| HINDUISM | BUDDHISM | CONFUCIANISM | TAOISM | SHINTO | |
| COUNTRIES | Many people in India, NEPAL, Bangladesh, AND SriLanka belive the ideologies of hinduism. | the countries are china, india, japan, korea, taiwan, and thailand. | Confucianism is found in china, japan, taiwan and korea. | taois is a life philosophy mainly found in china. | shinto is a major religion found in Japan. |
| HISTORICAL FIGURES and EVENTS | no founder ,except devinely figures of holy books such as vedas( Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, and Atharva Veda), upanishats, and ramayan and mahab harata | the followers of budhism practice the teachings of their awakend teacher Gautama budha.Asoka is the founder of budhism. Major historical events are different budhist councils. | major historical FIGURE IN confucianism is CONFUCIUS FROM ZHOU DYNASTY. BASED ON FIVE CLASSICS | the evolution of taoism concentrstes the hermit tradition, social,and tribal conflicts in china | shinto received the status of the national religion in japan and became officil religion of the state 1868 onwards. |
| CENTRAL BELIEFS | hinduism gives more emphasis on soul.karma, dharma and sanathana dharma are the key steps for self realization. | both tibetan budhists and zen budhists seek nirvana which helps them to overcome earthly SUFFEREINGS. zen budhists follow various forms of meditation in their belief and it helps them to awake the nature of budha. | the followers of CONFUCIANISM PRACTICE philosophical, moral, and social ideology. | like budhists taoists also admit nirvana and moksha (SELF realization) are their central belief. | nature is the center of the universe. they worship various forms of nature. |
| NATURE OF GOD | Hinduism follows idol worship.According to it there are 330 million gods. | budhists do not belive in the concept of a personal god | they believe the real god is within human body. code of conduct is the key of their belief. | taoists never belive in personal god and they follow pantheist ideology.developing a harmonious life with nature is important. | the followers of shinto belive in the major dieties kami |
| TEXTS | Four vedas, TANTRAS, THE agama, THE puranas, the epics such as ramyana and mahabharata, and the bhagavatgita. | there are no specific texts or DOCTRINES ONLY normal teachings of budha. | CoNFUSCIANISTS FOLLOW THE teachings of sishu or four books and wu jing or the FIVE CLASSICS. | the major texts followed by taoists-the tao. it includes the moral teachings of te ching chuang tzu. | The Kojiki, The Rokkok The Shoku Nihongi and its Nihon Shoki ushi, AND The Jinno Shotoki |
| RITUAL and PRACTICE (sacred elements & their meaning) | the followers of hinduism DEVELOP WORSHIP based on devotion of god or several gods. the ultimate aim of life is self realization. intense meditation is the way to reach self realization | various kinds of meditation are the major ritual in budhism. tibetan budhism follow exercise begins WITH THE movement called Whirling Dervish. | practice moral principles in life. their worship is based on four life passages such as birth, maturity, marriage and death. | taoism concentrates ‘the three pure ones”. the highest dieties is the avathar of taoism | the believers of shintoism follow polytheism and animism… they worship kami and other spirits. |
| ETHICS and MORALITY | hinduism belives the ideology that the invocation of the light of ther truth helps to overcome the darkness. they follow karma, dharma and Achara. | budhists follow man made moral laws and religious customs. | confuscianists develop their belief based on human relationships. | harmonious life with nature. the feelings of oneness, dynamic balance, GRADUAL growth and harmonious actions are the major principles. | shintoists follow and practice the teachings of confuscianism. the concept of generality is another aspect of their belief. |
References
Budhism: What is Budhisam is. (2001).
Confucianism. (n.d.).
Lao Tzu: Father of Taoism. (n.d.).
Religions and religious thoughts of India: Hinduism. (n.d.). Culturopedia.