Introduction
Philosophy is a very important part of human life. People search for some answers, ideas, and advice in philosophical studies. It is not a secret that most philosophical movements arose during ancient times, Confucianism and Daoism are not an exception. Three dynasties have been very popular in China and these dynasties have been largely responsible for all the religious changes and the lifestyle that have taken place in China. The most influential dynasties before 500 CE were the Xia, the Shang, and Zhou (Bentley and Ziegler 111). During the ruling of these dynasties two the most significant philosophies appeared: Confucianism and Daoism, which directed people’s outlook, they created a new vision of government and governors.
Main body
The contribution of the Zhou dynasty is invaluable and the most visible. They wrote books in poetry, history, politics, and philosophy. The most valued are notes about Confucius. As he never wrote down his expressions during the ruling of the Zhou dynasty his expressions were noted down (Bentley and Ziegler 126). During the ruing of the Zhou dynasty China prospered: the military power strengthened and the agriculture area increased. People get an education with books written by the Zhou dynasty. (Bentley and Ziegler 126)
Two of the biggest, from our point of view, philosophical movements were Confucianism and Daoism. Confucianism is a philosophical movement in China that states that only a powerful and morally strong person can govern the state successfully. Confucius noted that only law and people’s responsibility may lead to obedience. He believed that military equipment could help to govern. He also pointed out that people should be faithful to the people who take the responsibility of governing on their shoulders. If the rulers of the state are clever and respected people there will be no need to think of punishment; the rulers’ conduct should also be perfect as people repeat and inherit their actions and behavior, people should be sure of their governors (Bentley and Ziegler 184).
Confucianism also provided the straights of character which should possess a real leader: kindness and sense of humanity, sense of propriety, and good family relations which should be combined with ambitions and activeness (Bentley and Ziegler 186). Confucius believed that education is not so important as the ability to make wise and faithful decisions during the judgment when you govern the state. As it was said above, moral qualities are also rather important (Bentley and Ziegler 184).
Daoism is another philosophical study that was founded by Laozi. This movement aims to make people believe that to solve some problem people should not just defy the solution but to understand the character of the problem and the solution and to try to find the fundamental aim, to look for their nature (Bentley and Ziegler 186).
According to Daoism people should live in harmony with nature and the whole world. Ambitious and active people cannot govern the state, they should leave politics and govern. Only balanced people, those who live in the consent with nature and the world can govern. The ambitions and physical power have nothing to do with governing as only wise people can find a balance between themselves and the surrounding world (Bentley and Ziegler 186).
Conclusion
These two conceptions are rather different in their points of view about the rulers, but still, they have one common trade: they both arose during the ruling of the Zhou dynasty and they were supported and developed by that dynasty. Confucianism and Daoism philosophies give the effect of variety but still, it was one country and one religion where they appeared and it gives them some commonness.