Journey to the East

"Three Ideologies"Culture Tour

Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism are the essence of traditional Chinese culture. As they have developed over the last two thousand years, these three philosophical ideologies have in many ways become interlinked and complementary to one another, and together have become the ideological foundation for all of Chinese culture. In China, Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism are known as the "three ideologies." A famous scholar in the Ming Dynasty once said: "Confucianism is the outside, Taoism, the inside, and Buddhism is the direction in which it’s all going." Throughout Chinese history it has also been said that "the strong believe in Confucianism, the intellectual, in Taoism, and the wise, in Buddhism."

Despite their interconnectedness, the places of teaching and worship related to each ideology are very separate: Confucianism has its schools, and Taoism and Buddhism have their respective temples.

Now, TargetChinese has rolled the sights and places of interest associated with all three into one tour that couples travel and sightseeing with themed Chinese language classes, allowing you to enjoy China’s beautiful landscapes while at the same time gain a better understanding of the essence of traditional Chinese culture. Join TargetChinese now and take a "Journey to the East!"

Confucianism:

Confucius (551-479 B.C.; given name: Kong Qiu) was a thinker and educator during the late years of the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese history and was the founder of the Confucian school of thought. Confucianism advocates a rite-based system of governance and emphasizes traditional feudal relationships, attaching special importance to the ethical standards for relationships between people.

The Confucian ideology and its doctrines have had a deep impact on Chinese culture. This is due to the fact that many Confucian principles are already rooted in the inherent value system of the Chinese people and to the fact that the ideology has the ability to adapt to the changing times and society, making it widely accepted in any era. During China's thousands of years as a feudal society, the material used by the education system primarily included The Four Books and The Five Classics (all considered to be Confucian classics). Traditional ideas such as duty, self-restraint, and filial piety, are all products of the combination of Confucian principles and a feudal system. Even today, the potential i mpact of Confucianism on such things as China's politics and economy is huge. In a sense, Confucianism is a word synonymous with sinology, as it is considered to be the study's core.

The doctrines of Confucianism are not only important in China, but throughout all of East Asia as well. Confucianism, like the written characters and laws of China spread to neighboring countries early on and had an important impact on the culture and way of thinking in those areas. For example, things like ethical standards for relationships between people and rules of etiquette in Korea and Japan were influenced by Confucian ideas like benevolence, righteousness, and ceremony - an influence that is still evident today.

Place of Interest:

The "Three Confucius Sites"are located in Qufu, a city with a history over 5,000 years long and the one that, of the world's three major holy cities, is revered as the "Holy City of the East. Qufu" is known around the world because its name is one closely linked to that of Confucius. The term "Three Confucius Sites" refers specifically to the Kong Family Mansion, where the Kong family (including Confucius himself) lived for many generations, the Temple of Confucius, a sacred place to pray and make sacrifices to Confucius, and the Confucius Cemetery.

Taoism:

Another one of China's important traditional ideologies is Taoism, primarily represented by the thoughts of the two great thinkers Laozi and Zhuangzi. Taoist principles are based on the Dao De Jing, or the Classic of the Virtue of the Tao, a work of philosophical theories that is brief, but comprehensive, and written in rhyme. Taoism advocates the natural way of things, has dialectic (meaning things are always changing and developing) elements, and generally does not include believing in a supreme being. At the same time, it also advocates the idea of "non-action"and opposes that of striving or struggling for things.

The Taoist philosophy is different from the ways of the Confucian philosophy on society. Starting with the principle of the natural flow of the universe, a philosophy was created that takes the natural way of things and neutrality as its main "Tao," or "way." The flow of the universe has its own natural principles. The philosophy of "Tao" tries decipher the meaning of this and then to create a more carefree world. Based on these principles, Taoist philosophy developed into something very different from the Confucian social philosophy. It developed into a philosophy in which society exists merely as an object, one in which the people who exist as part of that society are independent beings, free from ideological restraint. Overall, Taoist philosophy does not negate the social ideal of Confucianism; it simply does not include a pre-set attitude toward social responsibility. As a result, one of Taoism's characteristics is that it has more respect for the autonomy of human beings. The pursuit of the freedom and liberation of human nature in Taoism includes two different aspects: the liberation of one's knowledge capability and the liberation of one's state of mind.

