What are the three mainstream thoughts in ancient China?

Confucianism, the most representative thought in ancient China, has been affecting everyone's life until now. In addition, Laozi's Taoist thoughts and foreign Buddhist thoughts have also had a far-reaching impact on everyone.

First, Confucianism.

The only thought that didn't form a religion but had a profound influence on everyone in China, China people revered Confucius as the most sacred teacher, and the Confucianism he founded went deep into everyone's bone marrow.

The essence of Confucianism is the word "benevolence", which not only refers to benevolence and morality, but also represents the attitude of being a man and doing things.

Of course, when it comes to Confucianism, we have to mention another representative of Confucianism, that is Mencius. Although Mencius and Confucius have never met at all, later generations agree that Mencius is the successor and developer of Confucius' thought, especially with the emergence of Mencius, the Confucian school will be more perfect.

Second, Taoist thought.

Laozi, founder of Taoism, surnamed Li Minger, was a contemporary thinker of Confucius.

The essence of Taoist thought is nature, doing nothing and living in harmony with nature. In fact, many scholars in ancient China were influenced by Taoism. "If you are rich, you will help the world, and if you are poor, you will be immune." Among them, Taoist thought is influential.

With the development of history, part of Taoism has penetrated into everyone's life, while the other part has been deified by people and turned into a religious belief. Up to now, the founder of Taoism is actually Laozi. Although there are many Taoist immortals, the core is still in Laozi's place.

Third, Buddhist thought.

As we all know, Buddhism was introduced from India. However, Buddhism was localized by China people from generation to generation in the process of spreading in China, and basically became a religious belief of China people.

The representative spirit of Buddhist thought should be to do good. Zen master Bird's Nest summed up these three words into sixteen words in an easy-to-understand way: avoiding all evil, pursuing all good, achieving self-purification and achieving Buddhism.

To put it simply, Buddhism has drawn a blueprint for people to do good things and bear good results in this life, and then they can be happy in the next life.

In fact, there were many schools in ancient China. In addition to these three mainstream schools, there are Mohism and Legalism, especially the flourishing situation of a hundred schools of thought contending during the Warring States Period. At that time, it was really a collision of various schools, which made people dizzying. It was not until Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty that Confucianism gained the upper hand.

Thousands of years later, China people's thoughts were occupied by Confucianism. However, in fact, the school has not completely disappeared, or it has influenced everyone more or less.