UNIQUENESS

AND
SIMILARITIES

CONFUCIANISM, DAOISM, AND

SHINTOISM
The three Daoic religions – Confucianism, Daoism, and
Shintoism – all originated from East Asia, thus they are also
called East Asian religions. Confucianism and Daoism 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

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ORIGIN

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 CONFUCIANISM
 It initially started as a philosophy that would provide a solution
to China’s chaotic society during the Zhou dynasty, but later it
became a religion as well, although its main contribution to
China lies in its ethical and moral dimensions.

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 CONFUCIANISM
 With the initiative of Dong Zhongshu, Confucianism was adopted
by the Han dynasty as an instrument for its political legitimacy.

 Confucian thought became mandatory for it served as the basis for

civil service examinations, hence those who wanted to serve in the
government should be well-versed with Confucianism, and in effect
Confucianism became the official religion/philosophy of the State.

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 DAOISM (TAOISM)
 Just like Confucianism, Daoism also started in China at almost
the same period when Confucianism developed. Like
Confucianism, it was also meant period when Confucianism
developed. Like Confucianism, it was also meant to offer
solutions to China’s social upheavals during the time

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 DAOISM (TAOISM)
 While Confucianism accepted the importance of rituals and
ancestor worship for the achievement of harmony between
heaven and earth, Daoism believed that nature should be allowed
to take its natural course for the attainment of social order.

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 DAOISM (TAOISM)
 Confucianism and Daoism may have flourished at the same period and may
have faced the same obstacles in society, but their solutions for the
achievement of heaven and earth differ, with Confucianism emphasizing the
need for a strict ethical control and with Daoism advocating the “go with the
flow” attitude.

 Despite the existence of these sacred scriptures in the said period. It took
many centuries before Daoism would secure its rightful place in China’s
religious and Philosophical life.
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 SHINTOISM
 Shintoism, which originated from Japan, is considered an
animistic fold religion and its origin is hard to trace, but what is
clear is that it started as an indigenous religion with utmost
importance given to spirits (or kami) in nature

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 SHINTOISM
 It emphasized the core values of family, tradition, nature, ancestors,
purity, and ritual practices.

 With the spread of Buddhism in Japan, it became linked with the

new religion; thus, it is very common for many Shintoists to identify
themselves a Buddhists as well. Shintoism is believed to have
provided the people with their daily needs while Buddhism takes
care of the afterlife.
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MORALITY

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 CONFUCIANISM
 In Confucianism, the concept of morality is based on loyalty to
one’s superiors and elders, parents, and respect, for others.

 Proper ritual observance, including rituals performed for

the ancestors, is also considered moral action, as well as self-
cultivation through wisdom and trust worthiness. Doing the
right thing at all time is also considered meritorious.

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 CONFUCIANISM
 Loyalty is also translated as “regard for others” (zhang)

 The importance of self-reflection comes the need to express

concern for other, and eventually the attainment of social order.

 From self-reflection comes self cultivation, or the need to

cultivate oneself through wisdom

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 CONFUCIANISM
 Maximizing ren (concern for others) by performing the
necessary rituals (li) would lead to de (virtue) and would
produce the ideal person according to personal cultivation but to
social and even cosmic cultivation as well.

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 DAOISM (TAOISM)
 While Confucianism had very few moral guidelines, Daoism
initially advocated the idea that society should not be regulated
with morality but should be allowed to exist according to the
natural laws. Doing so would lead to virtuous behavior.

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 DAOISM (TAOISM)
 Later on, Daoist masters advocated the idea that one should
perform good deeds that would be known only to the gods.
Gradually, they started to regulate morality by confessing one’s
sins and ask for forgiveness from the gods.

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 DAOISM (TAOISM)
 Austerity and self-discipline were also emphasized, until in the
4th century C.E., the text containing 180 moral guidelines
clearly influenced by Buddhism. Included in the guidelines were
the prohibition on stealing, adultery, abortion, murder,
intoxication, and overindulgence.

