Taoism vs. Confucianism• Confucianism

– A system of thought representing “conventional values”

– social-minded– represents a higher form of moralism– optimistic rationalism– Humanism: humaneness (ren) and

righteousness (yi)– family ethics– ritualization of life

Confucian Views of Men and SocietyConfucian Views of Men and Society

a sage ruler (sage king) is needed to a sage ruler (sage king) is needed to keep social and political orderkeep social and political order

Man is the center of this mundane worldMan is the center of this mundane world gentlemen (gentlemen (junzijunzi) in gov’t to help rule ) in gov’t to help rule

the statethe state good government brings about good good government brings about good

societysociety

good individuals: humane and good individuals: humane and righteousrighteous

rites and music:rites and music: sacrifice and ritualsacrifice and ritual rules and regulationsrules and regulations

family is the base of society and statefamily is the base of society and state ethics and orderethics and order EducationEducation

Humanism Humanism

Taoism (based on TTC and CT)• Taoism/Daoism valued speculative thought

• Questioned and sometimes repudiated Confucian values• rejected all other “artificial devices” of civilization• mocked ritual and propriety and decried group

conventions• pessimistic about society

• man is not capable of keeping order and safety in society• social man is a misguided being

• sought nature as refuge from man’s world• scorned government, feared progress and civilization• wary of technical skills• naturalism

Taoist Critique of ConfucianismTaoist Critique of Confucianism Confucian Virtues and regulationsConfucian Virtues and regulations

humaneness and righteousnesshumaneness and righteousness like web-toes, extra-fingers, and other physical superfluitylike web-toes, extra-fingers, and other physical superfluity not a part of human nature; their existence is of no meaningful not a part of human nature; their existence is of no meaningful

valuevalue not attributes of humanity because they were used to pursue not attributes of humanity because they were used to pursue

honor and wealth, thus were the sources of greedhonor and wealth, thus were the sources of greed along with the rites and music, caused confusions in the worldalong with the rites and music, caused confusions in the world what made people “superior men”; what caused people to twist what made people “superior men”; what caused people to twist

their nature and die fortheir nature and die for Good personGood person

one who accepts the given characteristics and knows his/her own selfone who accepts the given characteristics and knows his/her own self

Lao-tzu’s Critique of Confucianism• The person of superior integrity

• Does not insist upon (display) his integrity.• The person of inferior integrity

• Never loses sight of his integrity;• For this reason, he lacks integrity.• The person of superior integrity takes no action

• Nor has he a purpose for acting• The person of superior humaneness takes action,

• But has no purpose for acting• The person of superior righteousness takes no

action• And has a purpose for acting

• The person of superior etiquette takes action• But others do not respond to him;

• Whereupon he rolls up his sleves and coerces them• When the Way is lost, afterward comes integrity.• When integrity is lost, afterward comes humaneness.• When humaneness is lost, afterward comes righteousness.• When the righteousness is lost, afterward comes etiquette.• Etiquette is the attenuation of trustworthiness,

• And the source of disorder .• Foreknowledge is but the blossomy ornament of the Way,

• And the source of ignorance.

(TTC/ddj, 1/38)

• Let there be a small state with few people,– Where military devices find no use;

• Let the people look solemnly upon death,– And banish the thought of moving elsewhere.

• They may have carts and boats,– But there is no reason to ride them;

• They may have armor and weapons,– But they have no reason to display them.

• Let the people go back to tying knots to keep records• Let their food be savory, their clothes beautiful, their customs

pleasurable, [and] their dwellings secure.• Though they may gaze across at a neighboring state,

– And hear the sounds of its dogs and chickens,• The people will never travel back and forth,

– Till they die of old age.(TTC/DDJ, 30/80)

• To Taoists, Confucian pursuit of knowledge• interfered with the innate characteristics of things• created distinction between men and other beings

• men separated themselves from the birds and the beasts• treated the birds and the beasts as their possessions

• created mechanic devices to hunt (or kill) animals and nature• complicated life, provoked debates, and divided people and

all creatures• life should be as simple as “the simplicity of unhewn log”

• caused contention for profits and fame• did not help people to realize and appreciate the Tao, but

would move people away from the Tao

More critiques• Confucian sages

• the source of troubles in this world• created more harms than benefits

• people do bad things in the name of humaneness and righteousness

• the world would be in peace without the sage• abandon wisdom and abolish sagehood• forsake outer form and cultivate inner virtues

Was Taoism a “School”?

Problems of Traditional Taxonomies no clear indication of community in strict sense of the

word Unclear about schools, master-disciple transmission Show only individuals and fragmentation of transmission over

generation inevitably misinterpreted classical teachings

argued for the writers’ favorable system of thought. likely to engage in “the invention of tradition” inaccurately identified tradition, for instance, grouping Huangdi

and Laozi as Huang-Lao school.

Claims of revealed texts (in Han times) were often connected to Daoism What defines Daoism?

the knowledge of natural categories the manipulation of yin-yang correlations, the concepts of self-cultivation taught by Laozi and Zhuangzi empirical knowledge of plants and herbs, etc.

Did a Confucian community, Ru community, exist as was told by Han historian? What defines their identity? Their ritual criteria of value vs. economic criteria of value.

Other Schools?

Did a Mohist community exist? What defines Mohist community?

Strong sense of communal life; Community stood as a big family characterized by

strict hierarchy and sense of brotherhood. Sacrifice for the community was encouraged. The community maintained its own legal code

separate from the state Stressed military defense skills for self-protection and

survival