What are the similarities and differences between Taoism and Buddhism?

The main difference between Buddhism and Taoism is the attitude towards life and death. It can be said that the two are completely different. The goal pursued by Buddhism is to break away from the "nirvana" of life and death. Buddhism believes that life is bitter. Life is bitter, and death is bitter. Moreover, this kind of suffering is endless, but in the endless cycle of life and death. Only by reaching nirvana can we escape from the cycle of life and death.

There are similarities between Buddhism and Taoism. Buddhism entered China thanks to the introduction of Taoism. The China of Buddhist teachings and the further development of Taoism and Taoist theories are all the results of the integration of Buddhism and Taoism. Buddhism's "emptiness" borrowed from Laozi's "emptiness" and interpreted Buddhism's "emptiness".

During the Spring and Autumn Period, Laozi combined the great wisdom of ancient sages and sages. Summarized the essence of ancient Taoist thought and formed a complete theoretical system of Taoism, which marked the formal formation of Taoist thought. It has a profound influence on China's philosophy, literature, science and technology, art, music, medical care and religion.

Needham said: "Many of the most attractive factors in China's personality come from Taoist thought. Without Taoist thought, China is like a tree, with deep roots and luxuriant leaves, rotting away. " "Taoism is the foundation of China's science and technology" and "has the first-class importance in the history of China's science".

Taoism takes "Tao" as the core, thinks that the avenue is inaction, advocates that Tao is natural, and puts forward political, economic, governing the country and military strategies, such as Tao giving birth to law, guarding men and women, and combining rigidity with softness. It has simple dialectical thought and is an extremely important philosophical school in the contention of a hundred schools of thought.