Hinduism is a monistic religion with both monotheistic and polytheistic natures. They believe that all reality is really one thing. They believe in one god, but he can exist in millions of different contexts. Hinduism concerns human beings above all else. Hindus believe in reincarnation as well as karma. Karma is the belief that you are punished for sins you commit in your passed life explains why bad things may happen to good people. Brahman is the common essence that gods, plants, animals, the material universe, and humans share. The complete rule of life is defined as dharma, which is Hindus ethical duty. Hinduism has a caste system that originated from four classes and divided into over three thousand classes. Hindu society distinguishes four stages of life also. The first stage is student in which your duty is to study. The second stage is the householder in which your duty is to find a career and raise a family. The third stage is the forest dweller stage, which starts with the birth of a first grandson. In this stage the man must go on a retreat and engage in a spiritual quest. The fourth stage is called sannyasin, which is for the forest dwellers that are ready to return home. They become wiser and are less distracted by social activities. Another important aspect of Hinduism is the importance to seek desires. They believe in sensual pleasure called Kama, they believe in artha, which describes material and social success. Living in harmony with dharma is also an important goal in achieving happiness. Being aware of moksha, the great ocean, which everything flows to, is the last goal of life.

• Confucius was born in Eastern China, he lived from 551 to 479 B.C. Taught by his mother at home, he later made a career from teaching others. He taught historical and literary classics
• Confucius tried to apply the lessons of the ancients to modern day issues, including government.
• He was a minor public official, and he attempted to influence his own state and others to put his theories into practice, however, he failed.
• While he did not affect change as an official, he influenced his own disciples enormously.
• After Confucius' death, his disciples organized his teachings into a collection, titled the Analects.
• The Analects define the ideal person as chun-tzu, a personwho is mature in mind and moral in character. Confucius believed that only a man could become such a person.
• The Analects also emphasizes the virtues of wisdom, courage, trustworthiness, reverence and uprightness in all people.
• Confucianism emphasized proper behavior, embodied in the term li. Confucius emphasized traditional Chinese rules and roles.
• Jen is the ultimate virtue, translated as benevolence. the notion of shu, goes hand in hand with jen, meaning "do unto others as you would have them do unto you, in other words, the golden rule.
• Confucius greatly valued learning, not only to retain information, but also to determine what it is to be human.
• Confucius believed that a man could become noble through learning.
• Another aspect of becoming human is wen, or cultural arts. Confucius admired poetry and music, and art, he felt these things ensured unity and continuity in society.
• Good government is another important aspect of Confucianism, and this is gained through te, meaning virtue gained through the power of example. Confucius believed that it was vital in government.
• Confucius believed that a man could continue on one's spiritual journey for the duration of one's lifetime. He never saw an end to spiritual attainment, except in death.
• At the time of Confucius, China had many problems; civil war between the states, subjugation of the common people, and general chaos in society.
• Mohism, founded by Mo Tzu taught universal love, even towards one's enemies as a solution.
• The Legalists promoted sterns laws with stricts punishments.
• Confucius, instead focused on human relationships, he advocated justice in dealing with China's troubling problems. He used as examples, ancients sages and rulers.
• Confucius believed in the worship of anscestors, in sacrificing to the dead spirits, to ensure one's own welfare and the satisfaction of the ancient ancestors. Confucius sought to improve Chinese society with traditional ideas.
• Mencius, the second founder of or contributor to Confucianism, believed people were good by nature, and commiting sins is against a human's nature.The Book of Mencius is an important Confucian text.
• 136 B.C.: A school of Confucian scholars was founded, and Confucianism entered into mainstream Chinese society.
• A school of thought called Neo-Cofucianism arose in opposition to those challenging Confucianism. The leader of this philosophy was Chu Hsi.
• The docrine of the Five Constant Relationships; "Love between father and son, duty betwen ruler and subject, distinction between husband and wife, precedence of the old over the young, and faith between friends"
• Confucianism and the self: The self is the center of human relationships. The self is constantly changing, as in Buddhism. one learns to be human through experience in the world
• Confucianism and the family: The family as the center of Chinese society, a very traditional ideal. each person must know their role, and act accordingly. There is a great respect for elders
• Confucianism and the nation: The nation is considered as one big family. The ruler should have aquired moral perfection, and the government should assure the happiness and well being of the people.
• Confucianism and heaven: There is little said about divinity of an afterlife in Confucianism, however, Confucius believed in heaven as an aspect of reality., heaven was a principle deity, the ultimate moral force. The human world effects heaven, it depends somewhat on human society.
• Tao is the moral order of the universe, if one understands the way, one can be in harmony with it.
• However, Confuciansim does not hold the answers to allreligious questions, and many east Asians find themselves turning to Buddhism for answers.

