Content standard

The learner compares the three religions in

aspect of origin, morality, purpose, destiny and
views on women.
Learning Competencies
• Identify the uniqueness and similarities of Confucianism,
Taoism, and Shintoism.
• Provide evidence that Confucianism, Taoism, and Shintoism
share common traits in viewing nature and ancestors.
• Justify that Confucianism, Taoism, and Shintoism as East Asian
religions/philosophies have largely influenced the world today.
• Prepare multimedia presentation on the perceptions of people
from all walks of life on the doctrines of the three religions and
compare them in the aspects of individual, family, society,
government and nature.
Comparative Analysis
 Confucianism Taoism Shintoism

Place of Temple. Taoist monasteries, Shrines.

worship temples, shrines.

Place of China China Japan

origin

Practices Visit to temples Philosophical Visit to shrines to

to pay homage to maturity, virtuous pay homage to
Ti'en(God or conduct, internal Shinto deities;
Heaven), alchemy, and some Shamanism, etc.
Confucius, and sexual practices.
ancestors; To
practice ('Jing
zuo, ') or 'Quiet
Sitting
 Confucianism Taoism Shintoism

Use of statues Permitted. Common Permitted.

and pictures

Goal of religion To have a To be one with the Tao. To serve the

structured Shinto deities, or
society. Kami, as they are
known.
Founder Kong Qiu Lao Tzu  
(Confucius)
Belief of God One God. Tao literally means the Numerous
Ancestors also Way, which indicates the deities.
worshipped, movement of a dynamic
though. existence that is composed
of opposing forces. Taoists
do not believe in a
personal God.
 Confucianism Taoism Shintoism
Life after To be worshipped If immortality isn't attained
death as ancestors. during life, the Tao will
continue to evolve and
manifest in different forms,
in accordance with the
entity's general conduct
during a state of existence.
This applies to all sentient
and insentient beings.

Literal Disciple of To follow the Tao. The Way of the

Meaning Confucius. gods.
Human Nature Humans should If humans are in tune with  
respect those who the Tao, their sufferings will
are superior to cease. Taoism teaches that
them. humans are capable of
experiencing immortality.
 Confucianism Taoism Shintoism

Clergy Bureaucrats. Taoist clergies are led by the Priests, miko, etc.
daoshis, masters of the Tao,
and followed by daojiaotus,
followers of Taoism who also
support the clergy, although it
is not common.

Scriptures The Five Classics, Tao te-ching Kojiki, Nihon Shoki

The Four Books
 Confucianism Taoism Shintoism

Original Mandarin or Old Chinese Japanese

Language(s) Cantonese
Principle Confucianism all The Tao is the only The essence of Shinto is
about the principle. The rest are its the Japanese devotion to
brotherhood of manifestations. invisible spiritual beings
humanity. and powers called kami,
to shrines, and to various
rituals.

Followers Confucianists Taoists Shintoists.

Status of Socially inferior to No distinctions between Women may become

women men. men and women, as priestesses. But are still
both are seen as seen as less than men
manifestations of the
Tao.
 Confucianism Taoism Shintoism
Goal of Philosophy Social Harmony. To gain balance in life.  

Geographical Asia. China, Korea, to lesser Shinto has influenced

distribution and extent Vietnam and Japan. Japan for several millenia,
predominance with the height appearing
before World War 2

Holy days/Official Chinese New Year, Chinese New Year, 3 Day The Japanese national
Holidays Teacher Day, Festival of the Dead, holidays, as well as local
Ancestor Day. Ancestor Day. shrine festivals (matsuri).

Time of origin Approx. 550 B.C.E. Approx. 550 B.C.E (before Approx. 700 B.C.
(Before Common common Era)
Era)

Concept of Deity Most believe in Being manifestations of Numerous deities. The sun
One God. the Tao, Gods are seen as is one of the most
higher life forms. important ones(they
believe that the sun is a
goddess).