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OBJECTIVE:
Explain the uniqueness and similarities of Confucianism, Taoism and Shintoism
Daoic
Religions
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Module Code: PASAY-IWRBS-Q2-W7-D1
Vocabulary:
Warring States:
refers to an era of
division in ancient
China (475-221 BC).
East Asia: The
region consists of
China, Hong Kong,
Macau, Japan,
Mongolia, North
Korea, South Korea,
and Taiwan
The Confucianism, Daoism, and Shintoism known as the Daoic Religions are all
originated from East Asia. These religions are also known as the East Asian religions.
Confucianism and Taoism came from China during the Age of Warring States that was
happened during the Chou dynasty while Shintoism which is regarded as an “indigenous
religion” that is hard to trace its origins, came from Japan.
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Module Code: PASAY-IWRBS-Q2-W7-D1
Religion/Belief/
Philosophy Characteristic
leaders
in their society
Shintoism
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Module Code: PASAY-IWRBS-Q2-W7-D1
Activity 2: Think-Write!
We have discussed the uniqueness of each East Asian philosophy/religion/belief. Let
us now do this activity by writing at least 3-5 sentences answering the question inside
the box.
Consider the Filipino culture, choose one of the Daoic religions that you think is
visible in our community. What do you think its impact to you as a student?
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Module Code: PASAY-IWRBS-Q2-W7-D1
EVALUATION
Short Essay. Direction: Write an essay discussing the significance of Confucianism, Daoism, and
Shintoism in Filipino culture. Use the rubric as a guide.
Books:
• Cornelio, J et.al. (2019) Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems. 2nd edition. Rex Book Store Inc.
• Ong, J et.al (2016) Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems. Vibal Group Inc.
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Module Code: PASAY-IWRBS-Q2-W7-D2
OBJECTIVE:
Explain the uniqueness and similarities of Confucianism, Taoism and Shintoism
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Module Code: PASAY-IWRBS-Q2-W7-D2
In this lesson, we will compare and give similarities of the three Daoic religions—
Confucianism, Doaism, and Shintoism—by emphasizing their similarities, and by showing
that despite the differences in certain beliefs and practices, they share common traits,
especially with regard to how they view nature and humanity’s relationship with it.
The main objective for knowing the similarities of the three Daoic religions is to
understand that Confucianism, Daoism, and Shintoism have similarities in viewing nature,
ancestors, and the importance of self-cultivation to achieve a harmonious society.
The civilization of China is one of the oldest in the world, dating back for nearly
4,000 years. Since early times, Chinese were deeply concerned with achieving good
government. Following the ethics and ideals of the great philosopher Confucius, they
developed a system in which government officials chosen by merit. It endured for hundred
of years, surviving the rise and fall of many ruling houses and the constant threat of
invasion. The brilliant culture of the Chinese empire was a model for all Asia. Japan
borrowed many ideas from Chinese culture but developed them in a distinctive way.
Both Japan and China preserved their traditional cultures well into the 19 th century
by deliberately isolating themselves from foreign influences. The Daoic religions believed
in highly rituals, however, their reasoning is different. For Confucianism, ritual is a way of
ordering society and a way of reflecting “Heaven’s” virtue, but Shinto places rituals as
having a direct contact to their kami or gods. See the diagram below to see the similarities
of these religions.
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Module Code: PASAY-IWRBS-Q2-W7-D2
Try This!
The three religions that are commonly practiced or worshipped alongside
Buddhism are Shinto, Confucianism, and Taoism. Today, these religions are
found in the East and Southeast Asian region of the world. Let’s have fun
SCAN ME!
investigating these religions in more details and play the interactive game by
visiting this link https://orca.hampton.k12.va.us/ WorldGeography/mod11/top6/content.
html or you may scan the QR code beside this for a quick access. You may also have
fun with your parents or siblings in playing this game. It will be a great bonding!
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Module Code: PASAY-IWRBS-Q2-W7-D2
Confucianism
Shintoism Taoism
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Module Code: PASAY-IWRBS-Q2-W7-D2
EVALUATION
Double Jeopardy. Direction: Formulate a question using the following words. You may start
creating your questions using what, when, where, which, why, how, who etc.
1. Planting of trees in urban areas in Japan.
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2. Do not act in anger
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3. Filial Piety
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4. Worshipping and respecting the souls of ancestors
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5. Daoic religions
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Books:
• Cornelio, J et.al. (2019) Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems. 2nd edition. Rex Book Store Inc.
• Ong, J et.al (2016) Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems. Vibal Group Inc.
