Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism
... is however a reciprocal relationship that turns out to be indissoluble
The Master said: “If there were three of us traveling, I would certainly always have a teacher beside me: I would take the strengths of one to draw an example, of the other I would catch the defects to amend myself.” (Dialogues, VII, 22)
Confucianism is based on morality, Buddhism on idolatry and Taoism on superstition. The first is the worship of man, the second is the worship of the image and the third is the worship of spirits.
Considered in their relations with philosophy, the three the systems are based on ethical, physical and metaphysical respectively.
Dynasties in Chinese history
From prehistoric times to the coming to power of the Chinese Communist Party: a chronological table of the millennial history of China. Divided into three fundamental parts, ancient age, imperial age and, finally, the modern age, it allows the reader to orient himself in the succession of historical events.
In fact, unlike Western history and history in general, when one approaches it to the I-Ching, or more generally to ancient Chinese philosophy, the texts always refer to a Dynasty to locate the historical period.
Three philosophies, like the angles of a triangle
Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism can be represented as the angles of a triangle that is in their substantial differences there is however a reciprocal relationship that turns out to be indissoluble
However, this relationship is difficult to put pen to paper in a precise and accurate way: there will always be a smoky and undetermined space. But if we still want to try to “give a label” to each of the three Churches, we can define them like this:
Confucianism is based on morality
Confucius: the biography (Qiu Kong)
Confucius was born in China in 551 B.C., during the period of springs and autumns in Zou, in the state of Lu what is currently a part of the territory of the province of Shandong.
He died in 479 B.C. at the age of 72.
His ancient Chinese name was Qiu Kong, as evidenced in the title. Subsequently he goes down in history with the name of Kong Fuzi that is Master Kong. It is precisely from this title that the Jesuit masters in the sixteenth century derive the Latin form Confutius . The merit is due in particular to the Italian Jesuit Matteo Ricci who lived between 1552 and 1610, who lived at the time of the Ming Dynasty and is recognized as one of the great missionaries in China.
The form Confucius was due to Prospero Intorcetta in 1666, Italian missionary and Jesuit, first to translate the works of Confucius in Europe.
The Ancient Religions of China: So All Beginning
Have you ever wondered the difference between Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism? Often they are used together or one as an alternative to the other. But why?
To answer this question we need to go back in time making a first introduction on what are the characteristics of a territory like China.
There are two points to be made:
- The vastness of the population, a quarter of the world’s inhabitants are Chinese;
- The long history. Just think that Confucanism was born 4000 years ago.