Final answer:
The complexity of East Asian schools of thought like Daoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism is subjective; no single philosophy can be definitively considered the least complicated. Daoism advocates for a simple life in harmony with nature, whereas Confucianism emphasizes societal harmony through moral practices, and Buddhism entails complex metaphysical concepts.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering which East Asian school of thought is the least complicated, it is subjective and depends on the criteria one uses for complexity. However, some might argue that Daoism (Taoism), which encouraged "nonaction" (Wu Wei) as an important political concept, could be seen as less complicated in its approach. Daoism arose during a period of social unrest in China and advocates for simplicity, the elimination of desires, and living in harmony with the dao, or the natural way. Unlike Confucianism, which is more of a social or moral philosophy, or Buddhism, with its elaborate doctrine on karma and enlightenment, Daoism emphasizes naturalness and simplicity, which could be interpreted as less complicated.
Confucianism, on the other hand, focused on creating social order and harmony through moral practices and is often considered more of a philosophy than a religion. Although it is a profound system of thought, the practical and this-worldly nature of Confucian ethics might give the impression of less complexity in comparison to Buddhist metaphysics or the complexities inherent in Daoist thought, despite its call for simplicity.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question is D. None of the above is less complicated than the other, as complexity is relative and depends on one's perspective.