Confucianism Of Water In World Religions

Water is crucial to the survival of every living organism on Earth. The human body uses water to regulate body temperatures, flush out waste, and cushion the eyes, brain, and spinal cord. Without water, our bodies would slowly deteriorate, causing us to go into seizures and comas, and, eventually, die. Water is also essential to the ecosystem that supports us. The earth’s surface is approximately 70% covered in water, 97% of which is salt water. Fresh water is becoming more scarce, causing many nations to reevaluate how water is distributed. In many religious traditions, water is equivalent to life. Religions also frame how many societies interact with both other cultures and the environment (Chamberlain, 4). It is important to account for

In Hinduism, all elements (earth, water, air, fire, space) are sacred and interconnected (16). Buddhism preaches that humans must be as concerned for nature as they are for their own lives. Finally, Taoist and Confucianist cultures believe that water reflects the fluidity of life. Asian religious traditions also adhere to the purifying properties of water. In Hinduism, ritual washing in the Ganga, Narmada, and Yamuna rivers cleanses the body and purifies the spirit of sin (18). Buddhism stresses water’s ability to purge spiritual impurities at birth ceremonies and funerals, using water to cleanse evil from a body. In Confucianism, ch’i (the energy of the universe) birthed water, giving water the unique ability to cleanse both bodies and spirits. However, while Asian traditions are similar to indigenous water traditions, there are key differences. In Hindu cultures, water is revered for its religious properties. However, Hinduism also preaches that water is inherently pure. Consequently, there is little public action to prevent water pollution (19). Buddhism reflects this, as followers preserve water for themselves, but do not consider the cultural implications of polluting water for others. Finally, Confucianism and Taoism place more importance of humans over other organisms and elements such as water. While establishing unity is essential, humans are still seen as more important to world order. Thus, these cultures do little to restrict water pollution. While water conservation policies may be easy to implement in indigenous cultures, Asian cultures may not readily adhere to conservation