The Similarities And Differences Between Hinduism And Confucianism
The early civilizations of India and China have significantly influenced religious beliefs around the natural world. Members of these communities crafted unique social, cultural, and political practices that reflect their relationship with nature and with each other. (Acrobatiq,2014) Hinduism was introduced to India by The Aryans somewhere between the time 1500- 1000 BCE. (Acrobatiq,2014) Confucianism was brought to China around the year 400 BCE by Kong Fuzi, or Confucius. (Acrobatiq,2014) Although Hinduism and Confucianism were brought to these civilizations hundreds of years apart they both share commonalities. Both are labeled as religions but seem to act as a more social structure to the believers, they teach strengthening human relationships here on earth, and they both teach values to lead to peace. Although there are many similarities, they also differ in vast ways. The biggest being Hinduism uses an end goal, or after life, to reach by reincarnating until you achieve this, while Confucianism guides how to turn the world chaos into harmony and to live a productive, educated, and ethical life here on the physical Earth. (Acrobatiq,2014)
As mentioned before Hinduism and Confucianism each have a set of beliefs that act more as social guidelines, both strengthen human relationships, and both try to achieve peace. Hindu followers believe that to reach the end goal of Moksha (when your soul returns to Brahman) they need to break the cycle of Samsara (a cycle of life, death, and rebirth) by living a righteous life with themselves and with other humans that surround them to gain good Karma(the sum of good and bad you have done during this particular life cycle). This acts as a social guideline to many people in India during this time because it created a system that people at the time followed when making good or bad life decisions. Gaining good Karma in the physical life by doing good deeds brings one closer to reaching Moksha and by living in this way they lived in peace with other humans. Confucianism was brought to China because Confucius wanted to turn the chaos at the time into peace. Confucius's idea was based on Ren, Li,and Xiao. These teachings are spelled out in the Analects (a book his followers wrote or his thoughts and teachings). Confucius used Ren, which taught compassion, kindness, and benevolence, Li, which taught respect and etiquette, and Xiao, which taught the respect and loving devotion between inferior and superior, as a way to form a social guideline for followers to live in harmony in the company of other humans(Acrobatiq,2014), a way to strengthen the community, and a way to ensure peace in China.
Although both Hinduism and Confucianism have teaching and ways to help one live in peace and harmony, they have a vast difference in their beliefs. Hinduism uses the end goal of Moksha as the base of its teachings and to reach this you must live a righteous life and gain good Karma to break the cycle of Samsara. Hindu followers worship many gods and goddesses during their life but Brahman is the main God they worship. When a person does reach Moksha, their soul becomes permanently united with Brahman(the main god)(Acrobatiq,2014). Confucianism is more a guide of how to turn the world chaos into harmony to live a productive, educated, and ethical life here on the physical Earth. Confucius used three teachings for his followers to live in harmony in the company with other humans. (Acrobatiq,2014) If they live a life of Ren, Li, and Xiao then there will be peace in the world and everyone would live in harmony together, with no goal of an afterlife. This being the main difference between the two religions, the belief in an afterlife.
