COMPARATIVE
ANALYSIS OF CONFUCIANISM,
TAOISM AND SHINTOISM
ORIGIN
CONFUCIANISM
Confucianism may have started during the time of
King Fuzi, but his ideas became popular only after
his death, with his initiatives of Mengzi, and later of
Xunzi, who were among those who contributed their
own ideas to Confucianism about concepts, such as
human nature, morality, politics and government.
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.
Confucianism accepted the importance of
rituals and ancestor worship for the achievement
of harmony between heaven and earth
DAOISM
Daoism also started in China at almost the
same period when Confucianism developed.
Like Confucianism, it was also meant to
offer solutions to China’s social upheavals
during the time. Laozi, who is considered as
Daoism’s prominent philosopher, authored
Daoism’s sacred scripture, the Dao De Jing.
Daoism’s importance began upon the
collection of writings of unknown origin
during the 3rd or 4th centuries B.C.E.
This collection of writings became known
as the Dao De Jing, a compilation of
several hundred years of writing about the
Dao (the way) and De (virtue).
SHINTOISM
Shinto, which originated from Japan, is considered
an animistic folk
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.
it was used by the imperial family to legitimize their
rule and it was even
declared as a state religion for a long time.
MORALITY
CONFUCIANISM
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
trustworthiness.
Doing the right thing at all times is also considered
meritorious.
Loyalty is also translated as “regard for others”
(zhong), specifically loyalty to one’s superior but also
includes respect to one’s equals and subordinates.
importance of self-reflection is also emphasized, with
the Golden Rule as the guiding principle.
From self-reflection comes selfcultivation, or the need
to cultivate oneself through wisdom.
Maximizing the ren (concern for others) by
performing the necessary rituals (li) would lead to de
(virtue) and would produce the ideal person according
to Confucianism.
DAOISM
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.
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. Austerity and self-discipline
were also emphasized.
SHINTOISM
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.
Shinto has provided the Japanese with a way of life that revolves
around the worship of the kami.
,Shinto morality is based on having purity not only in the physical
sense but also in spiritual and moral sense.
Human nature is basically good according to Shinto, 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.
In general, things which are considered bad in
Shinto include: disrupting the social order, the
natural world, the harmony of the world, and the
worship of kami.
PURPOSE
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.
To become virtuous, one should be mindful
of all the senses and make sure that every
action, thought, and feeling should be in
accordance with li (ritual).
For Kung Fuzi, the ideal person is called a junzi,
a person who exemplifies the quality of ren or
concern for fellow human beings and manifests
the quality of yi or 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).
DAOISM
Daoism, the purpose of existence is to ensure that order and
harmony are maintained by being aligned with nature.
Doing physical exercises may help the body to achieve that goal.
Since spontaneity is meant only for the immortals, common people
should instead aim for a long and healthy life.
It is also important to make sure that there is proper alignment or
balance within the body, otherwise illness will occur.
That is why acupuncture is very important among the Chinese, for
it helps adjust the flow of qi and tends to balance yin yang.
SHINTOISM
Shinto emphasized the importance of purification
rituals to maintain the natural state of existence.
avoidance of pollution or anything that they
consider impure (death, blood, or disease) is seen as a
way by misogi or purification rituals.
In Shinto, maintaining the pure and natural state of
existence is the purpose of life, and one should start
with oneself.
DESTINY
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.
everything is being willed by heaven and
people should follow the will of heaven not
out of fate but as a way of performing the
duties assigned to them as individuals
(Slingerland 1996).
DAOISM
often criticized for espousing a fatalistic attitude in
life, with emphasis on wu wei, often translated as
“non-doing” or “non-action.”
encourages people to live by leaving everything to
the universe and not taking action at all
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.
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.
misogi or purification is important to regain the
natural purity we once had. Only when one is truly
purified can one discover his or her mission in life.
Shinto believes that humanity’s natural greatness can
only be achieved by returning oneself to the state of
natural purity.
performing the necessary rituals at the shrines will
help people purify themselves and unfold the destiny
they are meant to fulfill.
VIEWS ON WOMEN
CONFUCIANISM
emphasized hierarchy, and in that hierarchy, women are expected to
become subservient to men.
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
concubines while women were allowed to have only one husband and
see only 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.
In fact, widows are expected not to remarry, for it is
considered a disgrace for widows to remarry after death of
their husbands.
To encourage this, there were times when the
government offered tax exemptions and memorial
monuments to the families of women who were widowed
before the age of 30 but did not marry until the age of 50.
Confucianism advocates the belief that widows who
remarry after the death of their husbands lose their virtue.
DAOISM
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.
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.
Androgyny or the combination of masculine and
feminine characteristics can be achieved by
developing a divine embryo (even among males),
ritual sexual intercourse, and internal alchemy.
The high status accorded to women is manifested by
the fact that women are allowed to become priests in
Daoism, and the existence of numerous female deities.
SHINTOISM
Shinto men are placed at a more advantageous
position in society than women.
initially started with a high regard for women
especially in the religious aspect.
“Primitive Shinto” period, women had a significant
role in religion as the medium between the gods and
the people.
“Organized Shinto”, when religion became the
government’s responsibility, when rites had to be
performed by provincial governors and priests, usually
males. During that time, only the shrine at Ise was led
by a priestess.
Meiji Restoration in 1868 up to the present day, the
role of women in society continued to decline.
Since World War II, women were again accepted in
the priesthood but only as substitutes for male priests.
two issues continued to pose a threat to the low status of women
in Japanese religion and society: one,
1. the limited role given to women in high ranking shrines such
as Ise, which was previously led by a priestess; and
2. the emphasis given by Shinto 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. (Haruko 1993)
In general, women are still not on equal status with men in
society, where men are allowed to commit adultery while
women are expected to be loyal to their husbands only in the
last century.
DEEPEN
Directions: Complete the table below by giving
the correct words or phrases that describe the
following categories. Use a separate sheet of
paper to answer the activity. Page 10, Module 15
