Taoism Essay

Hailie Payne For over 2000 years Taoism has been a major influence on China and its culture, but
what exactly is Taoism? Taoism is a philosophical religion that has a complex origin and a unique
way of perceiving the meaning of life, and to understand this distinct religion it is important for
an individual to know about its history, sacred sites, teachings and beliefs, practices, holidays,
and presence in the modern world. To start, the origin of Taoism, as with many ancient religions,
is very difficult to pinpoint exactly, since Taoist ideas and early writings greatly precede any
organizational structure. However, despite that, 550 B.C.E is commonly identified as the time
period in which a variety of spiritual thinkers, located in what is now China, began to put their
ideas into writing, thus setting the foundation of Taoism. Then, in the fourth or third century
B.C.E, these writings were collected as a composite teaching of Taoism. The collection of these
writings is known as the Tao Te Ching, meaning "The Way and its Power," and it is the sacred
text of Taoism. Furthermore, the Tao Te Ching is believed to have been created by Laozi, an
ancient Chinese philosopher and writer, who is believed to be the founder of Taoism. The legend
regarding the creation of the Tao Te Ching states that Laozi had worked in the court of the Chou
dynasty for the majority of his life; however he eventually grew tired of people in the court failing
to notice his ideas.
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Taoism By Lao Tzu
Anette Dopico
PHI 2010
Professor Jacob
March 18, 2018
Taoism is a philosophy which also means a way of life. Lao Tzu started this, he lived a little
before Confucius, about 600 BC. Tao means the "path" or "way". Lao Tzu worked as a a record
keeper. He believed that happiness was for people to just "go with the flow", meaning to let things go
about on their own rather than forcing the situations. According to Confucius, each person should act
with virtue in all social matters; family, community, state, and kingdom, to ensure unity. Lao Tzu
thought it was extremely wrong for people to fight in wars. He was also extremely against a
government making up rules and regulations on how people should do things in their life. Taoism is
against anything with certain regulations, even a food diet.
Lao Tzu thinks people should make their own decisions in situations that they experience in life.
To follow Taoism is to understand who you are yourself and everything else will come naturally.
By 'doing nothing' one could 'accomplish everything.' Don't go against what you have been faced,
instead go through it and learn from it, and never force anything because by doing that, you are not
doing anything good for yourself. Another key point of Tzu's writing is: we need to be in touch
with our real selves. We spend a great deal of time worrying...show more content...
Lao Tzu liked to compare people to certain parts of nature or virtues. There are almost half a
billion of Daoist's in the world. Lao Tzu's philosophy is all about learning how to live with
harmony. We have to make more time for ourselves, we have to worry less about the world and
experience the world more to be able to take it all in. Certain things happen on their own and cannot
be forced, like grieving gaining knowledge, developing relationships. Lao Tzu says we cannot be too
preoccupied with anxiety and worries because we will miss many opportunities and experiences that
life has to

Taoism: Religious Higher Power
I disagree, do not believe that a religious higher power does not have to be a conscious power. In the
case of Taoism, you consider them to be a religion even though the Tao is not a conscious higher
power. While religions do require some sort of higher power, I do not believe it needs to be a
conscious one. On the contrary, the higher power just needs to be able to keep the followers of a
religion on the right track in life so that they can live the right way. For instace, Taoists lead a life
of inaction in order to life as the Tao. The higher power should also have some involvement in the
creation of the world and the afterlife. In the case of Taoism, the Tao does both, it is the creator and
it is also the barrier between heaven and earth.

Taoism : Religion And Religion
Taoism Religion Taoism is one of the great philosophical and religious traditions that's originated in
China. It is a unique and interesting religion, due to the fact that many Taoists do not even consider
it a religion. In many ways it can be seen as not a religion but more of a philosophy. The Taoists
never claimed that the Tao ever existed. This separates them from other religions because there is no
debate or battle on the Taoist doctrine. The individuality and open–mindedness has allowed the
religion to flourish almost unchanged from over two thousand years ago. One may learn the way
of Taoism through its origins and history, its beliefs, and its rituals and practices. Origins and
History There are many different ideas on the origins of Taoism. There is not one specific origin
of the Taoist philosophy and practices. It grew out of various religious and philosophical traditions
in ancient China, including shamanism and nature religion (BBC 2009). China, at the time, needed
a new religion and current religions in China needed a religion to bring them all to focus. It is first
said that Taoism began when the emperor of China, Huang Di, visited a hermit and asked him a
question. The hermit refused to answer Huang Di's question. Eventually, he gave in and gave him
profound wisdom that changed the way the emperor governed the country and the people. The
secret the hermit gave him was Tao. It means "the way". Following Tao is to practice the way of
nature. It is the balance

