The Daoism (Taoism) Legalism and the Confucianism
all came from the same belief of peace and accord in the society of the Chinese. Legalism wanted a strong political body for a solution of the troubles in contemporartt society. But Confucianism and Daoism (Taoism) a strong political entity was not what they had in mind. They were opposed to that idea. Whereas legalism had believed with having striated laws and also punishments were preconditions in having a strong and successful government which meaning it would lead to having peace and prosperity throughout the whole society. Daoism
(Taoism) and Confucianism were much different than legalism because they saw human nature as good morals. Daoism (Taoism) disagreed with the doctrines of legalism. They believed that nature and man should have a close relationship. They believed it would result in achieving a greater power and structure.
These three are different because Daoism (Taoism) is free. Legalism is very strict and then Confucianism was played in between the two. Confucianism was the balance of them all. "Confucis emphasized personal qualities such as ren, li, and xiao because he believed that individuals who possessed those traits would gain influence in the larger society and in the process would lead others by their own examples." (Bentley, Ziegier, and Streets, 2008, pg. 101) Each of these spoke to the people by their teaching. Daoism (Taoism) thought them to live in simple life. Legalism thought that laws and strict punishment would achieve power and structure within the society. While Confucianism taught morals and human nature.
Bently, J. H., & Streets, H. E. (2008).
Traditions & encounters: a brief global history. McGraw.