In the beginning, there was only chaos, and out of chaos emerged yin and yang.
According to Chinese legends, in the beginning there was only chaos, and out of chaos emerged yin and yang, two primordial opposing forces that, through their mutual interaction, created the universe. The continuous interaction of these two oppositions creates change, which characterizes life.
For Chinese thought, it is necessary to accept the changing nature of life, not blindly, but intelligently, adapting and acting accordingly, just as a farmer collaborates with nature by planting seeds in the appropriate season and harvesting crops when they are ripe. This would also be a characteristic of a wise person and a knowledgeable ruler. As John M. Koller explains in his book Asian Philosophies, “a wise ruler must penetrate into this so that, with a mind cleansed of all passions and prejudices through self-improvement, they can naturally and appropriately respond to any problem that arises.”
There has been much talk about irreconcilability. There are differences between Confucianism and Taoism, but they can be understood as another manifestation of Yin (Taoism) and Yang (Confucianism), which are ultimately just aspects of a Truth that is above them, just as the symbol of Tai Chi encompasses Yin and Yang.
It seems that over the past two thousand years, Confucian teachings have had the greatest influence on Chinese civilization: starting from 637 AD, all public schools had to prominently display Confucius’ image and follow the system of state exams. The high value placed on education (which was esteemed far more than social status), the importance of self-improvement, and the nurturing of family relationships are all very Confucian characteristics.
Other aspects of Chinese culture, such as the magical elements of Chinese medicine and martial arts, or the well-known paintings depicting tiny human figures high in the mountains, surrounded by clouds in vast expanses, reveal the influence of Taoism and the great value it places on nature, where the human being is merely a small part. Language is only a small part of it.
We must not forget the influence of Buddhism. During the Ming Dynasty, which is now best known for its exceptional Ming vases, one of the emperor’s war ministers was a Buddhist monk and Buddhism spread in the imperial court.
Koller summarizes these three cultural expressions as “three ways of achieving personal transformation and perfecting human beings”:
According to the Confucian ideal, a perfect ruler is one who has perfected his own behavior, identifies with the interests and well-being of the state, promotes art, and is friendly towards foreigners. This was called the “great principle”, as opposed to the “small principle” where each individual only cares about their own interests.
Despite Mao Zedong’s fierce anti-Confucian stance and the Cultural Revolution, many of these Chinese cultural traits, such as respect for education and the importance of family and social relationships, have remained present to this day.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the movement for mo The modernization of China, in line with Western values and technology, has led to the degradation of Confucius and Confucianism. However, in recent years, movements for its rehabilitation have emerged. Today, there are over a thousand Confucius Institutes and Confucius classrooms in 120 countries worldwide. As a result, the timeless teachings of Confucius are once again becoming available to millions of people throughout China and the world.