Taoism
Taoism
Taoism is a religion as well as a philosophy that can be dated all the way back to around 500 B.C. It
is one of the two dominant religions in China. Taoism is also termed "Daoism" in the more common
language system, called Hanyu Pinyin, representing Chinese letters using Roman letters and is more
commonly used amongst China and around the world.
Like the Christian faith, they too use a sacred book, Tao Te Chingwritten by the great Sage, Lao
Tzu as a guidance. This text has been translated almost as much as the Christian Holy Bible it. It
consists of 81 poems or chapters that are quite broad and vague and because of this, it can be
interpreted and applied universally. It speaks of possible inner greatness but also the...show more
content...
A sage is one who is simple, tranquil, very open to life, intelligent, and reserved. He is not arrogant
and careless to such political affairs, does not seek fame, and does not discriminate opposites but
embraces them. The sage is indifferent to success or failure. He understands that life driven by
self–centered ambition will never make sense, no matter how successful you are or with how
many positive externals you care to adorn it. When one does not let nature take its course, one
may fail. He understands that one may very much succeed but also has the ability to very much
fail. To be a sage is to be a man of peace. One avoids conflict, and steers away from violence. One is
not intimidated of death nor does one fear death. Life itself acquires meaning only when one
satisfies ones spiritual needs by living in total harmony with the Tao. He must seek Supreme
Ultimate which is the sum of all specific principles. The Supreme Ultimate really is nothing within
itself, but "concentration of responsiveness to principle as it is immanent and real in the affairs of
daily life." So to become a sage may seem difficult but achievable if clarity is what is being

Research Paper On Taoism
Immortality does not mean living forever in the present physical body. In Taoism, death is just the
final step in achieving complete unity with the universe when Taoist draws closer and closer to
nature throughout their life. Taoism has a goal to raise the immortal practise to a higher level which
is spiritual immortality. To attain it, people have to transform all their qi into primordial qi and
proceed to refine it to subtler levels. This finer qi will eventually turn into pure spirit, with which
practitioners increasingly identify to become transcendent spirit–people. To achieve this, intensive
meditation and trance training as well as more radical forms of diet and other longevity practices are
needed. Immortality implies the overcoming of the natural tendencies of the body and its
transformation into a different kind of qi–constellation. It is a bypassing of death so that the end of
the body has no impact on the continuation of the spirit–person. In addition, practitioners attain
super–sensory powers and eventually gain residence in wondrous otherworldly paradises (Kohn
2005).
Taoism is a polytheist religion. Taoists believes that the universe is divided into human being and
gods. The latter is further divided into gods and ghosts. Each kind of god has...show more content...
Some are holy men. Others occupy rivers, streams and mountains. Each God Most has specific
powers and abilities to grant wishes in particular areas of expertise. Taoists who need something
pray to the appropriate deity in special shrines called departments or halls in Taoist temples.
(Hays, 2016) Most Taoist gods are associated with a spot in the external world and a
corresponding spot on the inside of man and often have a role in preventing disease. The position
of Taoist deities in a large pantheon often mirrors those of secular officials in a bureaucracy. Many
Chinese cities these days have a temple dedicated to the City God, the heavenly equivalent of a
mayor (Hays

