Quote: "Taoism emphasizes living in harmony with what is known as the Tao—generally understood as being the impersonal, enigmatic process of transformation ultimately underlying reality."
Analysis of the foundational texts, beliefs, and practices of Taoism, including the Tao Te Ching and the I Ching.
The Tao: The central concept in Taoism, referring to the natural order of the universe.
Yin and Yang: Two complementary forces that represent opposite principles in the universe, such as light and darkness, hot and cold, or masculine and feminine.
Wu Wei: The principle of non-action or effortless action, allowing things to take their natural course without unnecessary force or intervention.
The Tao Te Ching: The primary text of Taoism, written by Lao Tzu and consisting of 81 short poetic verses.
Taoist Cosmology: A framework for understanding the universe, consisting of various planes or realms of existence and their corresponding deities or spirits.
Taoist Philosophy: A set of ethical and moral principles that guide a practitioner's behavior towards harmony with the Tao.
Taoist Meditation: A variety of techniques used to cultivate stillness, mindfulness, and awareness, including breathing exercises, visualization, and qigong.
Taoist Rituals and Practices: A variety of methods and ceremonies used to honor deities, ancestors, and other spirits, including offerings, divination, and specific festivals.
Taoist Folk Religion: A blend of Taoist, Buddhist, and Confucian beliefs and practices, as well as local customs and traditions, practiced primarily in rural areas.
Taoist Hierarchies and Organizations: Various structures and institutions within Taoism, including monastic orders, lay associations, and government-sponsored entities.
Taoism in History: The development of Taoism as a religious and philosophical tradition in China, its interactions with other religions and cultures, its suppression and revival in different dynasties and periods.
Taoism Today: The state of Taoism as a living tradition in the modern world, its spread outside of China, and its adaptation to contemporary issues and challenges.
Philosophical Taoism: This is the original form of Taoism, which focuses on the writings of Laozi and Chuangzi. It emphasizes the importance of live simply, cultivate virtue, and embrace natural laws.
Religious Taoism: It is the later development of Taoism that developed out of philosophical Taoism. Religious Taoism incorporates elements of folk religion, shamanism, and other belief systems into its practice.
Zhengyi Taoism: This is one of the dominant branches of Taoism that emerged in the Han dynasty. It is based on the idea of achieving immortality through various practices and rituals.
Quanzhen Taoism: It is a branch of Taoism that was established in the 12th century by Wang Chongyang. It focuses on inner alchemy, meditation, and the cultivation of ethical behavior.
Complete Reality Taoism: It is a branch of Taoism that emerged in the Ming dynasty. It emphasizes physical and mental cultivation, including meditation, qigong, and martial arts.
Celestial Masters Taoism: It is one of the earliest forms of Taoism that was established in the Han dynasty. It incorporates elements of Confucianism, Buddhism, and traditional Chinese medicine into its practice.
Shangqing Taoism: It is a form of Taoism that emerged in the late Han dynasty. It emphasizes meditation and the visualization of the deities.
Lingbao Taoism: It is a branch of Taoism that emerged during the Tang dynasty. It focuses on rituals, spells, and chants to attain immortality.
Five Pecks of Rice Taoism: It is a sect of Taoism that emerged during the Han dynasty. It emphasizes communal living, egalitarianism, and direct communication with the divine.
Taoist Yoga: It is a form of Taoism that originated in India and was later adopted in China. It emphasizes physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation to attain spiritual enlightenment.
Quote: "The Tao is represented in Chinese by the character 道 (pinyin: dào; Wade–Giles: tao4), which has several related meanings; possible English translations for it include 'way', 'road', and 'technique'."
Quote: "Symbols such as the bagua and taijitu are often employed to illustrate various aspects of the Tao."
Quote: "Taoist thought has informed the development of various practices and rituals within the Taoist tradition and beyond, including forms of meditation, astrology, qigong, feng shui, and internal alchemy."
Quote: "There is generally an emphasis on virtues such as effortless action, naturalness or spontaneity, simplicity, and the three treasures of compassion, frugality, and humility."
Quote: "Due to the terse quality of Classical Chinese as well as the abstract nature of the ideas themselves, many of these concepts defy simple definitions."
Quote: "The core of Taoist thought crystallized during the early Warring States period c. the 4th and 5th centuries BCE."
Quote: "The two works widely regarded as the principal expressions of Taoist philosophy, the epigrammatic Tao Te Ching and the anecdotal Zhuangzi."
Quote: "Early Taoism drew upon a diverse set of influences, including the Shang and Zhou state religions, Naturalism, Mohism, Confucianism, the Legalist theories..."
Quote: "Later, when Buddhism was introduced to China, the two systems began deeply influencing one another, with long-running discourses shared between Taoists and Buddhists."
Quote: "The status of daoshi, or 'Taoist master', is traditionally only attributed to clergy in Taoist organizations."
Quote: "Daoshi often take care to note distinctions between their traditions and others throughout Chinese folk religion, as well as those between their organizations and other vernacular ritual orders..."
Quote: "Many denominations of Taoism recognize various deities, often ones shared with other Chinese religions, with adherents worshiping them as powerful, superhuman figures exemplifying Taoist virtues."
Quote: "The highly syncretic nature of Taoist tradition presents particular difficulties when attempting to characterize its practice and identify adherents: debatably moreso than with other traditions..."
Quote: "Today, Taoism is one of five religious doctrines officially recognized by the Chinese government, also having official status in Hong Kong and Macau."
Quote: "It is also considered a major religion within Taiwan, and it has significant populations of adherents throughout the Sinosphere and Southeast Asia, particularly in Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore."
Quote: "Taoism has also taken on diverse forms in the West, including those hewing to historical practice, as well as highly synthesized practices variously characterized as new religious movements and often associated with the New Age subculture."