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Module Code: PASAY-IWRBS-Q2-W7-D2
OBJECTIVE:
Explain the uniqueness and similarities of Confucianism, Taoism and Shintoism
In the previous module, we discussed that the three Daoic religions originated
in East Asia—with Confucianism and Daoism originating in China during the Warring
States period while Shinto started as an indigenous religion of Japan. Today, we will
discuss the first part of comparative analysis of the three Daoic religions in terms of
their origin, morality and purpose. Are you ready?
VOCABULARY
1. Dao De Jing – sacred scriptures in Taoism, believed by some as a reaction to
Confucianism. It is a compilation of several hundred years of writings about the
Dao.
2. Han dynasty – first dynasty in China to embrace Confucianism after the Chou
dynasty.
3. Morality – principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good
and bad behavior.
4. Wu Wei – Chinese term often translated as “non-doing” or “non-action.”
Confucianism
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Module Code: PASAY-IWRBS-Q2-W7-D2
Daoism
Shinto
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Module Code: PASAY-IWRBS-Q2-W7-D2
religion; thus, it is very common for many Shintoists to identify themselves as Buddhists
as well. Shintoism is believed to have provided the people with their daily needs while
Buddhism takes care of the afterlife.
2. Morality
Unlike other religions, Shinto morality is not based on definite standards of right
and wrong. Since Shintoism is focused on following the will of the kami or spirits, anything
that is not in accordance with the will of the kami is considered bad. Shintoism has
provided the Japanese with a way of life that revolves around the worship of the kami,
while Confucianism from China provided them with ethics. Hence, Shinto morality is
based on having purity not only in the physical sense but also in a spiritual an d moral
sense. Human nature is basically good according to Shintoism, hence evil comes from
external forces. And when people let evil guide their actions, they bring upon themselves
impurities and sin which need to be cleansed through rituals. Impurities also disrupt the
flow of life and the blessings from the kami that is why purification rituals are needed to
be able to return to the natural state of cleanliness not only of the people but of the
universe as a whole. In general, things which are considered bad in Shintoism involve
disrupting the social order, the natural world, the harmony of the world.
3. Purpose
The three Daoic religions basically share the same view regarding the purpose of
existence. Confucianism and Daoism both espouse the importance of self-cultivation for
the benefit of all while Shintoism emphasizes the need to return to the original state of
nature by observing purity in everyday life.
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Module Code: PASAY-IWRBS-Q2-W7-D2
LEARN MORE!
Origin
Morality
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Module Code: PASAY-IWRBS-Q2-W7-D2
Purpose
EVALUATION
A. Modified true or false. Write the word TRUE if the statement is true. If false, write the
word FALSE and change the underlined word to make the statement correct.
1. Confucianism started as a philosophy that would provide a solution to
China’s chaotic society during the Shang dynasty.
2. Confucianism was adopted by the Han dynasty as an instrument for
its political legitimacy.
3. Daoism believes that nature should be allowed to take its natural
course for the attainment of social order.
4. Shintoism emphasized the core values of family, tradition, nature,
ancestors, purity, and ritual practices.
5. Laozi believed that what makes us human is our feeling of sympathy
for other’s suffering, but what makes us virtuous is our cultivation of this
inner potential.
Books:
• Cornelio, J et.al. (2019) Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems. 2 nd edition. Rex Book
Store Inc.
• Ong, J et.al (2016) Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems. Vibal Group Inc.
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Module Code: PASAY-IWRBS-Q2-W7-D4
OBJECTIVE:
Explain the uniqueness and similarities of Confucianism, Taoism and Shintoism
In the previous module, we discussed that the three Daoic religions originated
in East Asia—with Confucianism and Daoism originating in China during the Warring
States period while Shinto started as an indigenous religion of Japan. Today, we will
discuss the second part of comparative analysis of the three Daoic religions in terms
of their destiny and views on women. Are you ready?
VOCABULARY
1. Dao De Jing – sacred scriptures in Taoism, believed by some as a reaction to
Confucianism. It is a compilation of several hundred years of writings about the
Dao.
2. Han dynasty – first dynasty in China to embrace Confucianism after the Chou
dynasty.
3. Morality – principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good
and bad behavior.
4. Wu Wei – Chinese term often translated as “non-doing” or “non-action.”
Modified True or False. Direction: Write the word TRUE if the statement is true.
If false, write the word FALSE and change the underlined word to make the statement
correct.
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Module Code: PASAY-IWRBS-Q2-W7-D4
1. Destiny
For Confucianism, reality has two spheres: the inner sphere and the outer sphere.
Destiny (or ming) is considered the outer reality which is outside the control and concern
of people. Self-cultivation should be the goal of everyone, thus the focus should be on the
inner sphere—the cultivation of oneself—for what happens inside reflects what happens
outside.
Among all Daoic religions, Daoism is often criticized for espousing a fatal istic
attitude in life, with emphasis on wu wei, often translated as “non-doing” or “non-action.”
