Confucianism and Taoism

Confucianism is teachings of Confucius who was a famous philosopher of ancient China. Confucianism became the Chinese model for official and personal behavior for centuries. It has also influenced the lives of Korean people.

Confucius was a very wise man whose greatest wish was to advise kings. His goal was to create a good government. Confucius called for a well-organized society in which everyone knew his or her place and respected authority.
However, he did not want obedience to come from fear but from duty to love. Nor did he want authority to be based on power but on good character and the desire to do good. As time passed by, Confucius¡¯ ideas, as interpreted by his followers, became the official teaching of all of China.

He emphasized the love of all people. This love was to be expressed in consideration of others. He described this as ¡°not doing to others what you do not like yourself.¡±

Besides Confucianism, Taoism was also an important Chinese philosophy. This way of thinking got its name from the Chinese word tao, meaning ¡°the road¡± or ¡°the way.¡±

Whereas Confucianism sought the best possible government, Taoism sought the least amount of government. Taoism supported the right of the individual to be let alone. It advised humans to live simply, according to the laws of nature.