Taoism has many profound theories which can be difficult to understand. Taoism is a balanced
relationship between humans and nature. The most basic concept is the Tao. This originally
refers to the road extending in one direction. The Tao is unseen and unheeded, yet it is the Tao
that is truly and constantly useful, like the space in a vessel or a window. (Choice)Tao refers to
the rules governing behaviors in human beings and objects. In order to make this theory become
more clear Taoism draws a Taiji Diagram: This is a curve dividing a circle into two parts, one half
is in white representing Yang (the bright side) while the other is in black, representing Yin (the dark
side). There is a black dot in the white part, while...show more content...
Tao is sometimes identified as the Mother, or the source of all things. That source is not god or a
supreme being, as Taoism is not monotheistic. The focus is not to worship one god, but instead on
coming into harmony with tao. Tao is the essence of everything that is right, and complications
exist only because people choose to complicate their own lives. Desire, ambition, fame and
selfishness are seen as hindrances to a harmonious life. It is only when a person rids himself of
all desires can tao be achieved. By shunning every earthly distraction, the Taoist is able to
concentrate on life itself. The longer the person's life, the more saintly the person is presumed to
have become. Eventually the hope is to become immortal, to achieve tao, to have reached the
deeper life. This is the afterlife for a Taoist, to be in harmony with the universe, to have achieved
tao. The Tao has been compared with Nirvana with its similarities. Both have beliefs in an inner light
that will guide a person into the right direction. Taoism is traditionally pointed back to Lao–tzu.
There is not much known about him and some scholar's doubt he existed. (Hopfe)The Tao Te Ching
is one of the most influential books in Chinese literature and was supposedly written by Lao–tzu.
The comparison that comes to my mind first with Taoism is Hermetic philosophy and how they
coincide. My infatuation with this religion and philosophy has been a long

Confucianism and Taoism Essay
Confucianism and Daoism are two influential schools of thoughts that have existed in ancient China
around the 6th century BCE. The former, led by the politician and philosopher Confucius, proposed
that humans live in society according to a set of predefined rules and that they transform society
through political action. Whereas the latter, led by the philosopher Lao–Tzu, promoted the idea of
inaction; people should go with the flow instead of taking action to control their lives and dominate
their surroundings. Although, at first glance Daoism and Confucianism seem to be two opposing
philosophies, a more in depth analysis of two of their key ideas –filial piety and education–reveals
that they do share some similarities.
Both Confucianism...show more content...
If natural filial piety were expressed in the family from the very beginning, conflict would have no
means to arise. Thus, filial piety exists naturally and so should it be expressed.
Confucius also recognizes that filial piety should be expressed naturally. According to Confucius,
being filial to our parents is the utmost expression of respect. This is an essential element in
obtaining the title of Chun–Tzu, or noble person. However, filial piety is not a one–way street.
Parents are also filial to their children and to their parents. Both parent and child have a natural
position and responsibility within the family; therefore natural filial piety is reciprocal. It is
through recognizing and practicing filial piety in the family that a person will know how to act
outside of the family. For in the Confucian tradition, it is realized that filial piety also exists
between all beings. This is evident in the Confucian Golden Rule: "Never do to others what you
would not like them to do to you" (Book XV). As in Taoist thought, filial piety is something that
naturally exists and is reciprocal in nature. To force filial piety into being or to intentionally
practice reciprocal filial piety would be going against its true nature. Filial piety must be freely and
naturally expressed for it to be truly realized.
When we look at the deeper meaning of filial piety as viewed from

Daoism: A Journey Essay
By traditional accounts, Daoism, or Taoism as it is also known, was founded during the sixth
century BCE in China under the influence of the legendary philosopher Lao Tzu and the Tao Teh
Ching (Coogan 222), but, as with every religion, this origin has been questioned (Jurji 24). The
validity of Lao Tzu has been brought into question, and many believe the Tao Teh Ching is actually
the work of several authors in one compilation of ideas thought well before the sixth century or
even fourth century, BCE (Coogan 222). Notoriously hard to define, Daoism has taken many shapes
over the years and is as much as a way of life as a religion. Although there is a enormous amount of
literature involved with Daoism, the Daoist canon itself contains...show more content...
It is, but it isn't. It is everything and nothing all at once, and those who know it do not speak of it.
It is the origin of all we know and all returns to the Dao, but it is unknowable. It is part of us, but it
is beyond us. The Tao Teh Ching seeks to teach of something that is unteachable, and it is upfront in
that contradiction. Simply or not simply put, "The Tao is like an empty bowl,/ Which in being used
can never be filled up./ Fathomless, it seems to be the origin of all things./ It blunts all sharp edges,
/ It unties all tangles,/ It harmonizes all lights,/ It unites the world into one whole./..." (Laozi 9) and
"Man follows the ways of the Earth./ The Earth follows the ways of Heaven,/ Heaven follows the
ways of the Tao, / Tao follows its own ways," (Laozi 55). It is what it is, it is hard to define, and if
an individual truly believes in the Dao then they don't attempt to explain it away. Over and over
throughout the Tao Teh Ching, there is advice and insight beyond trying to explain the inexplicable
and a pecking order so to speak. From the truth of warfare (Laozi 69–71) to the emphasis on wu–wei,
or action through non–action (Laozi 143), and living serenely and harmoniously with nature (Laozi
65) and the world (Laozi 105), Daoism as a lifestyle and a religion has drawn many of its defining
characteristics from the Tao Teh Ching. Its proverbs and

