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."
A religion and philosophical system from China that emphasizes living in harmony with the Tao, a force that permeates the universe.
Philosophy of Taoism: A belief system that originated in China, focused on the principles of Yin and Yang, the Tao, and the concept of Wu Wei.
History of Taoism: The development and evolution of Taoism, from its origins in ancient China to its influence on modern culture and spirituality.
Taoist Meditation Practices: Various techniques used to cultivate mindfulness, calm the mind, and connect with the universal energy of the Tao.
The Tao: The fundamental concept of Taoism, often translated as 'the way' or 'path', which refers to the natural flow and balance of the universe.
Yin and Yang: The dualistic concept of balance and opposition in the universe, represented by the contrasting symbols of black and white, feminine and masculine, dark and light, etc.
Wu Wei: The concept of 'non-action' or 'effortless action', emphasizing the need to surrender to the natural flow of the universe and avoid unnecessary struggle or striving.
Taoist Deities and Folk Religion: The pantheon of deities and spirits in Taoist tradition, as well as the popular practices and rituals associated with folk religion.
Taoist Ethics and Values: The moral code and principles of Taoism, which emphasize simplicity, humility, compassion, and harmony with nature and others.
Taoist Arts and Culture: The various artistic expressions of Taoism, including calligraphy, painting, literature, music, and martial arts like tai chi and qigong.
Taoist Symbolism and Iconography: The use of symbols and imagery in Taoist teachings and practices, such as the Daoist eight trigrams, the yin-yang symbol, and various animal spirits.
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."