Written By: Yasmine Rana

Taoism

• The main idea of Taoism is Tao which is "The Way" of nature.  Humans are a part of a whole universe that is in harmony, balancing and working with eachother.
• One strand of Taoism is philosophical  and based largely on texts: the Tao Te Ching and the Chuang Tzu.  This type of Taoism focuses on the Tao and its mysteries and meanings.
• The other type of Taoism has a more religious focus.  The main goal is ultimately immortality, and there are several rituals that have long been used in order to achieve this.
• Lao Tzu - the "Old Master".  He was believed to be conceived by a shooting star and born an 82 year old wise man.  He worked for the government and because of his wisdom he was often sought out for advice.  Lao Tzu left his home due to government corruption, and on his trip he wrote down his widom in the Tao Te Ching, which included many paradoxes, but had many teachings on reaching harmony with nature.
• Chuang Tzu - Taoism's second founder, wrote the Chuang Tzu, which also includes lessons and teachings.  He asks questions on the relativity of "things", discussing that these answers are based on circumstances.
•   Tao - the Way of nature.  It cannot be fully explained, but is the source from which all things arise: something that cannot be seen and beyond intellect.  Tao is before and above everything else, but is present in the world.
• Taoism is described as "invisable, and yet pervasive and powerful" like a magnet.  The two ends of this force are the Yin and Yang, Yin being the dark, negative, female half, and the Yang the positive, male, light, heavenly half.  Their balance is found throughout the universe, and the do not exist without eachother.  Humans tend to spend too much time in yang, but it is critical to embrase the aspects of the yin as well to achieve balance and become a sage, which is a perfectly balanced individual.
• Just as yin and yang are opposite, Taoism sees values as being relative, for example, without evil, goodness has no meaning.  There is always one element withing the other.  Chuang Tzu had many ideas on the relativity of things.
• Taosim doesn't say much on the subject of death, except that life and death are two parts of the same whole.  As for an afterlife, The Tao Te Ching describes it as returning back to the original Tao.
• To live in perfect accordance with the Tao, one must be a sage, which requires oness with the Tao through knowledge of the Tao's simplicity and unity.  This knowledge is beyond intellect though, and can be very confusing.  The sage is compared to a cat, which always maintains its own simplicity and always lands on its feet, not trying to go beyond its own nature.  The Tao is always there and is everything.  Much like Buddhism or Hinduism, one must not let themselves be distracted by things that go beyond its simple nature.
• Wu-wei is an important aspect of Taoism and to the sage.  It literally means "nonaction" but is about doing just enough and never too much.  It embrasses the yin and is more effective than acting towards the yang. It requires patience in simply letting things happen. 
• In wu-wei, strength is seen in humility and accomplishing tasks efficiently.  Another paradox with the sage is noncompetition.  By choosing not to fight, the sage is actually victorious.  This virtue is true in physical as well as social situations. Yielding to things often shows the best results.
• Acting natural and ajusting yourself to nature is another virtue of Taoism.  Instead of acting with society, act according to the environment.  You should also let nature be and allow it to thrive.  You shouldn't try to overcome it or damage it.
• Nonaggression and passiveness are also virtues.  Like wu-wei, someone who chooses nonaggression will see the best results.  Even in warfare the least amount of damage and violence is the best.  Rulers should also reign passively and let people act in according to their nature.
• Taoism works in East Asia with Confuciansim, and although there are some contradictions, values of each are seen throughout culture and are envied by many in the west.

