COMPARATIVE STUDY

I. INTRODUCTION

This study is all about the three Daoic Religions, Which are Taoism,
Confucianism and also Shintoism. This religions originated from East Asia, thus
they are also called East Asian religions. Confucianism and Taoism both came
from China during the Warring States Period (Zhou dynasty) while Shintoism,
which is also regarded as an “indigenous religion,” thus it is hard to trace its
origins came from Japan. And the goal this study is to compare and contrast
their beliefs and to prove that the world religion is complementary which is to
encourage people to know and also who have faith. And now I study and make
some research article about this Daoic Religions with their cultures, beliefs, and
also histories about their religions. So now I wrote some point and then I encode
started so that I finish this study.

II. DAOIC RELIGIONS AND THEIR BELIEFS

A. TAOISM
Taoism (also known as Daoism) is a Chinese philosophy attributed to Lao
Tzu (c. 500 BCE) which contributed to the folk religion of the people primarily
in the rural areas of China and became the official religion of the country under
the Tang Dynasty. Taoism is therefore both a philosophy and a religion. It
emphasizes doing what is natural and "going with the flow" in accordance with
the Tao (or Dao), a cosmic force which flows through all things and binds and
releases them.

The philosophy grew from an observance of the natural world, and

the religion developed out of a belief in cosmic balance maintained and
regulated by the Tao. The original belief may or may not have included
practices such as ancestor and spirit worship but both of these principles
are observed by many Taoists today and have been for centuries.

Taoism exerted a great influence during the Tang Dynasty (618-907

CE) and the emperor Xuanzong (reigned 712-756 CE) decreed it a state
religion, mandating that people keep Taoist writings in their home. It fell
out of favor as the Tang Dynasty declined and was replaced
by Confucianism and Buddhism but the religion is still practiced
throughout China and other countries today.
B. CONFUCIANISM

Confucianism is often characterized as a system of social and ethical

philosophy rather than a religion. In fact, Confucianism built on an
ancient religious foundation to establish the social values, institutions, and
transcendent ideals of traditional Chinese society. It was what sociologist
Robert Bellah called a "civil religion," The sense of religious identity and
common moral understanding at the foundation of a society's central
institutions. It is also what a Chinese sociologist called a "diffused
religion"; its institutions were not a separate church, but those of society,
family, school, and state; its priests were not separate liturgical
specialists, but parents, teachers, and officials. Confucianism was part of
the Chinese social fabric and way of life; to Confucians, everyday life was
the arena of religion.

The founder of Confucianism, Master Kong (Confucius, 551-479

B.C.E.) did not intend to found a new religion, but to interpret and revive
the unnamed religion of the Zhou dynasty, under which many people
thought the ancient system of religious rule was bankrupt; why couldn't
the gods prevent the social upheavals? The burning issue of the day was:
If it is not the ancestral and nature spirits, what then is the basis of a
stable, unified, and enduring social order? The dominant view of the day,
espoused by Realists and Legalists, was that strict law and statecraft were
the bases of sound policy. Confucius, however, believed that the basis lay
in Zhou religion, in its rituals (li). He interpreted these not as sacrifices
asking for the blessings of the gods, but as ceremonies performed by
human agents and embodying the civilized and cultured patterns of
behavior developed through generations of human wisdom. They
embodied, for him, the ethical core of Chinese society. Moreover,
Confucius applied the term "ritual" to actions beyond the formal
sacrifices and religious ceremonies to include social rituals: courtesies and
accepted standards of behavior-- what we today call social mores. He saw
these time-honored and traditional rituals as the basis of human
civilization, and he felt that only a civilized society could have a stable,
unified, and enduring social order.
C. SHINTOISM

Shintoism is an Ancient religion of Japan. It started at least as long ago as 1000 B.C.E. but
is still practiced today by at least five million people. The followers of Shintoism believe
that spiritual powers exist in the natural world. They believe that spirits called "kami"
live in natural places such as in animals, plants, stones, mountains, rivers, people and even
the dead.

Shinto places of worship are called shrines and are usually found in beautiful natural
settings. The shrine contains an Inner Hall which is only entered by Shinto priests since it
is believed kami are present. Shinto priests can be either male or female. Purity is
important to Shinto followers and therefore they rinse their mouths and wash their
hands and hang up wooden tablets with prayers on them before entering the prayer hall.
Once inside, the kami is summoned with a bell and offered rice or money. After which
the worshiper bows twice and claps twice to welcome the kami then bows again.

Shinto shrines are marked by a special archway called tori. This archway is believed to
separate the sacred world of the shrine from the world outside. There are about 80,000
shrines all over Japan. Each shrine has a yearly festival in which people pay their respects
to the kami and celebrate with food and drink.

Worship also happens in homes and at work through simple offerings of rice and tea and
prayers. The rice and tea is placed on a special shelf called a "god shelf”. Prayers are often
addressed to the family ancestors.
III. COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

TAOISM CONFUCAINISM SHINTOISM

GOD

FOUNDER

HOLY BOOK

TENETS/DESTINY

CONTROVERSES
IV. FINDINGS AND INTROSPECTION

In this part of my comparative study I will discussed the findings of my

study about this three Daoic religions. Which are the Taoism, Confucianism and
also Shintoism. As many of us have individual faith and beliefs and what is it
important to our life the word religion.

As I know these three have a union and they are originated came from |
East Asia. The religion Taoism/Daoism is came from Chinese philosophy
attributed by Lao Tau. And emphasis doing what is natural and “going with the
flow” in accordance to Tao (dao) and also Taoism is considered as having the
most positive view of women, with 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.. And Confucianism is considered a
religion because its deals were inspirational, not in the supernatural sense but in
the sense of aiming for excellence in ones relationships with others. While the
last religion called Shintoism states the importance of returning to the natural
state of purity to become a better person and fathom ones destiny, thereby
promoting order in society.

For me, I conclude that in many differences in these religions there is Unity in
between them. And respect each other to rich your goal in this world.

V. References

http://www.taoism.com
http://www.confucianism
http://www.shintoism
http://worldreligion
 COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS
IN
DAOIC RELIGIONS
AND
THEIR BELIEFS

SUBMITTED BY:
REYNALDO LUBIANO JR.

SUBMITTED TO:
CIELO VELOSO