Differences Between Confucianism and Daoism/Taoism

Many people have heard of Confucius. We are familiar with the sayings that start out, Confucius said... Many of us have also been exposed to Taoism, also known as Daoism, from the many Kung Fu movies that have permeated our culture. But what do we really know about these two schools of thought, or the men behind them?

Contemporaries:

Confucius and Lao Tzu were actually contemporaries, who are rumored to have met. Confucius is said to have referred to Lao Tzu as a "dragon" who he had trouble understanding, it is believed he thought Lao Tzu to have been very aloof. This isn't very surprising since Confucius is said to have been very conservative in thought, whereas Lao Tzu was considered to be more liberal.

Confucius:

There are hundreds of sayings that are attributed to Confucius, however it really isn't known how many of them actually came from his mouth. He was born, and lived in Lu, China, between 551 and 479 BCE. You can see by his writings however, that Confucius was more interested in the better life, with manners, respect, and finance at the center of his philosophy. He was also well educated and very well rounded and talented. He also seems to have belonged to the upper class, which would also point to his being a conservative.

Lao Tzu:

Much is not known about Laozi, or Lao Tzu, as he was also known. It is said that he wrote the books known as the Tao, or the Dao. The title simply means The Way. Although many have a hard time understanding this ancient and famous book, the ideas contained within are actually quite simple. Perhaps, so simple that it is hard for complex minds to grasp. The book speaks of the fluidity of life. It is a philosophy that leads one into a simple life, one free of striving, and based on going with the flow of the world around you. It is said that he wrote these books for the Keeper of the Pass on his way to Tibet. It is even said that his philosophy of the Dao is the basis for the JedI philosophy in the Star Wars series.

Conclusion:

Simply put, it seems that Confucius was more interested in how to get what one wants out of life, and how to behave in society. Whereas in contrast to Confucius, Lao Tzu was more interested in being in harmony with the world around him. This contrast can be said to mirror today's conflicting philosophies of Conservatism, and Liberalism.