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The Chinese religious traditions of Daoism and Confucianism were interwoven together in the souls of the people whose reverence for ancestors and striving for harmony with nature were elevated by the ethics and ideals of them both. The two traditions coexist peacefully, even within the individual follower. Daoism (Taoism), which was based on the teachings of Laozi, was more of a way to achieve personal enlightenment, while, the teachings of Kong Fuzi (Confucianism), dealt more with ethics and education. Daoism has provided a synergetic complement to the traditional teachings of Kong Fuzi in China. Kong Fuzi (Confucius) and Laozi were contemporaries in China (6th century B.C.). Born in the state of Lu, Kong Fuzi (551-479 B.C.E.) was a reformer who endeavored to elevate the most refined elements in the prevailing societal and governmental traditions by traveling throughout China, giving advice to its rulers, and teaching morality and ethics.
Known as the "Virtuous
Teacher Kong", the profound thinking of Kong Fuzi, as well as, the centuries of
commentary that it inspired are both central and integral to the cultural system
of the Chinese.
Kong Fuzi taught philosophy, the classics, poetry, music, and his views on governmental reform to about three thousand young male students during his lifetime. Of these, he chose the seventy-two best and brightest to become known as his disciples. For centuries, his four major classics, the "Analects of Confucius", the "Mencius", the "Great Learning", and the "Doctrine of the Mean", shaped the foundation of Chinese education. Besides China, the works of Kong Fuzi have also been an inspirational influence on the cultures of several other countries in the area. In "The Analects of Confucius", Kong Fuzi, (who believed there was a pervasive thread of universal unity connecting everything), used analogy, examples from his daily life experiences, short sayings, and tautology to answer the questions of his students. During the Qin dynasty most of the writings and teachings of Kong Fuzi were destroyed. After they were overthrown by the Han dynasty, the surviving scholars reconstructed New Script texts from their memory of the destroyed texts. Later on people discovered burnt fragments of the original books and compiled the Old Script texts.
Laozi founded Daoism in an
effort to end the constant feudal warfare. His writings describe the way to
peace and how a ruler should led his life. According to legend, Kongzi
visited with Laozi and was very impressed with his superior intellect, comparing
him to a mysterious dragon... Continue on
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