains the classical teachings. The founders of the two religions were also very
different on how they live their life and it's like the totally opposite of one another. Without
said the two religions have different backgrounds but similar ways of values.

The article is very unique and interesting as we also go on with the history of Taoism and
Confucianism. I highly recommend these articles for people who love history and uniqueness
about cultures. This article is very rich in value and representation of events that happened
as well.