Chinese philosophy between Wisdom and Liberation

Abstract

This paper discusses the problem of wisdom and liberation as the main concerns of the two central Chinese philosophical schools, Confucianism and Daoism. Confucius stressed the importance of benevolence (ren) in relation to ritual and rules of propriety (li). The self-realisation can be achieved and the wishes should be fulfilled in the specific ethical context. Daoism, famous for its use of paradox, which should bring the adept to a higher level of understanding and experiencing the reality, understood the Truth as purity and sincerity of the highest degree. The Superior man is able to reach the Dao and one's own liberation through meditation, intuition and congeniality with the feminine.