taoism Essay
History tells a story about a man named Laozi, who lived in the sixth century B.C. and his
teachings are the basis for Taoism. This religion believes that we should put away our desires of
ambition to seek harmony with the forces of nature. Interestingly enough, Taoism is a very
passive religion that strives for peace. One of the main symbols that are associated with this
religion is the Ying Yang symbol. The yin represents the male, and the yang represents the
female. If you look closely at this symbol, you will see that each side of the symbol has a little bit of
the counterpart. Taoism is a religion that was founded over 2000 years ago. It is both a religion and
a philosophy, based on the belief that they live a simple...show more content...
Eating the sticky Tangyuan symbolizes family unity ("sticking together") and happiness. A
Taoist's diet consists of food that are PH balanced, and this includes foods that are in harmony
with the basic diet. There are really no rules on their habits of diet, just to make sure that
LEGENDS AND STORIES Taoists Ghosts, spirits, and superstitions are very prominent in the
ancient and modern Chinese stories. Foxes were often imagined to be challenging shape shifters
and tricksters. They often showed themselves in the guise of beautiful young women, trying to
lure men into their power. Taoist priests often served as mediators between the ordinary human
world and the world of the supernatural. They could be called to aid in the help of getting rid of
the spirits, or to exorcise it. So, here is the story: A long time ago, there was a scholar named Li Yi,
and he was reading under the light one evening, when a beautiful woman appeared before him. She
teased him ruthlessly and soon grew quite shameless, and eventually Li found himself subjected to
all sorts of disgusting and rude advances. With firm resolve Li remained impassive throughout the
ordeal. Later on in that evening, after Li Yi had finished his meal, he heard a voice

Taoism Essay
Running head: Taoism
Taoism
A Brief Overview When first deciding to write my term paper on Taoism I thought it would be
just another religion. In my research I found so many different translations that my head started
spinning. There are really no known facts about the founder of Taoism, Lao Tsu, except that he
was possibly a contemporary of Confucius. He was searching for a way that would avoid the
constant feudal warfare and other conflicts that disrupted society during his lifetime. (Religious
Tolerance, 2007) Since there are many aspects to Taoism in this paper I will do my best to explain
what Taoism is and also explain some of its main concepts. Taoism is described as a Chinese
religious and philosophical system aimed...show more content...
I am not sure if there are any documented cases of immortality but being a believer of holistic
medicine and acupuncture I can see the benefits herbs in my life today. Yin and Yangis the most
universally recognizable symbol for Taoism. The symbol is a circle with one half black and the
other half white. Both halves have a spot with the opposite color which represents being part of
the other. Yin and Yang are two complementary, interdependent principles or phases alternating in
space and time; they are emblems envoking the harmonious interplay of all pairs of opposites in
the universe. (Taoism, 2007) Taoist believe yin and yang exist in all aspects of life. Some believe
the white represents good and the black represents evil. If there is good there is bad, if there is
wealth there is poverty and if there is woman there is man. In other words there is an opposite to
everything. The universe flows in harmony without ever stopping. In chapter 42 of the
Tao–Te–Ching there is a reference about yin and yang. The Tao is one, from the one come yin and
yang, from these two creative energy (chi), from energy, ten thousand things, the forms of all
creations, all life embodies yin and embraces yang, through their union achieving harmony.
(Tao–Te–Ching, Ch. 51) This brings us to our next concept, the five elements. The five elements are
earth, metal, fire, wood and water. This theory is as important as the yin and

Lao-Tzu's Philosophy Of Taoism
In "Selections from The Tao te Ching", Lao–tzu explains in depth his philosophy of Taoism. "He
who knows (the Tao) does not (care to) speak (about it)" (Tzu, 250). A follower of Taoism will not
tell others they follow Taoism, but will allow Taoism to come to them. The Tao is the path all
followers take and is the essence of all things. All things in existence are apart of the Tao.
Followers of the Tao believe, "(The Tao) produces (all things) and nourishes them" (Tzu, 247). All
things are created by the Tao and remain alive because of the Tao. The Tao is what someone wants
to believe it is and anybody in any religion can follow Taoism. Each person will define the Tao as
something different because each person creates their own Taoism. Taoism

