The Social Order Of Two Societies
Written By Rachel The Philosophical
Too very different countries, so near each other, separated only by the tallest structures on earth, which is the himalayas. They developed different systems
and methods, but also did it similarly. The differences between the Indian and Chinese cultures were that one believed in ruling in the spiritual sense
and one is all about the powers and politics behind ruling. They both had emperors, and both cultures encouraged respect for them. The Chinese believed
in strict dutiful work without questioning as that was what the common philosophical practice, Confucianism, taught. Everyone had to go by ren, li, and
xiao so one can become a Junzi. They believed in bowing down to ones elders or the king and following his rule, because one had to do so. India, on the
other hand, believed that the gods sent the king, and they used the caste system for power. The people had to respect him because he was higher up in ranking.
If one didn't do ones job right, then one would not have nirvana, but if one did, one could be eventually let out of samsara. They both had kings that
had to be greatly respected and treated as a god. In China one had to bang ones head on the ground in front of him. In India one just needed to Worship
The Chinese and Indian kingdoms had some similarities such as worshiping the king, giving him ultimate respect, and keeping in one's place well.
In China one had to keep in ones place and do what was right. In India it was the same thing. The reason behind it might be different, but it was bad to
be out of place. It was strictly forbidden for one to rebel. The king was Godly in many ways as they got all the power. They wanted to be treated like
a God. It was a requirement in both countries.
The Chinese and Indian kingdoms also had some differences in the way that order were kept, reason to deserve the respect, and why they were Godly.
The differences is here. China had Legalism and Confucianism. Legalism taught that if one moved one foot out of ones place one would be more then sorry.
One would get brutally punished, so would ones family while one watched. They also believed in what Confucius taught. To respect elders, which is xiao.
To be honest or to be straight forward, which is li. Ren is for respect as being kind. A junzi is all of those and one wanted to be a Junzi. So one had
to keep ones place, respect ones king as he is bigger in power than one are, respect ones elders whom are over you, Be kind to the people below you, do
ones job right, and be the right person one need to be. If one do anything unwise then it would be wrong. In India that was not so much the case. Their
was this caste system that one had to follow. The hierarchy is as follows: Mostly devoted worshippers or king, then nobles military people or people who
serve the country, then tradesmans workers and such, then the peasants slaves, and servants, and then last of all the untouchables. One had samsara and
one moved up and down these until one reach the highest point which is Brahmin . One could not get up there unless one were really serious about it. One
had to do ones job, be dutiful, do it well, and do it properly. If one rebelled against the king that would mean one aren't doing it right, so one would
move down a level. If one lived well one can move to the next level, and one would do that until one are out of samsara. The king was Gods sent, so they
had to obey him, and worrship him.
In it's entirety, they are very similar, but also very far apart. There ideas were the same, their motives similar, and they wanted to aim for the same
results. It is the methods that are different, varying in many of the cases.