A more Daoist China

Daoism in China was stuck playing second-fiddle to Confucianism during the Imperial period. There were certainly plenty of Emperors that favored Daoism, but the general bureaucracy of most dynasties would alway swing back towards Confucianism (or, of course, occasionally legalism). In particular, more adventurous emperors had every reason to reject Daoism, as its philosophy did not tend to mesh well with the idea of expansionism or super pro-active government at home.

So, how might China resist that tendency towards rejecting Daoism and embrace for a longer period than the occasional emperor? And what might the effects be?
 
Daoism in China was stuck playing second-fiddle to Confucianism during the Imperial period. There were certainly plenty of Emperors that favored Daoism, but the general bureaucracy of most dynasties would alway swing back towards Confucianism (or, of course, occasionally legalism). In particular, more adventurous emperors had every reason to reject Daoism, as its philosophy did not tend to mesh well with the idea of expansionism or super pro-active government at home.

So, how might China resist that tendency towards rejecting Daoism and embrace for a longer period than the occasional emperor? And what might the effects be?

First, you almost need to clarify what 'Daoism' you mean. Because Lao-Tzu's Daoism and what most people now consider Daoism (e.g. elixirs, immortal saints and magic mountains etc.) are totally different things.

But back to the main topic: really Confucianism got its big break when Emperor Wu of Han - a character really not that far off the 'megalomaniacal' scale compared with Qin Shi Huang - decided to make it the official ideology c.150 BC. Before that, the emperors Wen and Jing were more Daoist-oriented, preferring to 'rule without ruling' - which is a Daoist precept. Eliminate Emperor Wu and you might well continue the tradition of Daoism, though it would be against the nature of Daoism to have Daoism 'enshrined' as an official ideology.

Confucianism is always going to be attractive, however, since its emphasis on 'correct relations' is always going to be useful to emperors seeking stability in a massive empire. A good way to eliminate Confucianism as a contender could be to have Confucians be the primary driving force in the Rebellion of the Seven States in 200 BC, which OTL received large Mohist support and as a result Mohism got suppressed after the Rebellion's failure.
 
But back to the main topic: really Confucianism got its big break when Emperor Wu of Han - a character really not that far off the 'megalomaniacal' scale compared with Qin Shi Huang - decided to make it the official ideology c.150 BC. Before that, the emperors Wen and Jing were more Daoist-oriented, preferring to 'rule without ruling' - which is a Daoist precept. Eliminate Emperor Wu and you might well continue the tradition of Daoism, though it would be against the nature of Daoism to have Daoism 'enshrined' as an official ideology.

Precisely who I was thinking of when talking about expansionist pro-active emperors.
 
'lead without leading'

'act without acting'

But because Daoism does not insist on maniacal consistency, sometimes the direct method works, too!
 
A good POD could be that the Yellow Turbans (Daoist extremists themselves) defeat the Han Dynasty.

tough to do given the fact that almost all the major generals of the early three kingdoms period served on the side of Han during the rebbelion. Id like to see how the yellow turbans would be able to put up an effective fight against some of tthe greateast chinese generals and tactitions of the era. Not to say they Turbans did not have good leaders just that the Han had more leaders who were of the same quality or better than the rebels.
 
tough to do given the fact that almost all the major generals of the early three kingdoms period served on the side of Han during the rebbelion. Id like to see how the yellow turbans would be able to put up an effective fight against some of tthe greateast chinese generals and tactitions of the era. Not to say they Turbans did not have good leaders just that the Han had more leaders who were of the same quality or better than the rebels.

I agree that the yellow turbans are a bad starting point. I mean, have you ever played romance of the three kingdoms? It's almost impossible to win as the yellow turbans!
 
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