Lindsey Livingston

• Two wise sages founded Chinese religion. The first, Laozi, is known as the mysterious sage, and the founder of Daoism he lived in the sixth century. The second, Confucius, is more widely known as the founder of Confucianism.
• Confucius was known to be a contemporary of the Buddha, nd he also emphasized the need for good education to have a good government.
• Before Confucian philosophy, a great many of the Chinese people believed that the earth and heaven existed in a balance as in yin and yang.
• Daoism emphasizes going with the flow of nature rather than resisting it in artificial, material structures of culture. Inthis, the place or role of humans is minimized.
• Daoists recognize the Dao De Jing as an important text, written by Laozi. This text reiterates the Daoists belief in harmonizing with nature. this text is eflective in nature, and emphasized the harmony between opposites. Daoism includes both common people and intellectuals, some within thiis group sough to heal, others to to use magical or political power, and still others, immortalitythrough alchemy. 
• Daoists were known to criticize Confucianism, and believe that it was Laozi that insipired Confucius, although it is disputed as to whether the two actually met.  
• Daoists believe in the value of the individual as opposed to organized society. if the course of nature is left undisturbed, it will lead to harmony and perfection. As humans cannot conquer nature, they must be in harmony with it, and in this lies all great human acheivement.
• The Dao is the mysterious cosmic power present in all human experiences. Societies and individuals suffer when the Dao is disregarded.
• Daoism is more than simply a philosophy, however, it lacks some of the features often associated with a religion; they have no formal worshipor prayer, and communications between humans and the impersonal ultimate force is limited. They do meditate, however, to learn the way of the Dao, to predict it's course.
• Wuwei, a daoist lifestyle, emphasizes serenity and avoids confrontation.
• Sages, or wise men, seek to discover the natural, fundamental self that is untampered. They believe in the philosophy that water can wear down rock.
• daoists believe that education, government and social conventions corrupts the goodness of humans., as they are at odds with nature.
• Zuang Zi, a champion of Daoism exalted nature above culture, and the individual above society, he believed that life could merely be a delusion.
• Zhang Daoling, a Daoist, founded a secret society inthe first century to promote faith healing, heath and long life. He was called "The Celestial Master", and was praised for findingthe secret to immortality.
• Gee Hong was a promoter of magical Daoism, he lived in the fourth century, and he gathered formulas to gain immortality.
• One sct of Daoism worshipped Laozi as God, during a revival of Daoism after 1000 C.E. The Jade Emperor (Huang Di), and Shang Di were also known as rulers of heaven.
• Some old beliefs of Daoists now rejected by many Chinese intellectuals include the belief that those who know the Dao can change the bodies of animals, can charms can ward off evil, and can interact with animals.

Written by: Yasmine Rana

• Confucious was a lover of literature, art, music, archery, traditional ceremonies, and life at the courts of nobles.
• At the age of seventeen, took upon the job of keeping the granary accounts of the Chi family.
• He married, and had both a daughter and a son, the latter carrying on the family name.
• Confucians believe that Confucius had one fundamental belief- the belief that humans are good by nature. In addition to this, Confucious' second principle was that humans, (who are naturally good) learn best by example.
• The 'model' gentleman in Confucianism that Confucious used was called 'junzi', who is the essence of the conduct of the Chinese people.
• Li- the principle of harmony that should rule the home, society, and empire. Confucious recommends 'li' for every area of life (ex. The Five Relationships).
• Li applied to the naturally good human being yields yi. Yi, for lack of a better word, is an 'internalized li. (righteousness)
• Junzi also exhibits the characteristic of being a genuine human being to other human beings, also known as ren (jen).
• Confucious was a big believer in traditions, and he enjoyed participating in religious ceremonies (an essential part of life for him) but he strongly insisted that they be performed correctly and traditionally.
• Mohists - taught that if everyone would love each other, society would be transformed.
• Fajia (Legalists) - argued that human nature respects only strong laws and rigorous enforcement
• Daoists - disagreed with Confucius about the government and social conventions
• Confucius belief about the government was that there was one ruler, around which others circulate. People must have faith in this one ruler and do whatever is asked by him.
• Mengzi (Mencius) - Later disciple of Confucius: emphasized inborn goodness of humans.
• Xunzi - argued that men are born evil
• Confucious's influence still remains intact to some extent, in that its fundamental doctrines exist in Chinese families.

Written by: Raghu Rajaram