Taoism's contribution to Chinese culture is as important as that of Confucianism ( the difference being that when it comes to things like politics, the latter is comparatively straightforward, while the former

is more abstract ). The depth and dialectic nature of Taoist theories has provided new creativity for other Chinese philosophical ideologies.

Taoist culture has also had a greater impact on things like Chinese art, including painting and carving, and Chinese literature than any other ideology.

Place of Interest:

Laoshan Mountain is the highest mountain on the Chinese coastline and, with its lush green landscapes, is known as the "top mountain by the sea." Laoshan Mountain is one of China's famous Taoist mountains. At the height of its prominence, an abundance of temples were built and there were thousands of Taoist priests living on the mountain. Of the existing buildings on the mountain today, Taiqing Palace is the largest and has the longest history. Laoshan Mountain is also the center of one of the world's three major high-quality mineral groundwater systems. The Qingdao Beer Company even has a Laoshan beer brand, which has contributed greatly to the development of the Chinese economy.

Buddhism:

Buddhism, along with Christianity and Islam are considered to be the world's three major religions. For over 1,000 years, since it was introduced to China during the Eastern Han Dynasty, Buddhism has been the primary religion among the people of China. Over time, Buddhism spread, not only by way of the monks who practiced the religion, but also by way of the Buddhist emperors, government officials, and scholars looked up to and respected by the common people, until it penetrated every level of society. It has since been said that in China there is a Buddhist in every household.

The philosophical theories of Buddhism and those of other ideologies, like Confucianism and Taoism, mixed with, influenced, and inspired change in one another and together became an essential part of Chinese culture. Buddhist literature is very imaginative and in many ways has been a liberating addition to Chinese literature. Most of China's romantic works, including novels like Journey to the West, are products of the influence of Buddhist literature.

In recent years, there have been many Buddhist masters praised by the public. In China, these masters are active advocates in the campaign to "build a harmonious society." They strive to bring Buddhism and society, as well as Buddhism and the common person's life closer together. One way this is done is by emphasizing, for example, that “Humanistic Buddhism” advocates principles like active participation and unselfish thinking, principles that are already in accord with the "harmony" the campaign is working towards. In addition, many language, writing, and technical products that have a deeper significance, can solicit profound thinking, and even show the merits of Buddhism are continuously being introduced. These products not only serve as promotional tools for the religion, but also help people to better understand modern Buddhism.

Places of Interest:

Mount Wutai, located in the city of Xinzhou in Shanxi Province, is the most important of China's Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains and is one of the best places to take in Buddhist temple architecture. The area of Mount Wutai is made up of both hills and five high mountains whose summits are wide and relatively smooth, hence they have been referred to as "platforms made on piles of earth." Mount Wutai is home to many well-known temples, including Xiantong Temple, Tayuan Temple, Pusading Temple, Dragon Spring Temple, the Temple of the Golden Pavilion, etc., and is the only place in China where one can find both Han Chinese Buddhist temples and Tibetan Buddhist temples. As a result, Buddhists from all over the world, including countries like India, Nepal, North Korea, Japan, Mongolian, and Shi Lanka have come to visit the temples of Mount Wutai.

Mount Putuo, located on an island off the coast of Zhejiang Province, is one of China's Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains. Legend has it that it is where Bodhisattva Guanyin (Goddess of Mercy in the legend of Buddhism) educated the common people on the principles of life. The main attractions at Mount Putuo include its three major Buddhist temples: Puji, Fayu, and Huiji. Surrounded on all sides by the sea, the area’s beautiful landscapes and calm atmosphere are one of a kind and have earned it a reputation as "the world's top locale for peace and quite." Everything in the Mount Putuo area, whether part of the natural landscape, the local architecture, or one of the islands many relaxing sounds, has a mysterious touch of Buddhism. Because of the many trees that blanket the island, including numerous ancient camphor trees, as well as the many birds and flowers that can be found in the area, Mount Putuo has also been called an "island arboretum." On the entire mountain there are 66 species hundred-year-old (or older) trees. Not only does the area boast a thousand-year-old camphor tree, but it is also home to some endangered species unique to China. Of the "12 scenic spots" of Mount Putuo, some are known for being hard to get to, some for being mysterious, still others for being unique among their kind, but all are memorable. Many of the scenic and historical sites in the area even have beautiful legends associated with them as they are closely connected to the stories of the Bodhisattva Guanyin.