Confucianism teaches us how to treat our fellow humans. Taoism teaches us what our relationship with the world beyond man should be. Sometimes they teach what appears to be different, even opposite, things. But I believe that they are complamentary, and that the truth is more complex and encompasses both- one as how we should behave to our fellow humans, and the other as what should be our relationship to the world beyond man.
They are not rival religions or philosophies. They are part of the same curriculum. To learn of man's relationship to man, go to Confucius's class. To learn man's relationship to the world beyond man, go to the Taoist class.
And the truth is more complex and encompasses both.
For example, Confucianism encourages us to build up as much civilization as possible- assuming that it is devoted to a gentlemanly attitude and not brute force. But Taoism encourages the simple life and as little civilization as possible.
So we should have as much civilization as we can in our relationship with our fellow humans- but civilization of a gentle, gentlemanly type- but impose as little civilization as we can upon the world beyond man.
Confucianism tells us to build up civilization in a gentlemanly way in our relationship with our fellow humans- and Taoism tells us to not impose civilization upon the world beyond man!
Makes sense to me! Especially as a tree-hugger!
God loves you!
Sincerely,
David S. Annderson