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 DAOISM (TAOISM)
 Some of its important guidelines were was heavily influenced by
killing, lying, stealing, intoxication, immoral deeds and actions,
as well as maintaining good relationship with one’s family
members (even with the dead ancestors), committing good
deeds, helping the less fortunate, and avoiding thoughts of
revenge.

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 SHINTOISM
 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.

 Hence, Shinto morality is based on having purity not only in the

physical sense but also in a spiritual and moral sense.
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 SHINTOISM
 Human nature is basically good according to Shintoism, hence evil
come 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.

 In general, things which are considered bad in Shintoism involve

disrupting the social order, the natural world, and the harmony of the
world.
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PURPOSE

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 CONFUCIANISM
 Confucianism advocates the idea that the ultimate goal
of everyone should be to reach one’s highest potential
as a person, and this can be achieved through self
cultivation.

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 CONFUCIANISM
 To become virtuous, one should be mindful of all the
senses (sight, hearing, speech, and action) and make
sure that every action, thought and feeling should be in
accordance with li (ritual).

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 CONFUCIANISM
 For Kung Fuzi, the ideal person is called a junzi, a
person who exemplifies the quality of righteousness.
Mengzi shares the same belief: that human nature is
basically good but still needs cultivation through the
proper observance of li (ritual) and meditative practices
to ensure the smooth flow of the qi (vital energy).
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 CONFUCIANISM
 He also believed that what makes us human is our feeling of
sympathy for others’ suffering, but what makes us virtuous is
our cultivation of this inner potential. While Xunzi believed
otherwise – that human nature is essentially bad – he also
believed that this can be reformed through self cultivation and
also through the proper observance of li or rituals, an idea also
espoused by Kung Fuzi and Mengzi.
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 DAOISM (TAOISM)
 As for Daoism, the purpose of existence is to ensure that order and
harmony are maintained by being aligned with nature.

 The goal of every person is to make the body capable of reacting in a

natural and spontaneous way.

 Daoists also believe that one way to become a mortal is by merging the
yin and yang within, leading to the creation of an embryo even among
males (Daoists believe that Laozi was able to achieve this).
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 SHINTOISM
 Shinto shares with Daoism the belief that the natural state of existence
should be maintained. While Daoism and Confucianism both
emphasized the importance of self-cultivation to achieve this goal,
Shintoism emphasized the importance of purification rituals to
maintain the natural state of existence.

 In Shintoism, maintaining the pure and natural state of existence

is the purpose of life, and one should start with oneself.
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DESTINY

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 CONFUCIANISM
 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.

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 CONFUCIANISM
 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.

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 CONFUCIANISM
 A descriptive interpretation of Ming sees destiny as a distant force
beyond human control.

 Meanwhile, a normative interpretation of Ming sees destiny as basically

the same with the concept of Yi (duty): everything is being willed by
heaven and people should follow the will of heaven not out of fate but as
way of and people should follow the will of heaven not out of fate but as
way of performing the duties assigned to them as individuals

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 DAOISM (TAOISM)
 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.

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 SHINTOISM
 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, performing the necessary rituals at the shrines will help people
purify themselves and unfold the destiny they are meant to fulfill.

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VIEW ON
WOMEN

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 CONFUCIANISM
 Confucianism places women at the bottom of the hierarchy both
in family and society. They are expected to exhibit proper
behavior and utmost obedience.

 More privileges were accorded to men, like having many wives

and their closest male relatives. A woman’s life revolves around
obeying men-her father, her husband, and grown-up son. Women
are expected to be loyal to their husbands even when widowed.
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 DAOISM (TAOISM)
 Daoism espouses a positive view of women, or qualities
associated with women.

 In fact, the Dao is considered as the “mother of all things”

and playing the feminine part is a constant theme in Daoism.
Since balancing the yin and yang is important in Daoism,
men are encouraged to perform female roles and vice-versa
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 SHINTOISM
 Shintoism initially started with a high regard for women
especially in the religious aspect.

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 Thank you

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