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This paper is a response to and resonance with Mou Zongsan's premise that Confucianists should not take Daoism as a taboo, not a direct investigation into Mou's doctrines. The author examines the relationship between Laozi's concept of ziran and Confucius's concept of ren . Laozi and Confucius are often understood as upholding very different, and at times incompatible views. In brief, Laozi seems to shun the moral and social norms that Confucius advocates. This popular but untested impression of Laozi or Daoism arises mainly because of the lifestyle of some later Daoist figures, especially some historical figures in the Wei-jin period. In order to correct this over-simplified notion of Daoism and develop a more accurate understanding of the relationship of Confucianism and Daoism, this paper attempts to explore the plausibility of finding a common ground between these two thinkers. The author will argue that common elements and mutually acceptable ideas between Laozi's ziran and Confucius's ren can be found in their shared emphases on internal cause of actions, smooth development of things, and harmony of the whole.
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