This is interpreted by critics as a proof that Daoism encourages people to live by leaving
everything to the universe and not taking action at all. An analysis of the Daoist concept
of destiny, however, would reveal that just like in Confucianism, “non-action” does not
mean not taking any action at all. Instead, self-cultivation is also needed so that one may
develop oneself to the extent that one’s actions are naturally in accordance with the flow
of the universe. Thus, destiny or fate can only be achieved when one has cultivated
oneself to the highest potential that one’s actions go effortlessly with the way of the
universe.
Shintoism advocates the idea that every person has a destiny to follow, a mission
to fulfill which will make one’s life worthwhile. However, not everyone is able to realize his
or her destiny or mission, for it is impossible to discover destiny when one has lost natural
purity. Thus, misogi or purification is important to regain the natural purity one once had.
Only when one is truly purified can one discover his or her mission in life. Shintoism
believes that humanity’s natural greatness can only be achieved by returning oneself to
the state of natural purity.
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Module Code: PASAY-IWRBS-Q2-W7-D4
2. Views on Women
Among the three Daoic religions, Daoism can be considered as having the most
positive view of women, with its emphasis on the significance of balancing the masculine
and feminine qualities in every individual to achieve harmony not only of the body but the
world as well. Confucianism emphasized hierarchy, and in that hierarchy women are
expected to become subservient to men. Similarly, in Shinto men are placed at a more
advantageous position in society than women.
Confucianism Daoism
1. Places women at the bottom of 1. Daoism espouses a positive view of women, or
the hierarchy both in family and qualities associated with women. In fact, the Dao
society. is considered as the “mother of all things” and
2. They are expected to exhibit playing the feminine part is a constant theme in
proper behavior and utmost obedi- Daoism.
ence. 2. Since balancing the yin and yang is important in
3. A woman’s life revolves around Daoism, men are encouraged to perform female
obeying men—her father, her roles and vice-versa. Androgyny, or the
husband, and grown-up son. combination of masculine and feminine
Women are expected to be loyal characteristics, can be achieved by developing a
to their husbands even when divine embryo (even among males), ritual sexual
widowed. In fact, widows are intercourse, and internal alchemy.
expected not to remarry, for it is 3. The high status accorded to women is
considered a disgrace for widows manifested by the fact that women are allowed to
to remarry after the death of their become priests in Daoism, and by the existence of
husbands. numerous female deities
Shintoism initially started with a high regard for women especially in the religious
aspect. Historical developments, however, have brought considerable changes to the role
of women in Japanese religion and society. We can see how the status of women in
religion and in society have changed in the three periods of the development of Shintoism
in Japan.
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Module Code: PASAY-IWRBS-Q2-W7-D4
Restoration 645- usually males. During that time, only the shrine at Ise was
1867) led by a priestess.
• The role of women in society continued to decline, abolishing
the mystical elements of Shintoism often associated with
women, thus deterring women from participating in official
Pure Shinto priesthood.
(Meiji Restoration in • Since World War II, women were again accepted in the
1868 up to the priesthood but only as substitutes for male priests. Since
present day) then, two issues continued to pose a threat to the low status
of women in Japanese religion and society: one, the limited
role given to women in high ranking shrines such as Ise,
which was previously led by a priestess; and two, the
emphasis given by Shintoism to blood being one of the
causes of impurity, hence limiting women’s role in
priesthood. The miko or female shamans remained active as
fortune tellers, founders of new sects, and as healers.
Destiny
Views on Women
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Module Code: PASAY-IWRBS-Q2-W7-D4
2. In what ways are self-cultivation and purity important in attaining one’s highest potential
in Confucianism, Daoism, and Shintoism?
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3. How similar are Confucianism, Daoism, and Shintoism in terms of belief in the purpose
of existence? Defend your answer.
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EVALUATION
Modified True or False. Direction: Write the word TRUE if the statement is true. If false,
write the word FALSE and change the underlined word to make the statement correct.
1. In Shinto, pollution is inevitable but can be washed away by proper
meditation.
2. In Confucianism, destiny can only be achieved when one has
cultivated oneself to the highest potential that one’s actions go
effortlessly with the way of the universe.
3. The Dao is considered as the “mother of all things” and playing the
feminine part is a constant theme in Daoism.
4. A normative interpretation of Ming sees destiny as a distant force
beyond human control.
5. In Confucianism, a woman’s life revolves around obeying men ---her
father, her husband, and her brother.
Books:
• Cornelio, J et.al. (2019) Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems. 2 nd edition. Rex Book Store Inc.
• Ong, J et.al (2016) Introduction to World Religions and Belief Systems. Vibal Group Inc.
•
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