Taoism : The Philosophy Of Taoism
The yin–yang is a popular symbol known even in the western world. Countless items are plastered
with the flowing circle of black and white, from jewelry and clothes, to furniture and home dГ©cor.
Although it is seen everywhere, very few understand the long history contained within the two
spiraling hemispheres. Monochrome, yet it represents the colorful and ambiguous philosophy of
Taoism. The ideology of Taoism, much like the yin–yang, is very simple although very profound and
intricate. The three most distinctive elements which define the worldview of Taoism are the Tao, the
nature of mankind, and the Wu Wei. The Tao or "the Way" originated in China around 500
–600 B.C.
during the Warring States period. As the fires of war spread and...show more content...
Though they bear different names, they serve the same mystical cause" (Lao Tzu 8). Lao Tzu
conveys ideas in this style throughout the text and lays the groundwork for which the worldview of
Taoism will be constructed upon. Another main work, the Chuang Tzu, expands upon the Dao de
Jing by putting Lao Tzu's principals into action using simple examples and stories. The Chuang Tzu
shares the same name as its author meaning "Master Chuang." The stories inside attempt to explain
the ideas in Lao Tzu's original work by applying them to everyday life and using patterns in nature to
illustrate how the Tao functions. Chuang Tzu's text is much less ambiguous than that of Lao Tzu
but is still very open ended. Rather than simply suggesting ideas using poetry, Chuang Tzu directly
states principles, although those principles may not have a definite answer. He writes, "The Great
TГўo does not admit of being praised. The Great Argument does not require words." (Legge 8).
These declared statements give more definition to the illusive mystery of the Tao and lead to
further development to Taoism as a religion. Through this work, the worldview of Taoism begins to
become more tangible as the Tao is presented in a more perceivable way. Along with the numerous
key works of Taoism, there are a wide variety of influences that have been incorporated into Taoism
over its long history. The indigenous folklore of China became intertwined with Taoism as

Taoism Research Paper
Taoism
History – Taosim (also spelled Daoism) was founded in China during the 6th century B.C. It is
based on the teachings of Tao Te Ching, a text written by the philosopher Laozi, the founder of
Taoism.
Important people– Lao Tzu (Laozi) went to the western border of China and was told to record his
teach ings. Chuang Tzu was a Chinese philosopher took the teachings of Lao Tzu and developed
them. He also made it easier to understand. Main Beliefs – People that practice Taoism believe in
something called the Tao. The Tao is not something that can be described. It is not agod, a written
text, a substance, or even a thing. In this religion, gaining immortality is the purpose of life. In
Taoism, there are 8 immortals: He Xian Gu, Cao Guo Jiu, Taiguai Li, Lan Caihe, Lu Dongbin (can
also be referred to as Lu Tung Pin), Han Xiang Zi, Zhang Guo Lao, Zhongli Quan. It is believed that
the secrets of nature are known by the eight immortals. Taoism has gods for war, town, mountains,
rivers, and land. The highest goddess in Taoism is the Queen Mother of the West. Deities and
immortals are put into groups; for example, there are The Three Purities, The Three Divine Officials,
The Father of Thunder and The Mother of Lightning.
Distributing of The Religion – Branches and Sects –Taoist has a number of sects and branches. Some
...show more content...
Some of the most recognized symbols are Ying–Yang (Taijitu), Wuji, and The Eight
Trigrams.Ying–Yang represents forces that are dependent on each other. Black and white are
complementary instead of opposing, like night and day, light and darkness, or life and death. The
Wuji is a hollow circle that represents a void that existed in the beginning of the universe. The Eight
Trigrams are symbols made out of a series of strokes that represent something different such as
Earth, water, fire, wind,

Taoism As A Philosophy Or Religion?
When the topic of religion or philosophy comes to mind, Taoism is often unheard of and is
shrouded with mystery. While this is true, its rich history and ideologies are both profound and
intriguing. Taoism is one of the oldest and most ancient philosophies known to mankind. There
are many theories as to just how old the customs are. Taoism is also referred to as Daoism which
is a more precise way of articulating the word in English to match the pronunciation of the
Chinese word. Taoism is often entitled as a philosophy or a religion. However, certain time
frames set it to be either a religion or a philosophy. For example, back in the 2nd century, Taoism
was mainly a religion. Nowadays, it is treated more as a philosophy due to its complex ideas.
Many philosophical writings and poetry in the Tao Te Ching, many believe it to be a philosophy.
On the other hand, there are many religious aspects of Taoism such as reciting the Tao Te Ching or
giving offerings. While Taoism is a more uncommon religion, its origin, ideology, practices, and
persecutions have been studied immensely. Early Taoism in the 2nd century was founded in the
ideas of the Taoist intellectuals who each added their own local religious rituals and beliefs. This
helped to provide examples of the philosophy and to incorporate Taoism into the current views of
the Chinese people. Some of these early rituals focused on meditation, breathing and the recitation of
verses (Robinson 1). However, Taoism began to really

