Early Religions: TaoismEarly Religions: Taoism

Student Led Tutorial by:Student Led Tutorial by:

Jess, Kim, Julia, Jackie, Jackie Jess, Kim, Julia, Jackie, Jackie P., and MehekP., and Mehek

BACKGROUND INFORMATIONBACKGROUND INFORMATION

IntroductionIntroduction

The Tao Ta Ching made the following proclamation:The Tao Ta Ching made the following proclamation:““The Tao gives birth to the one,The Tao gives birth to the one,The one gives birth to two, The one gives birth to two, The two gives birth to three,The two gives birth to three,Three gives birth to all things.”Three gives birth to all things.”• Tao is the force that existed before all things. Tao is the force that existed before all things. • One: refers to the mechanism of balance the Tao One: refers to the mechanism of balance the Tao

gave the world. gave the world. • Two: refers to the birth of opposites. Two: refers to the birth of opposites. • Three: refers to the birth of heaven, earth and all Three: refers to the birth of heaven, earth and all

of humanity. of humanity.

History of TaoismHistory of Taoism

• The founder: Lao-Tzu (604-531 B.C.E) The founder: Lao-Tzu (604-531 B.C.E)

• He was searching for a way that He was searching for a way that would avoid the constant warfare would avoid the constant warfare and other conflicts that disrupted and other conflicts that disrupted society during his lifetime society during his lifetime

• The result was his book:The result was his book: Tao-te-Ching Tao-te-Ching (a.k.a. Daodejing).(a.k.a. Daodejing).

• Began as a combination of psychology and Began as a combination of psychology and philosophyphilosophy

• Originated in ChinaOriginated in China

• Became a religion in 440 C.E. Became a religion in 440 C.E.

• Main religion along with Buddhism and Main religion along with Buddhism and Confucianism in ChinaConfucianism in China

• Support for Taoism ended in 1911 Support for Taoism ended in 1911

• Communist victory in 1949 caused low Communist victory in 1949 caused low religious freedomreligious freedom

• Some tolerance has been restored under Some tolerance has been restored under the reign of Deng Xiao-Pingthe reign of Deng Xiao-Ping

What is “Tao”?What is “Tao”?

• Defined as “way” or “path”; natural way Defined as “way” or “path”; natural way of the universeof the universe

• It is “everythingness” but has no It is “everythingness” but has no characteristicscharacteristics

• Includes balance between opposite forcesIncludes balance between opposite forces• To be a Taoist means to practice and To be a Taoist means to practice and

respect the way of nature, to maintain respect the way of nature, to maintain balancebalance

• ““Self-so”Self-so”

KEY FIGURESKEY FIGURES

Emperor Huang DiEmperor Huang Di

• The Emperor visited a hermit to ask The Emperor visited a hermit to ask him a questionhim a question

• The hermit’s response was the The hermit’s response was the teachings of Taoteachings of Tao

• Because of the impact of Tao, the Because of the impact of Tao, the Emperor changed the way he Emperor changed the way he governed his people; he became governed his people; he became compassionate and was seen as a compassionate and was seen as a healerhealer

• Named “Yellow Emperor”Named “Yellow Emperor”• He created harmony within himself He created harmony within himself

and his kingdomand his kingdom• He is recognized as the greatest He is recognized as the greatest

emperor of Chinaemperor of China

Lao TzuLao Tzu• Is thought to be the Is thought to be the

founder of Taoismfounder of Taoism• Scholars are unsure for Scholars are unsure for

the following reasons:the following reasons:-Lao Tzu means "old -Lao Tzu means "old master", which is a title master", which is a title and not an actual name.and not an actual name.

-The wisdom of Lao Tzu -The wisdom of Lao Tzu seems to be through the seems to be through the work of three different work of three different people.people.

-He may have been a -He may have been a man named Li Erh, an man named Li Erh, an achivist at the royal achivist at the royal palace of Luoyang palace of Luoyang

Chuang TzuChuang Tzu• Wrote a book full of the Wrote a book full of the

teachings of Taoteachings of Tao• When he died, the When he died, the

groundwork for Taoism had groundwork for Taoism had been laidbeen laid

• Older temporary of Older temporary of ConfuciousConfucious

• Left the royal court when he Left the royal court when he was very old.was very old.

