Daoism(Taoism)/
Confucianism
Religions of East Asia –
largely China.
These religions coexist and
complement each other.
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Ancient Chinese
Tradition.
Chinese believed that the world is full of
invisible spirits- ancestral spirits,nature
spirits- plants, animals, etc.
Nature spirits personified and honored
as deities.
Shangdi (Shang-Ti) –the Supreme
Being, the great spirit, ruler of the
universe, masculine.
This belief is traced to the Shang
Dynasty (1751-1123 BCE).
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Ancestral Spirits
Veneration of ancestors- funeral
mourning rites, sacrifices.
Li- the sacred ritual directed
towards ancestors for blessings/ to
avoid trouble.
Kings sought ancestors help
through medium of oracles bones.
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Mandate of Heaven
Belief traced to the Zhou (Chou
dynasty (1122-221 BCE) that
overthrew the Shang di dynasty.
Believed in heavenly beings,
impersonal power that controlled
the universe.
Rulers were urged to rule
according to the “mandate of
heaven” I.e the wish of heavenly
beings.
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Qi / Chi- Impersonal Self
generating energy.
Cosmos is a manifestation of an
impersonal self generating energy
Qi / Chi.
Qi / Chi has two aspects to it- the
Yin and the Yang.
These aspects interplay causing
the ever-changing phenomenon of
the universe.
Yin- dark, receptive, female
Yang- the bright, assertive, male.
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Wisdom
Wisdom lies in recognizing the
ever shifting but regular patterns
moving within the Yin and the
Yang.
Dao/ Tao- The way of nature
–The creative rhythm of
the universe.
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Divination
Forms of divination are necessary to
understand how to stay in harmony with
the universe.
Yi Jing (I Ching) “The Book of Changes”
is an ancient scripture of methods of
divination.
It instructs on how to interpret patterns in
divination items e.g coins, stalks, bones
that represent yin and yang (p. 179).
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Actions produce opposites as a
balancing reaction.
Hence extreme actions produce
extreme opposites- refrain from
these.
The Yin and that Yang is the basis
of Daoism (Taoism) and
Confucianism.
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Daoism- The Way of
Nature and immortality
Living according to Tao- the way of
nature.
Stay in harmony with the universe.
Daoism- an invention of western
scholars to refer to traditions which
developed from early philosophical
texts and practices.
It involves meditation.
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Dao de Jing (Tao Te
Ching)
Dao de jing- “the classic of the way
and the power”
This is that Daoist scripture
believed to have been authored by
Lao Zi (Lao Tzu) in the 6th century
–debatable.
Laozi (Lao Tzu) – was a curator of
the royal library of the Zhou
dynasty.
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He was leaving society to retire to
the mountains at age 160 when a
border guard recognized him as
sage and requested him to share
his wisdom. He sat down, and
wrote Dao- de Jing.
Dao de jing teaches “Wu Wei” –
“actionless action” I.e one can
harmonize with the natural flow
(Dao) by being receptive and quite.
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I.e direct experience of the universe
requires accepting and cooperating with
things the way they are.
Nothing is evil, things may only be out of
balance.
Zuangzi (Chuang Tzu) (365-290) was a
sage, a government official who
expounded on these teachings. He
advocated detachment from the world.
Golden age of Dao has declined as
people depart from the way. Civilization
leads to chaos.
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Developments in
Daoism
The 2nd century saw the
institutionalization of Daoism.
Prophecies and revelations led to
political and religious organizations.
Some prophecies predicted the fall of the
Han dynasty in 184BCE which led to
rebellion and decline of this dynasty
At the decline of Han dynasty (206-
220CE) e.g Kan Ji received a vision that
yin and yang were no longer in balance
because rulers had not followed the
ways of nature.
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In western China, Zhang Dao Ling
(Chang Tao Ling) claimed to have seen
a vision of Laozi as a heavenly lord. In
this vision, Laozi was appointed as the
representation of Dao on earth.
He was given the title of “Celestial
Master”
He taught about healing by faith, and
organized religion attracting many
followers.
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Highest Purity Daoism
In 365, an aristocrat family in southern
China claimed to receive revelations
from a deceased member –Lady Wei
These were revelations of names and
powers of new deities, meditation
methods, alchemy and rituals.
They were recorded in exquisite
calligraphy and transmitted to a few
disciples.
Practiced by elite group of celibates.
Despised celestial masters rituals and
commoners.
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The Numinous Treasure
School
Arose around 4th Century
Assimilated many elements of Buddhism
e.g meditation, divine beings scriptures,
rebirth, heaven and shells.
Complete Perfection.
-Arose in the 12th century.
-practiced in monastic schools.
Unites Daoism inner alchemy with Zen
Buddhist meditation and Confucianism,
Teaches detachment to the world.
Found in Beijing.
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Longevity Daoism
Use force that is within the body to
maintain health, strength and to perceive
the order of the universe.
Jing- generative force
Qi- vital life force
Chen- spirit
Involves breathing techniques, diets,
gymnastics, vocalization, sexual
energies, meditation absorption of solar
and lunar energies. Etc.
Alchemy- tapping these energies to
achieve physical immortality.
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Daoism today
Still common in China, Taiwan, Hong
King and Chinese communities
overseas.
Daoism blends with popular religions and
cultures.
Chinese temples combine Daoism,
Confucianism and Buddhism.
Indigenous Daoism seeking to spread
their teachings to the young.
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20th Century, the west became
interested in Daoism with centers being
established in the U.S.
Acupuncture therapy uses Chinese
traditional spiritual knowledge of energy
believe to be in the body/ organs and the
spine.
Chinese traditional medicine and
practices such as Taiji Quan (training for
martial arts ) draw from Qi energy in
trying to become one with yin and yang.
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