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Taoism ( ⫽ ˈdaʊ.ɪzəm ⫽ ⓘ, ⫽ ˈtaʊ.ɪzəm ⫽ ⓘ) or Daoism is a diverse philosophical and religious tradition indigenous to China. Taoism emphasizes living in harmony with the Tao —generally understood as being the impersonal, enigmatic process of transformation ultimately underlying reality.
6 days ago · More strictly defined, Daoism includes: the ideas and attitudes peculiar to the Laozi (or Daodejing; “Classic of the Way of Power”), the Zhuangzi, the Liezi, and related writings; the Daoist religion, which is concerned with the ritual worship of the Dao; and those who identify themselves as Daoists.
- Daoism is a philosophy, a religion, and a way of life that arose in the 6th century BCE in what is now the eastern Chinese province of Henan. It ha...
- The term dao predates the rise of Daoism and is used in all schools of Chinese philosophy, including Confucianism. Its literal meanings include “wa...
- The concept of dao is broad and plays various roles in Daoist philosophy. The Cosmic Dao, or the Way of the Cosmos, is an indeterminate force or pr...
- The founding figure is Laozi, who flourished in the 6th century BCE but about whom little else is known. The Daodejing (“Classic of the Way to Powe...
- Daoism and Confucianism present contrasting, though not incompatible, understandings of human flourishing or well-being. Whereas Daoism seeks harmo...
Oct 19, 2023 · Learn about Taoism, an ancient Chinese philosophy and religion that teaches harmony with the universe and spiritual immortality. Explore its main book, the Tao Te Ching, its concepts of yin and yang, and its history and practices.
Jun 13, 2023 · Learn about Taoism, an ancient Chinese philosophy and religious tradition that emphasizes living in harmony with the natural order of the universe. Explore its history, symbol, leading figures, beliefs, practices, and texts, such as the Tao Te Ching and the Zhuangzi.
- Origins
- The Tao-Te-Ching
- Yin-Yang Thought
- Beliefs
- Taoism & Confucianism
- Rituals
- Conclusion
The historian Sima Qian (145-86 BCE) tells the story of Lao-Tzu, a curator at the Royal Library in the state of Chu, who was a natural philosopher. Lao-Tzu believed in the harmony of all things and that people could live easily together if they only considered each other's feelings once in a while and recognized that their self-interest was not alw...
The Tao-Te-Chingis not a 'scripture' in any way. It is a book of poetry presenting the simple way of following the Tao and living life at peace with one's self, others, and the world of changes. A typical verse advises, "Yield and overcome/Empty and become full/Bend and become straight" to direct a reader to a simpler way of living. Instead of figh...
A good reason to believe that Lao-Tzu was not the author of the Tao-Te-Ching is that the core philosophy of Taoism grew up from the peasant class during the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BCE) long before the accepted dates for Lao-Tzu. During the Shang era, the practice of divination became more popular through the reading of oracle bones which would te...
Other Chinese texts relating to Taoism are the Chaung-Tzu (also known as the Zhuangzi, written by Zhuang Zhou, c. 369-286 BCE) and the Daozang from the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE) and Sung Dynasty (960-1234 CE) which was compiled in the later Ming Dynasty(1368-1644 CE). All of these texts are based on the same kinds of observation of the natural worl...
The philosophy of Taoism grew into a religion of the peasant classes of the Shang Dynasty, who lived closely with nature. Their observations of the natural world influenced their philosophy, and one of the things they incorporated was the concept of eternity. The tree which seemed to die came back to life in the spring season and the grass grew aga...
This belief in allowing life to unfold in accordance with the Tao does not extend to Taoist rituals, however. The rituals of Taoist practice are absolutely in accordance with the Taoist understanding but have been influenced by Buddhistand Confucian practices so that, in the present day, they are sometimes quite elaborate. Every prayer and spell wh...
Taoism significantly influenced Chinese culture from the Shang Dynasty forward. The recognition that all things and all people are connected is expressed in the development of the arts, which reflect the people's understanding of their place in the universe and their obligation to each other. During the Tang Dynasty, Taoism became the state religio...
- Emily Mark
Feb 19, 2003 · Daoism [ 1] stands alongside Confucianism as one of the two great religious/philosophical systems of China. Traditionally traced to the mythical Laozi “Old Philosopher,” Philosophical Daoism owes more to “philosopher Zhuang” (Zhuangzi) (4 th Century BCE). Daoism is an umbrella that covers a range of similarly motivated doctrines.
Taoism (or Daoism) is one of the main strands of traditional Chinese philosophy. It gets its name from the idea of the Dao, which means “the way,” which is the reality beyond human perception, a reality that Taoists strongly associate with the natural world.
