Final answer:
Confucianism and Daoism coexisted in ancient China due to their distinct focuses and because Daoism's practical benefits for both elites and commoners did not directly challenge the core of Confucian sociopolitical values. Both philosophies were part of a larger framework of Chinese thought and influenced governance and culture without being mutually exclusive.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the Han dynasty, Confucianism and Daoism coexisted with their distinct appeals and purposes while interacting and borrowing ideas from each other. Confucians were focused on social harmony and state affairs, emphasizing the importance of education, propriety, and the role of the gentleman in governance. Daoism, on the other hand, was more appealing to both elite and ordinary people by offering practices and beliefs that were practical and holistic, including spiritual health, governance methods, and popular religion.
Daoism provided avenues for self-cultivation and guidance on personal affairs, which did not directly undermine the Confucian social structure or political hierarchy. The Confucian scholars and government officials who shared a framework based on the Classics could tolerate the presence of Daoism, even as they recognized it as a competitor at court. Daoist magicians and advisors offered their services to the court, but Confucianism remained centrally important to state ideology, albeit in a different interpretation over time.