A group of people wearing costumes. A representation of the three philosophies in China. Confucius presenting the young Buddha to Lao-tzu. Photo from Wikimedia.
By USHistory. org, adapted by Newsela staff
Published:06/27/2017
Word Count:723
China's two most famous philosophers were Lao-tzu and Confucius. It is thought that these two lived and taught at the same time during the sixth century B. C.E. Their sayings are still used today.

"Those who know do not say; those who say do not know." - Lao-tzu

"The superior men are sparing in their words and profuse in their deeds." -Confucius

The "Old Master"
Lao-tzu means either "Old Master" or "Old Boy." This comes from the story that he was born with white hair, already old and wise, around 604 B. C. Lao-tzu was head librarian in a great museum. It is not known for certain if Lao-tzu really existed, because so little is known about his life.

Lao-tzu was sad about the lack of goodness he saw in people. He went to live alone beyond the Great Wall of China, possibly near Tibet. When the town gatekeeper saw Lao-tzu leaving, he asked him to write down his final thoughts. Three days later Lao-tzu returned with a small book, called the "Tao Te Ching." This book started the set of beliefs, or philosophy, known as Taoism.

Taoism
Taoism says that an unknown force flows through everything in the universe. This force is called the Tao, which means "The Way." It has many different meanings, though. It also means the real truth, the powers that drive the universe, and the wonder of human nature.

Taoists believe that everything might seem separate, but is actually one. Opinions of good and evil or true and untrue arise when people forget about the one. Taoists try to remember their oneness, which is easier said than done, as Lao-tzu said: "the Tao that can be spoken is not the true Tao."

Over time, Taoism changed a bit. Taoists worshipped many gods and ancestors and studied an energy in the body they called "chi." They sought to live forever by following certain practices, and wrote down guidelines about how to think and act. Taoism became more popular in A. D. 440 when it became China's state religion. Many people practice Taoism today.

Confucius A translated and annotated edition of three out of four Confucian "Four Books" published in 1687. Photo from Wikimedia. [click to enlarge]
Confucius was born in 551 B. C. He traveled China as a government worker and an adviser to the ruling Chou family. He was also a musician, philosopher, and teacher.

After Confucius died in 479 B. C., his students wrote down his teachings. These writings were called the Lun-yü, or Analects, which means edited conversations. Many of his clever sayings are still followed today. "It is as hard to be poor without complaining as to be rich without becoming arrogant." The philosophy of Confucius was called Confucianism.

Confucianism
Confucianism says it is important to learn to be human. People should act with virtue, or goodness, in society. Good relations with family, community, state, and kingdom create order and unity. "Jen" is the word Confucianism uses for virtue in all its forms.

Confucianism has rules about births, weddings, and deaths. For example, someone carries a willow branch at a funeral to represent the dead person's soul. The "I Ching," or "Book of Change" explains these procedures.

The best-known parts of Confucianism come from the Analects: "Not to teach a man who can be taught, is to waste a man; to teach a man who cannot be taught, is a waste of words. The wise will lose neither men nor words." These sayings guided social thought in China for a long time, from 202 B. C. until A. D. 1911.

Rival philosophies
Taoism and Confucianism have differences and similarities. Confucianism guides social interactions, while Taoism guides the search for meaning. They both share ideas about man, society, and the universe. Both were philosophies first and religions later. But, Lao-tzu was not impressed by the beautiful robes worn by Confucius, and did not agree with looking back on the past, as he said when they met: "Put away your polite airs and your vain display of fine robes. The wise man does not display his treasures to those he does not know. And he cannot learn justice from the Ancients."

Taoism and Confucianism have helped people for over 2,000 years. They led China through ups and downs in its long history, one of the longest stories on Earth

Which two of the following are MAIN ideas of the article?

Lao-tzu and Confucius were not impressed by each other when they met.
Lao-tzu and Confucius shared ideas about how people should live in unity in the world.
Taoism and Confucianism were written in different books that have been saved in museums.
Taoism and Confucianism are beliefs that have been important to many people.