Essay on Taoism in Chinese Culture
Taoism in Chinese Culture
Taoism, known as "The Way," can be categorized as both a Chinese philosophy and a religion.
Taoists believe in accepting and yielding to the ways of life, complementing nature and being by
internalizing their goals rather than worshipping a god externally. Taoism, in its metaphysical and
philosophical nature, is much like Confucianism, but the ideal interests of the two religions are
contrasting. Confucianism was formulated during a time of war and relies heavily upon a moral and
political system that fashioned society and the Chinese empire, while Taoism correlates to a time of
peace and honors spiritual and metaphysical preoccupation (Taoism 2).
The supposed author of the Tao Te Ching, Lao...show more content...
The Tao is the natural order of things. It continually revives itself in a cycle of opposites. Lao Tzu
says in the Tao Te Ching, "Reversion is the movement of the Tao." Anything that develops extreme
qualities will revert back to its opposite extreme, and in this way everything becomes a cycle of
constant flux (qtd. in Taoism 6). Raymond Smullyan remarks, "The idea of the synchronicity of two
events is not that one is the cause of the other, but that they, so to speak, have a common cause
(176). Using this idea of the cyclical, Taoists believe that life and death are eternal transformations of
being and non–being and that through this cycle, you will reap what you sow.
The Taoist sainthood is eternal and regards saintliness as an interpretation within oneself. This belief
of individualism is preserved in the idea of wu–wei, or non–intervention. When practicing wu–wei,
one is able to feel the energies of the universe and fall away from the businesses of men's priorities.
Taoists are productive through inaction when they allow the Way to take hold of their spirits. This
inner cultivation, or "nei–yeh," brings the world back to the Way (Taoism 9). The Tao Te Ching
remarks on the Tao, "in its mode of being Unseen, we will see its mysteries; in the mode of the
Seen, we will see its boundaries" (qtd. in Taoism 9). Taoism is not definable because it is different
to the

Taoism in the Modern World Essay
Taoism in the Modern World The Tao Te Ching is the second most revised book in the world; the
bible is the only one that has been revised more. It was written sometime between the sixth and
the third century BC when china descended into chaos of rival kingdoms. It was supposedly
written by Lao Tan, a possible mythical figure, who has said to have lived till he was 160 to 200
years old, but some believe that he is still alive and is wonder out in the woods.
Ever since I began reading about Taoism I have change my point of view about life. "Not seeing
desirable things prevents confusion of the heart"(Tao). This line in itself has taught me to not look
at life as objects but to look at it as a gift. People today have...show more content...
People breathe without thinking about what gave them that breathe. "The beginning of the
universe is the mother of all things"(Tao52). "The source of life is as a mother"(The way of
life52). These two readings show us that the reason we are here is because of the mother universe.
People do not realize how great it is to be alive, and the wonderful things that we get to experience
everyday. I had felt this same way before I read the Tao Te Ching. But now I wake up with a smile,
because I know that I get to go out into a beautiful world, and experience it like it is the first time
that I have seen it. People today are trying to change the world when the world can not be
changed. "If you try to change it, you will ruin it"(Tao29). The universe is what gives us life. If
we try to change it who know what could happen. If we keep building buildings and tearing down
the trees that give us oxygen than what will happen to us? Christmas time is a time of giving and
sharing. I always thought this meant it was a time to give and receive gifts. I was wrong. The Tao
says, "Not seeing desirable things prevents confusion of the heart"(Tao3). If you do not think about
things and be happy with what you have and be grateful for what you have than you will not
overlook the true meaning of Christmas. After reading about the Tao I have learned that the most
important thing about the holiday season is spending time with the ones you love

