Leopold saw through the rings of the good oak, and realized that humankind's conflicts are arbitrary from the perspective of nature. The good oak adds a layer that describes chronological time: past, present and the future. The tree goes through cycles of seasonal changes; and these repeated cycles results in the oak's rings: one ring for each year.
Explanation:
Leopold's good oak educated people about land ethics and the cycling of matter and energy through an ecosystem in predator-prey relationship.
Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism are considered the “<u>three pillars</u>” of ancient Chinese society.
As <u>philosophies</u> and <u>religions</u>, they not only influenced spirituality, but also government, science, the arts, and social structure.
Though their specific beliefs and teachings have occasionally been at odds with each other, there has been much room for overlap.
Instead of one tradition taking over and pushing the others out, the three philosophies have influenced society alongside each other, changed each other, and at times blended together.
Understanding the unique interplay between these three traditions gives <u>great insight</u> into <u>ancient Chinese society</u>, as well as modern times.