Differences And Similarities Between Daoism And Confucianism

The most prominent religions, mentalities, and ways of life in China, also known as “The Three Teachings”, can easily be distinguished at first glance. Confucianism aims to create harmony in society with its followers. Daoism's goal is to release the practicer from society's chains and align one's life with the natural order of life. Zen Buddhism focuses on freeing oneself from all societal and natural structures to reach enlightenment. Despite these differences, there are aspects in each ideology that are remarkably similar. The intersection of Zen Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism lies not in the end, but in the means to the end. Cultivation of the mind and soul is the only way to reach enlightenment, or in a Confuciast case, your harmonious place in life. The Confucian perspective of self-cultivation lies in getting in touch with your moral values and enhancing those qualities that make you who you are. As I stated earlier, the Confucian goal is to achieve a harmonious place in life, that is the living world. This is different from Zen Buddhism where the goal is to achieve Nirvana and break the endless cycle of life and death. However, the means to the

In Daoism, reincarnation is seen as the natural flow of life and death. Zen Buddhism’s perspective of reincarnation is similar except for how you are reincarnated. In Zen Buddhism, you may be reborn as a lesser or greater being based on the consequences of your actions in your previous lives, otherwise known as karma. Despite this difference, Daoism and Zen Buddhism share the common goal which is to achieve spiritual enlightenment through cultivating inner peace and harmony. Doing so liberates you from the physical cycle of life and death. The idea of reincarnation provides the framework for conceptualizing the cyclical nature of existence and the possibility of spiritual progress over multiple