Essay on Taoism
Taoism
Taoism originated in China during the 300's BC. It has been part of the Chinese culture for 2,000
years. It was during the same time period as Confucianism, but had opposite ideas and morals, yet
it was equally as important as Confucianism in Chinese history. Taoism began as a reaction to
"historical situations"(c1), and became a philosophy of the natural way. The word Tao actually
means "road" or "way." Taoism has had a large impact on art and literature, and had been greatly
influenced by Chinese folk religion. Folk religion says that most gods were actually just people who
displayed heroic qualities. The priests conducted public rituals. Many Taoists seek careers in
astronomy, herbal remedies, and alchemy, among...show more content...
The "three treasures"(c4) are said to be "deep love, frugality"(c4), and not trying to be better than
anyone else. Those who carry treasure(s) are good people. Love everything around you, and treat
everyone equally with kindness and goodness in your heart, even if they do not treat you that way.
"Repay hatred with virtue"(c4), and if you do not know something, realize this. You have superior
virtue if you are good, enlightening, peaceful, and your life is long.
"Taoism is the mother and ancestor of all things,"(c2) says Lao Tzu (surnamed Li). Lao Tzu is from
the sixth century BC, and was born in 604 BC. He wrote the Tao Te Ching, which is made up of
5,000 words. This book can also be called the Classic of Tao and It's Virtues. This is one of the most
influential books in China. The Analects of Confucius is the most influential, however. The Tao Te
Ching was not actually written until after Lao Tzu's life had ended, but the ideas were said to be his.
The exact date that the book was written is not actually known. He said that Taoism is not something
you can hear or see, but it is "vague and elusive"(c2). Lao Tzu ignored government, ethics, and virtue.
The Tao seems to bring peace to the Taoist and his/her surroundings. Wu Wei means, "taking no
unnatural action." Tao does not turn against anything, but many things are accomplished. The Taoist
simply follows nature, and succeeds in happiness this way. They say that the best

Research Paper On Daoism
Although sometimes called Daoism, Taoism was first brought to china in the "Eastern Han Dynasty"
(25 – 220), with some where around 300 Taoist temples, where almost 30 thousand Taoists lived
in. Taoism is the oldest in religion in the country. Dao means way so Daoism is often called
ВЁThe Way or Path of LifeВЁ. In its 1,800 years, Taoism also "influenced the local culture deeply",
especially to create common medicine and literature. There are also alot different kinds of Taoism.
Some Taoism focuses on the study of ancient scriptures like the Dao De Jing.
At Taoist temples, people worship Taoist heros, historical figures, and gods. This type of Taoism is
really common in China and even more in places like Hong Kong or Taiwan, that are outside

Essay about Taoism
Throughout history, Taoism has been one of the most influential religions of Eastern culture. This
is certainly one of the most unique of all religions. Many Taoists, in fact, do not even consider it a
religion; and in many ways it is not. Taoists make no claim that the Tao exists. That is what
essentially separates Taoism from the rest of the world religions: there is no heated debate or battle
over Taoist doctrine; there have been no crusades to spread the religion. The very essence of Taoism
is quite the opposite. Taoism's uniqueness and open–endedness have allowed the religion to flourish
almost undisturbed and unchanged for over two thousand years. The founder of Taoism was a man
named Lao Tzu, who lived around the year 604...show more content...
His theories spoke of a cosmic unity which encompasses all reality and guides it naturally, without
force, to its proper end. The Yin and Yang theory became part of Taoist philosophy around 300
B.C.E. when they were mentioned in the Hsi tz'u, an appendix to the I Ching. Yin and Yang are
defined as the two forces in nature. They are often called the two "breaths" or ch'i. Yin is the
feminine principle, representing darkness, coolness, and dampness; Yang is the masculine principle,
representing brightness, warmth, and dryness. Neither principle is good or bad; they are not
opposites, but each is needed to maintain stability in the universe. This belief holds that everything is
defined through opposition; consequently, the virtues of balance and understanding are highly
valued. Taoism became an official religion between 100 and 200 C.E. Due to competition from
Buddhism, Taoists adopted many Buddhist beliefs. During this pivotal point in the religion's history,
searching for self–knowledge and wisdom were replaced by searching for solutions to sorrows and
other physical problems. Alchemy and superstition became highly popular during this period of
time, as Taoists tried to escape reality rather than to control the artificial and unnatural. Many Taoists
used magic and the concept of Tao to try to extend the physical life rather than to focus on the
afterlife. Gradually the religion becomes more complicated, with a wide pantheon of gods and a
ruling

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