Early Han Dynasty generally followed the non-intervention ideas of Dao De Jing (by Lao Zi) commonly regarded as the main bible of Daoism. The fourth Emperor of Han Dynasty started to give prominence to Confucianism. 外示儒术，内用老莊。The ruling class showed Confucianism appearances on the outside but the inner workings were still basically Daoism. Confucianism was used to tame the behaviours of the people to make them more civilized and obedient to the ruling class. It united the people like an enlarged family system, with the Emperor acting like parent. This was necessary because China was under attack by barbaric nomads from Mongolia. A united front was a matter of life and dead to all. However, the adoption of Confucianism also imposed the associated moral duties and responsibilities on the Emperor as a parent. It’s win-win for the people and the Emperor. The people were not stupid or blindly accepting the brainwashing attempt; they accepted the deal due to mutual benefits.
Daoism and Confucianism had both been practiced by the people for more than 500 years at the start of Han Dynasty. Both were not unfamiliar to the people. The fourth Emperor putting focused emphasis on Confucianism helped it to win public opinions. However, the ideological differences between them were quite minimum. In fact, Lao Zi was one of the teachers of Confucius. Hence, Daoism wasn’t killed but continued to be practiced by the people and also the ruling class.
Buddhism spread to China during Han Dynasty but didn’t have much influence on the people. It became more widespread after about 500 years later. It inspired a monk to make a journey to the West to bring back a boatload of Sutta. The incident inspired an author to write a long fictional story on the “Journey to the West” which is still the all-time favourite of many people today.
Buddhism integrated well with Daoism and Confucianism because they have much more similarities than differences. The main thing in common is: People First. All of them focus on the happiness of the people, and the individual followers of the ideologies. There is nothing about serving god but encouraging individual to self-cultivate to become a person with perfect virtue, equanimity and wisdom for the happiness of oneself. They are more like philosophies than religions. Unfortunately, some opportunists turned them into religions for self-interest and each subsequently broken up into multiple sectarians. Nevertheless, despite the unintended consequences, there are also positive developments. One who really wants to learn the real Buddhism/Daoism/Confucianism is recommended to study the original texts instead of following a teacher. The one and only teacher of Buddhism is the Buddha 南摩本师释迦牟尼佛; all others are just tutors or companions in the spiritual path.
Buddhism/Daoism/Confucianism have became part and parcel of Chinese language. Some of us used the related verses or ideas in our daily conversations unknowingly. This is the true meaning of culture 文化; it is like the ideologies have been dissolved 化 into the language 文. Hence, Chinese will naturally or unknowingly behave according to the ideologies. We have indeed been brainwashed (but not by CCP). However, I am happily brainwashed because feeling clean is a happy feeling. People from other countries are brainwashed by other ideologies or religions. Sadly, washing with dirty water will only make clothes more dirty.
“If your religion requires you to hate someone, you need to find another religion for your own happiness.”
RESILIENT KID 