Daoism Facts: Know More About This Chinese Philosophy!

Daoism (Taoism) is a religion and a philosophy that has existed in China since 500 B.C.E.

It is one of the three oldest religions in the region. Confucianism and Daoism developed around the same time in China, and Buddhism came a bit later.

Daoism is a way of living that focuses on beliefs of harmony with nature and going along with the natural way of things. It is characterized by humility, simple living, and sympathy towards humans and animals. People who wanted to turn their backs to the moral pressures of human life and return to nature preferred the philosophy of Taoism.

The religious text of Daoism is the Tao Te Ching, also called Dao De Jing. It was written by Lao Tzu, who was a philosopher.

This text is believed to have been written in the fifth or sixth century. Tao Te Ching is written in a poetry style and explores the meanings of Tao or 'the way.' Zhuangzi is another text about Daoism written by Chuang Tzu during the late Warring States period.

It offers stories and anecdotes about the carefree and 'go with the flow' life of a Daoist (Taoist). These two texts together are the pillar of Daoism.

The Confucian tradition and Daoism teachings have existed alongside each other through the Ancient Chinese periods. Confucianism is a humanist religion that also believes in a way or path like Daoism.

However, the difference between them is that the 'way or path' in Confucian tradition is good moral character.

The main difference between the two is that Daoism focuses on creating harmony within an individual while Confucianism focuses on creating harmony through moral duty towards others. Taoists also don't like the Confucian focus on rituals and regard for human social institutions.

Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism have influenced each other and their tradition. For example, Buddha's teachings of vegetarianism, monasteries, and not consuming alcohol are also found in Taoism. The three religions were all created with humanistic philosophy and insisted on humans' good moral character.

Over the centuries, Daoism has had a massive influence on Chinese society and tradition. Chinese medicine, astrology, and alchemy have been linked with this religion.

Traditional Chinese medicine, Fengshui, many forms of martial arts like Tai Chi, and various styles of qigong are multiple aspects of Chinese culture that share ties with Daoism or Taoism. Women also played a significant role in Taoism in China. Many Taoist priestesses and deities were women.

The religion believed that men and women were equal in the spiritual life, and therefore they followed this equality in this life. The Yin-yang symbol also symbolizes the equality between men and women.

Daoist ideas and teachings have also influenced literature, calligraphy, and visual arts. Notable painters like Mi Fu, Wu Wei, Gu Kaizhi, Huang Gongwang produced artworks related to Taoist beliefs.

In recent times you can find followers of this religious life in China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Hong Kong. Influences of Daoism (Taoism) can also be found in Western culture in the fields of meditation, alternate medicine, and martial arts form such as Tai Chi.

Keep reading to learn more about Daoism.

The Meaning Of Daoism

Daoism (also called Taoism) is a traditional belief system from China that has evolved into both philosophy and religious practice. Daoism is based around the idea of Dao (or Tao), which means the 'way' or 'path.'

It is the natural way of development of the world. Daoist believe that following this naturalness of things helps in avoiding struggles and suffering that strict rules perpetuate. This Dao is a guide of life for Taoist believers.

Both Western and Chinese Scholars have recognized Daoism into two categories, religious Taoism or Daoism and philosophical Taoism. Religious Taoism is the belief in the supernatural existence of gods and deities.

It also has beliefs in the concept of immortality. Religious Taoism has several Taoist deities, both men and women.

Monasteries and temples are present for practicing the rituals and ceremonies of Taoism. On the other hand, philosophical Taoism deals with the interpretation of Tao or Dao from the texts of the great teachers Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu, and the beliefs of wu-wei, detachment, humility.

The Principles Of Daoism

Daoism is based on the principles of oneness, yin-yang, and wu-wei. Philosophical Taoism talks about ideas of oneness, stating that everything in nature forms the whole together. In Taoism, the natural world is intimately linked with humans and vice-versa.

Yin and Yang are well-known symbols that represent balance. It is the idea that opposite forces together create the harmony required for existence. The black and white portions in the Yin-yang symbol are equal. They represent opposites that are equally needed for creating a balance in life.

Wu-wei is a very important philosophy of Daoism, which can be interpreted as 'non-doing' or 'non-action.' The real meaning of wu-wei isn't complete non-action but instead acting in a way that leaves no traces behind or effortless action.

In philosophical Taoism, it implies action that achieves its goal in conformity with the natures of things and events. Wu-wei is about being so connected to the way or flow that you completely lose yourself in the task.

The History And Origin Of Daoism

Around the fourth or fifth century B.C.E., the meaning of Tao or Dao was put in writing through the Tao Te Ching. The origin of Daoism started from the Tao Te Ching text.

Lao Tzu is credited with being the founder of this Chinese religion. But, whether or not Lao Tzu was a real person is still a mystery. It has been said that Tao Te Ching is a collection of excerpts from various authors rather than one Lao Tzu.

During the Warring States period, the school of naturalists was developed. This was the cosmic inspiration behind Daoism.

The Way of the Celestial Master's school that was created by Zhang Tooling during the second century C.E., is the first time that Taoism became an organized religion.

In 400 CE, The Daozang or Tao Tsang, a collection of all the teachings of Taoism, was collected by Taoist monks. It consisted of 1,400 texts that included the interpretation and description by various Daoist teachers of the original texts of Tao Te Ching and Zhuangzi.

Official status was given to Daoism during the Tang Dynasty of the Chinese empire. Li Yuan, the discoverer of the dynasty, claimed he was a descendant of Laozi. The Shangqing school was developed during the Tang Dynasty.

During 1959 when communism took over China, religions like Taoism, Confucianism, and other religions were banned, leading to a fall in the number of followers. Daoism forms one of the five recognized religions in the People's Republic of China currently.

The Virtues Of Daoism

The virtues of Daoism are known as the three treasures or three jewels of Daoism. Laozi wrote about Sanbao in Tao Te Ching chapter 67. This Sanbao later came to be known as 'the three jewels.'

They are compassion (Ci), moderation (Jian), and humility (bugan wei tianxia xian). These virtues help in achieving spiritual harmony with nature. These virtues also influenced political opinions of Taoism that state that abstains from War and aggression, belief in a simple life, and nonassertion of authority actively.

The moral virtues of Taoism include disapproval of lying, stealing, killing, promiscuity, and things of such nature that brings harm to others. What makes Taoism unique is that rigid rules and social regulations are not emphasized in this religion; instead, a generous approach towards all humans and animals is pushed.

The virtues of Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism often intermixed with one another.

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