The Glocal Book:"The Book of Tea" by Okakura Kakuzou(Tenshin)-No.35

Taoism & Zennism ; Individualistic Trend

「It should be remembered in the first place tha Taoism, like its legitimate successor, Zennism, represents the individualistic trend of the Southern Chinese mind in contra-distention to the communism of Northern China which expressed itself in Confucianism.
The Middle Kingdom is as vast as Europe and has a differentiation of idiosyncrasies marked by the two great river systems which traverse it.
The Yangtse-Kiang and Hoang-Ho are respectively the Meditarranean and the Baltic
Even to-day, in spite of centuries of unification, the Southern Celestial differs in his thoughts and beliefs from his Northern brother as a member of the Latin race differs from the Teuton.
In ancient days, when communication was even more difficult than at prestent, and especially during the feudal period, this difference in thought was most pronounced.
The art and poetry of the one breathes an atmosphere entirely distinct from that of the other.
In Laotse and his followers and in Kutsugen, the forerunner of the Yangtse-Kiang naturepoets, we find an idealism quite inconsistent with the prosaic ethical notions of their contemporary northern writers.
Laotose lived five centuries before the Christian Era.」 (From the Book of Tea-Taoism & Zennism, pp.38-39, Charles E. Tuttle Co., RUtland, Vermont-Tokyo,Japan)

It is interesting that Taoism and Zennism represent the Indivudualistic trend and the Southern Chinese origin.
In contrast, Confucianism represents the Communism trend of the Northern China.
I would like to know if Okakura's descriptions are general acceptance.

Click Please！！

Picture: Ash-Glazed Combed Pattern Rectangular Dishes by Keitoku Kato