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World Religion EssayConfucianism and Daoism are two of the most influential schools of judgment in ancient China. some(prenominal) are not only ways of thinking, but ways of life. They are not religions they have no t apieceing of worship of gods, or the afterlife each philosophy focuses on the individual and their behavior. Confucianism and Daoism are often considered polar opposites for several reasons, although they have a few similarities.Confucianism has a core of morality, ethics, and activism. It encourages social harmony and uncouth respect. Confucianists sought to perfect their character by living a virtuous life and seeking goodness. They valued ethics, respect for elders, and propriety.Confucius, the originator of Confucian thought, believed political grade would be found by the proper ordering of human relationships, and so did not bother himself with the structure of the state. He stressed that a good judicature must fill their positions with well-educated and conscientious people, called Junzi. Confucius was followed by his disciples Mencius and Xunzi. They also possessed the same optimism that humans could improve themselves to perfection.Daoism has a core of self-reflection and oneness with the cosmos. They refused to meddle with problems that they thought defied solution, and were the prominent critics of Confucian activism. They devoted their energy to introspection, in hopes that they could better understand the natural principles of the world. The central concept of Daoism is Dao, roughly meaning the way of nature.The consume definition of Dao is unclear it is portrayed as an unchanging, passive force that does without doing. Daoists try to follow Dao through Wuwei complete disengagement from competition and activism, and instead living in harmony with nature. This philosophy discouraged the presence of any government or empires, just small self-sufficient communities.There are a few similarities amidst Confucianism and Daoism. They were both created as a solution for the chaos that emerged from the fall of the Zhou Dynasty, although it was the arrival of Legalism that created unification in China. They both focus on self-improvement Confucianism in the form ofrelations with others, and Daoism in the form of relations with oneself and nature. Confucianism and Daoism clearly have strong contrasts, but many people believe that for a person to be whole, they should incorporate elements from each.ReferencesTaoism and confucianism ancient philosophies. (2012). Retrieved from http//www.ushistory.org/civ/9e.asp (Taoism and confucianism, 2012).Kapaj, L. (10 A). Via historia. Retrieved from http//puppy.viahistoria.com/classwork/taoismonconfucianism.html (Kapaj, 10 A).Huzhang. (2000). Discussion of confucianism. Retrieved from http//www.pureinsight.org/node/1048 (Huzhang, 2000).