Does Confucius believe in reincarnation

Answer 1

Taoism is not a religion it is a way of life,Thus it has no stand on the subject.

Yes

Chinese Taoism openly teaches reincarnation. An important scripture of Taoism, the Chuang Tzu, states:

"Birth is not a beginning; death is not an end. There is existence without limitation; there is continuity without a starting point. Existence without limitation is space. Continuity without a starting point is time. There is birth, there is death, there is issuing forth, there is entering in. That through which one passes in and out without seeing its form, that is the Portal of God"

Chuang Tzu 23

Taoism does not directly prescribe how or if reincarnation occurs or what if anything reincarnation is. However, i think it is clear that you woke this morning. And so you can assume you will awake again. And i think it is clear that you will fall asleep this evening. And so you can assume you will fall asleep again.

Answer 2

Allow me to state my own personal opinion.

From what I've learned so far and perceived about Confucius's teachings and his way of thinking, I somehow believe that he already understand about the basic nature of all things, which are "the constant" and "the cyclical".

The Cyclical nature of the Universe can be seen all around us such as life and death, fast and slow, strong and weak, anger and joy, love and hate, and so on.

So in my opinion, Confucius is capable in seeing the "cause and effect" of things from the universal point of view.

This leads to the deeper logic of perceiving Reincarnation as the natural phenomenon of the nature, just like the cycle of water. From the rain to the mountain to the river to the lake to your closet and wherever it goes and finally to the sea, where it will become cloud and will go down as a rain again.

Perhaps, just like the Soul.

So back to your question, I think Confucius does believe in Reincarnation, however he probably saw that there is no point of mentioning it due to the more urgent priorities in his age about the human government stuffs and people-matters.

He saw that the most effective way to create "change" for his people at that time is not from the so-called "Spiritual" approach, but from the simplest, most practical, Logical approach of faithfulness and sincerity.

Which I believe, it could too, help our modern world society today.

Answer 3

Answer

I think 'Yes'

Answer 4

yes