Taoism
Pronounced
dow
The Balance
Yin-Yang
Complimentary Principles
• Yin • Yang
– Female – Male
– Earth – Heaven
– Dark – Light
– Passive – Active
– Absorbing – Penetrating
– Even Numbers – Odd Numbers
– Valleys – Mountains
Yin-Yang
Taoism and Confucism
present in native Chinese culture
Backdrop
• Taoism is eclectic and it includes insights
about nature, philosophy, principles for
living, exercises for healthy living, rituals
for protection.
• It includes elements from Chinese folk
religion.
• There is philosophical Taoism found in Tao
Te Ching and there is the Tao of ritual form.
Beginnings
• One of the most prominent figures in
Taoism is Lao Tzu whose name means “old
master” or “old child.”
• He was born in 600 b.c.e.
• He was a librarian for a long time who grew
tired of his job.
• He left his job and traveled to the western
part of China.
More Lao Tzu
• While at the western border the guard
recognized him as a prominent scholar.
• The guard refused him passage until he
wrote down his teachings.
The Writings of Lao Tzu
• Tao Te Ching, (pronounced dow de jing) is the
classic literature of Taoism.
• Tao Te Ching means “the classical book about
the Way and its power.”
• It consists of about 81 short chapters.
• It is possible the compilations of many people.
• It is repetitious, has no clear order and has a
deliberate lack of clarity.
About the Tao
• It cannot be put in words.
• It cannot be named.
• But it can be experienced.
• The Tao is the origin of everything and
individuals are manifestations of the Tao.
• The Tao is perceived by intuition.
• Meditating on certain images can help us
experience the Tao.
Images of the Tao
• Water - water is
gentle, ordinary, and
lowly, but strong and
necessary. It flows
around every obstacle.
“The highest good is
like water.” It assists
in all things “and does
not compete with
them.”
Images
• Female - the female is
sensitive, receptive yet
effective and
powerful.
Images
• Child - the child is full
of energy, wonder and
naturalness.
Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu)
explains “the way” through stories
Zhuangzi
• Lived around 300 b.c.e.
• Playful, independent, and in love with the
fantastic
• His book The Zhuangzi is made up of seven
“inner chapters” written by him and twenty-
six “outer chapters” probably written by
others.
The Zuangzi
• It contains many stories
• It rejects all barriers
– ordinary-fantastic, normal-paranormal, etc.
• It talks about harmony with nature, the
movement of the Tao and pleasure from
simplicity.
• It talks about being one with the Tao.
• It also contains humor.
Dream within a Dream
• One of the most noted stories is where
Zhuangzi dreams he is a butterfly not
knowing that he was Zhuangzi and when he
awakes he is not sure if was a butterfly
dreaming of being Zhuangzi or vice-a-
versa.
Main teachings
• Tao - The Way- is the mystery that makes
nature “the way” it is. Although it is
frequently translated as the way it can mean
process, pattern, existence. Humans can
unite themselves with the way they live.
Effortlessness
• Wu wei - The ideal of
effortlessness.
Commandments
would go against the
nature of Tao. No
action, no “unusual
exertion.” Avoid
unnecessary action.
Simplicity
• Taoism urges
simplicity. Eliminate
the unnecessary, the
artificial and
appreciate the
ordinary. There is a
distrust of formal
education because of
its complexity.
Gentleness
• Taoists extol
gentleness. They do
not like weapons of
war. A wise person
lives in peace and
restraint and avoids
unnecessary violence.
Relativity
• Taoists believe in
seeing things as whole
and beyond opposites.
One needs to broaden
one’s perspective and
avoid parochial
concerns.
Taoism and Long Life
“Live Long and Prosper”
Living Longer
• Taoist have searched for ways to increase
life span as a product of being in union with
the Tao. There are practices which help the
individual achieve harmony with
themselves and the universe around them.
There are suggestions on various types of
body movement which helps one to attain
this desired state.
Achieving Balance
• There is an internal alchemy which aims at
transforming the life force called ch’i. This
is managed in at least five different ways.
– Through Yoga - meditation
– Through Physical Exercise
– Through Diet
– Through Medicine
– Through a combination of the above
Balance Through Meditation
• One way to improve achieve balance is by
concentrating on the energy centers of the
body and directing the inner ch’i from one
vital organ to another.
Balance Through
Physical Exercise
• One can achieve a oneness with the Tao by
performing out certain physical movements
which assists to direct the energy flow. This
is called Tai Ch’i.
• Many people have seen various techniques
from different schools.
Balance Through Diet
• Harmony within is also achieved through
diet and there are certain foods which are
associated with yin and the yang. Some
foods reduce or augment the vital energy.
A balance of these foods is essential to
achieve harmony.
Yin and Yang of food
• Yin • Yang
– Dairy products – Chili
– Green Vegetables – Cinnamon
– Sugar – Root Vegetables
– Seafood – Poultry
– Beans
Balance through Medicine
• Natural herbs, spices and various chemical
concoctions were used to achieve balance
and extend. Many of them did not work.
However, there are some have proven to be
helpful such as ginseng, garlic and ginger.
• Massages and acupuncture are used to
directly manipulate vital organs.
Harmony through many
• Harmony can be achieved by using the
various forms together. The balance is
affected by diet, physical and mental
proportions.
Religious Taoism
• Religious Taoism is a later development.
As time went on people met to share ideas
and insights. Eventually several groups
arose.
Heavenly Masters
• One group, which set-up an organization
with a hierarchical structure, was led by
Zhang Daoling. Because their successor is
called “heavenly master” this sect is know
as “way of the heavenly masters” and is
very active in Taiwan.
Buddhism and other Influences
• Taoism became more religious in part as a
reaction to Buddhism. As a result there are
Taoist texts. These text cover a wide range
of topics (i.e. meditation, diet)
• Taoism also absorbed Chinese world view.
• It also developed a “pantheon of gods.”
• It is much stronger in Taiwan than in China
where it was started.