The Tao

Confucianism
& Shintoism
Sandeep buddiga (8)
Mahesh Kulkarni (20)
Akshay Khandalkar (30)
Ancient History of China

2500 BC – ink, tea, & silk

The Tao Confucianism & Shintoism

invented
2,000 BC in Yellow River
Valley Chinese had
written language
700 BC – gun powder
invented
500 BC – Taoism &
Confucianism
100 BC – paper is invented
2
Thoughts at the Time
•Ancestors could help or harm
•World full of spirits
•Shang Ti the ruler of the universe, though not a
creator god
•Ch’I is an impersonal self-generating energy in the

The Tao Confucianism & Shintoism

cosmos

1.33 billion
Taoism
Tao = a force connected to
nature that cannot be

The Tao Confucianism & Shintoism

defined, only experienced
and felt. Say What??
Goal of Life = Achieve the Tao
Lao-Tzu (606-530 B.C.) =
Founder of Taoism. Wrote
the holy book “Tao Te Ching” 4
•
Lao Tzu

The Tao Confucianism & Shintoism

“Live a simple life,
be free, be yourself,
and be close to
nature. Do these
things and you will
be wise and happy”.
5
Taoism Basics

Tao-te Ching: harmonize with

The Tao Confucianism & Shintoism

life by being receptive and
quiet
Chuang-tzu: best way to live in
a chaotic, absurd civilization is
to become detached from it
Yin and Yang: explanation on
6
how the universe is balanced

 The Tao Confucianism & Shintoism
•Yin =  blac k, fe minine , myste rio us, 
ne gative  
•Yang =  white  o r re d, masc uline , 
warm, po sitive  
•Bo th c o ntain a little  bit o f the  o the r  7
Types of Taoism
Philosophical Taoism :Ascetic -hope
is to become immortal-followed by

The Tao Confucianism & Shintoism

saints
Communal Religious Taoism:
emphasizes moral teachings and
collective ceremonies- married
priests perform rituals in
community
Folk Religion: The gods are
connected with each individual's 8

life as bringers of calamities or

Influence on Business
•Faith: in yo ur pro duc t to  suc c e e d
•De dic atio n: to  survive  and thrive  in 

The Tao Confucianism & Shintoism

busine ss
•Tranquility: is e sse ntial to  avo id 
burno ut in busine ss
•Adaptability: adapt to  any 
c irc umstanc e
•Enlighte nme nt: de ve lo ps a 
busine ss e thic  that mo ne y c an’ t  9
buy
 Confucius
Practical philosophy
for life and

The Tao Confucianism & Shintoism

gover nment

10
Who was Confucius?
 Educationist, Thinker and Politician
 Life of Confucius

The Tao Confucianism & Shintoism

 Patriotism

11
Background
 Around 550 B.C Chinese Society was in chaos
 Transition from a slave to feudalist society

The Tao Confucianism & Shintoism

 The ethics and moralities of society were in
decline

12
Confucius Teachings
 “Golden Rule” = “What you do not wish for
yourself, do not do to others”

The Tao Confucianism & Shintoism

 Main beliefs = respect for elders, filial
piety,education, commitment to
government service
 Government leaders

 Code of conduct

 Harmony

13
Confucius’ 5 Most Important
Relationships…
 Ruler and subject
 Parent and child

The Tao Confucianism & Shintoism

 Husband and wife

 Sibling and sibling

 Friend and friend

•

•Relationships have to be: loyal, courteous,

honest, faithful, and respectful to authority
•How are these relationships important for

maintaining a society?
• 14
Confucian Basics
 All humans are born alike
 Human nature is neither evil or good, but

The Tao Confucianism & Shintoism

humans can become either evil or good
 Objectives are ethical basis for the family
and to increase social harmony
•

15
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs For Asia

The Tao Confucianism & Shintoism

16
Effects on Chinese culture
 Attitudes and Beliefs
 High Context Culture

The Tao Confucianism & Shintoism

 Education

 Religion

 Social Unit (family/tribe)

 Idealism

 Trust

 Uncertainty Avoidance

 Collectivism


17
What is Shintoism?

The root and embodiment of Japanese culture

The Tao Confucianism & Shintoism

Ancient, indigenous, mythical, nature religion
of Japan
Derived from Chinese words (Shin = spirit, Tao
= way) – “the way of the gods”
No founder – An “ethnic” religion of the
Japanese people

18
Shintoism - origin
Japanese initially followed pagan
religion

The Tao Confucianism & Shintoism

Later influenced by Confucius,
Tao, and the Yang-Yin principle
from Chinese
During the Meiji Period, Shinto
was declared Japan’s official
state religion
Buddhism and Shintoism later
began to merge 19
Shintoism Basics

 Three main types of shinto:

The Tao Confucianism & Shintoism

Shrine Shinto
Sect Shinto
Folk Shinto
 Basic concept of Shintoism is ‘kami’
Polytheistic, Nature deities
Most important kami -
Amaterasu
 20
The four affirmations

Tradition and Family

The Tao Confucianism & Shintoism

Love of Nature
Physical cleanliness
Matsuri: festivals that worship
and honor the Kami


21
Shinto today

Adherents of Shinto seek support from Shinto

The Tao Confucianism & Shintoism

by praying at a home altar or by visiting the
shrines.
In worship, the spirits and kami are invited to
the shrine and evil spirits are expelled.
Believe in talismans
Religious ceremonies
• Led by Shinto priest
• wedding ceremonies also held in Shinto
style 22


Influence on Business

Present orientation of people is

The Tao Confucianism & Shintoism

a mix of both Shinto and
Buddhism.
View of a person from Shinto
religion:
Look for an auspicious day
Long term orientation
23
High uncertainty avoidance
 Buddhism Confucianism Daoism Christianity

Is it a More like a Yes, and a

religion? Yes philosophy philosophy Yes

The Tao Confucianism & Shintoism

Belief in Belief in
Belief in Buddha Not taught many Yes, one
God? Gods God

Holy Yes, the No, but his writ- Yes, Tao Te

ings are called Yes, Bible
book? Dharma Ching
Five Classics
Four Noble Truths Creating a Simple life God; Teachings
Focus? Middle Way moral society close to nature of Jesus Christ
How many 350 million Over 5 million About 2 million Over 2 billion
today?
Life after Yes, Yes,
death? No Not on Earth
24
reincarnation reincarnation
References
 http://www.taoism.net/enter.htm
 http://www.religioustolerance.org/taoism.htm

The Tao Confucianism & Shintoism

 http://www.religionfacts.com/a-z-religion-
index/confucianism.htm
 http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/religion/confuci
anism/
 http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2056.html
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinto

25