|
1. Confucianism (Chinese: A; pinyin: R?ji?) is an ancient Chinese ethical and philosophical system originally developed from the teachings of the early Chinese philosopher Confucius (Kong Fuzi/K'ung-FY-tzu, lit. "Master Kung").
2. It focuses on human morality and good deeds.
3. Confucianism is a complex system of moral, social, political, philosophical, and quasi-religious thought that has had tremendous influence on the culture and history of East Asia.
4. Some consider it to be the state religion of East Asian countries because of governmental promotion of Confucian values.
5. The cultures most strongly influenced by Confucianism include those of China, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, and Vietnam, as well as various territories settled predominantly by Chinese people.
6. Debated during the Warring States Period and forbidden during the short-lived Qin Dynasty, Confucianism was chosen by Han Wudi (141 B.C. - 86 B. C.) for use as a political system to govern the Chinese state.
7. Despite its loss of influence during the Tang Dynasty, Confucian doctrine remained a mainstream Chinese orthodoxy for two millennial until the 20Th century, when it was attacked by radical Chinese thinkers as a vanguard of a Prue-modern system and an obstacle to China's modernization, eventually culminating in its repression during the Cultural Revolution in the People's Republic of China.
Legalism was a pragmatic political philosophy, with maxims like "when the epoch changed, legalism is the act of following all laws", and its essential principle is one of jurisprudence. "Legalism" here can bear the meaning of "political philosophy that upholds the rule of law", and is thus distinguished from the word's Western sense. The school's most famous proponent and contributor Han Fei believed that a ruler should govern his or her subjects by the following trinity.
Buddhism vs. Taoism: An Introduction
Even though Buddhist beliefs are sometimes intertwined with Taoism, there are strict differences between the two religions.
Dukkha and Tao
One of the main concepts of Buddhism is "Dukkha," or "suffering." Metaphorically, Buddhists believe life itself is suffering. Taoists on the other hand, believe life is good.
In order to overcome Dukkha, Buddhists strive to reach "Nirvana," or Enlightenment. Enlightenment is obtained through non-selfish behavior, following the 8 fold noble paths of Buddha and stopping the process of rebirth. When one ceases to be reborn, they lose all form, self and conscience. They return to the nothingness out of which everything is made.
Buddhist Enlightenment is equivalent to the Taoist concept of Ultimate Transformation. In Taoism however, Ultimate Transformation implies that the soul survives after death, and that it can travel throughout space and the world of the Immortals.
|
Seven facts about Confucianism?
