What Is The Biggest Difference Between Confucianism & Taoism?

Renna · #1 (**permalink**) 02-27-2010, 05:19 PM

shaun d · #2 (**permalink**) 03-04-2010, 05:19 PM

The name

alan C · #3 (**permalink**) 03-05-2010, 05:19 PM

number of syllables?

Doc · #4 (**permalink**) 03-06-2010, 05:19 PM

Well, they are both Chinese religions and Confucianism is the oldest. Hum.... The biggest difference would be the founders, Confucious and Lao Tzu. That's about it. Lil. I would say that Taoism is more spiritual, if you haven't read the "Tao Teh Ching," you should because it is one of the greatest spiritual books you could ever read. Confucianism is more "hard" and fact based...more philosophy is involved. It isn't as light and free as Taoism.

ultimatealmightyone · #5 (**permalink**) 03-10-2010, 05:19 PM

one is more of a philosophy, the other a way of life. Taoism has more depth to me in terms of spirituality, from what I can remember from college theology. they are both very interesting and worth briefly studying. Try Taoism first, that's where the yin yang symbol originated from.

Terry · #6 (**permalink**) 03-13-2010, 05:19 PM

Taoism is older than Confucianism.

Taoism is based on the natural order of life (Li, organic order) it teaches gaining harmony with mind and body Thur a natural order, basically going with the flow (Wu Wei, non-doing, non-action)

Confucianism teaches that order can only be attained by following rules and regulations set down by the state.

They both oppose each others ideology in their beliefs in bringing order.