Compare and contrast Daoism (Taoism), Legalism, and Confucianism.
Daoism, Legalism, and Confucianism share similarities as they worked together to form schools of thought that worked to exercised a deep influence in Chinese political and cultural traditions. They also worked to bring political and social stability to China during the years of the Zhou dynasty and the period of the warring states (Bently, Ziegler & Streets, p.100).
The differences among the three is Confucian’s involved themselves in society by holding government positions and made concrete efforts to solve political and social problems while promoting harmony in public life. The Daoism’s believed that it would be pointless to focus on social activism. Instead they focused their time trying to understand the principles of living in harmony as they believed that someday there would be harmony to society as a whole (Bently et. al. p.103). The Legalists were unlike the other two. They did not concern themselves with ethics, morality or property nor did they care about the place of human beings in nature, instead, they placed their focus to the state, which they sought to strengthen and expand at all costs (Bently et. al. p.104).
What did each system stress as most important?
Daoists thought that they should withdraw from the world of politics and administration so that humans could not live in harmony (Bently et. al. p.103). Legalists’ sought to channel as many individuals as possible into cultivation or military services. They believed that individuals should persue careers that were useful (Bently et. al. p.104). Confucians felt that it was most important to promote a good government that focused on individuals that are well educated as well as extraordinarily conscientious and to also put less focus on questions of philosophical or religious context (Bently et. al. p.101).
In what ways did they speak to the people?
Although the Daoists, Legalists and Confucians’ were different societies,there were things that they agreed on as well as things that they shared differences which lead them to have their own way of influencing others, by addressing the issues of their society based on their s\structural rules and techniques of making things work and happen for them.
Which had the most impact on the development of society? Why? Although their view on government principles was not popular among others; The Legalists’ method had the most impact on the development of society as it focuses on unification and many rulers Has adopted and continuing to adopt to this method today (Bently et. al. p.105).
Reference
Bentley, J. H., Ziegler, H. F. & Streets, H. E. (2008). Traditions & Encounters: A Brief Global History. United States of America: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.