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Confucianism and Daoism in Pre-Modern Chinese Literature


            Confucianism and Daoism and two schools of thought which are very similar in nature. This is understandable as Confucius was a studier of the Dao, and drew from it heavily in creating his own philosophical teachings and ideas. Due to this, there is a belief among some religious scholars that Confucianism is the active form of the passive Dao. While some put forth this theory and cite examples of Confucius' rituals and strict hierarchy as support, others believe that the most effective way is to read and contemplate the literature of both the Zhuang-zi and The Analects, as we must not read the writings and take it at our perspective, but allow our understanding to aid us in tracing back to what was in the writer's mind.
             The Poems cause a point of contention between followers of the dao and those of Confucius by having their respective teacher's interpret them in different ways. When Confucius speaks of the poems, he teaches them the way he sees them, and claims that to be the true path. When Zhuangzi teaches the poems, he teaches that what we understand the poems to mean, is not the meaning. We must use our understanding combined with our understanding of the era the writer lived in to trace back to what the writer's thoughts and intentions may have been. Even then it is not the truth of what was meant in the poems, just our understanding of it, and our closest interpretation. This is showing a more passive approach, as we must accept imperfection and embrace fact of unknowing, while Confucius takes the active approach of stating what he believes to be the true meaning.
             An example of difference between Confucianism and Daoism can be seen by looking at the Analects and the Zhuangzi talk of causation. Confucius uses the Analects to explain causation, stating one action is the direct result of another. The Zhuangzi, however, draws from the dao stating that one thing does not always cause another.


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