• Wrote the Tao Te Ching, a Wrote the Tao Te Ching, a short collection of wise short collection of wise verses, when he was leaving verses, when he was leaving the province of Ch'u and was the province of Ch'u and was asked to leave behind some asked to leave behind some reckoning of his wisdom.reckoning of his wisdom.

KEY RITUALS, PRACTICES, KEY RITUALS, PRACTICES, AND SYMBOLSAND SYMBOLS

Key Practices and RitualsKey Practices and Rituals

• Main goal is to achieve balance and Main goal is to achieve balance and harmonize Chi (energy) in the body. harmonize Chi (energy) in the body.

• Acupuncture: Application of tiny needles to Acupuncture: Application of tiny needles to one of 800 pressure points one of 800 pressure points

• Feng Shui: Aligning objects to specific Feng Shui: Aligning objects to specific areas of the room to maintain the best areas of the room to maintain the best flow of spiritual energy.flow of spiritual energy.

• Tai Chi: Slow, choreographed movements Tai Chi: Slow, choreographed movements to harmonize flow of Chi in the body. to harmonize flow of Chi in the body.

Ying and YangYing and Yang

• Ying: the MoonYing: the Moon- female force- female force- receptive, passive, cold- receptive, passive, cold

• Yang: the Sun Yang: the Sun - male force- male force- force, movement, heat- force, movement, heat

• Represents the good and evil Represents the good and evil in ourselvesin ourselves

• The idea of balanceThe idea of balance

Other SymbolsOther Symbols• They see the North and South poles They see the North and South poles

as divineas divine

• Chinese dragons and phoenixes are Chinese dragons and phoenixes are also recognizedalso recognized

BELIEFSBELIEFS

Wu WeiWu Wei

• Wu Wei: Not doing/taking actionWu Wei: Not doing/taking action

• Let nature take its courseLet nature take its course

• One should act in a manner that One should act in a manner that does not jeopardize the natural worlddoes not jeopardize the natural world

• Sense of EffortlessnessSense of Effortlessness

• Yu Wei: Taking ActionYu Wei: Taking Action

Spirit BeingsSpirit Beings• Immortals: Spiritual Beings of primary importanceImmortals: Spiritual Beings of primary importance• Taoists have great respect for such beingsTaoists have great respect for such beings• They exist in a place where they are able to They exist in a place where they are able to

experience: experience: – No troublesNo troubles– Effortless existence of physical freedomEffortless existence of physical freedom

• Here they Here they – Are agelessAre ageless– Eat only airEat only air– Enjoy the power of flightEnjoy the power of flight - Drink nothing but dew- Drink nothing but dew

Purpose of LifePurpose of Life

• Life should be lived by the TaoLife should be lived by the Tao• Everything is relevant, relative, and Everything is relevant, relative, and

interdependentinterdependent• Focus:Focus: attaining immortality (eternal attaining immortality (eternal

life, longevity, attainment of life, longevity, attainment of superhuman physical abilities)superhuman physical abilities)

How to attain ImmortalityHow to attain Immortality

• In order to achieve this, one must focus In order to achieve this, one must focus their attention and control on: their attention and control on: – body through diet, exercise, and mindfulnessbody through diet, exercise, and mindfulness– breathingbreathing– exploring alchemy with the goal of finding elixir exploring alchemy with the goal of finding elixir

of immortality of immortality – behaving in a moral way that is in harmony behaving in a moral way that is in harmony

with Taowith Tao– searching for the Isle of Blessed (where the searching for the Isle of Blessed (where the

Spirit Beings reside)Spirit Beings reside)

Death and AfterlifeDeath and Afterlife

• Two aspects of realityTwo aspects of reality

• Transformation from being to non-Transformation from being to non-beingbeing

• It should not be feared or desired, It should not be feared or desired, but accepted but accepted

NUMBER OF ADHERENTS AND NUMBER OF ADHERENTS AND INFLUENCE IN THE 21INFLUENCE IN THE 21STST

CENTURYCENTURY

Number of AdherentsNumber of Adherents

• Currently there are approximately 20 Currently there are approximately 20 million followers that are primarily million followers that are primarily located in Taiwanlocated in Taiwan

• About 30,000 Taoists live in North About 30,000 Taoists live in North AmericaAmerica

• 1,720 Taoists live in Canada1,720 Taoists live in Canada

30,000 in North

America!1,720 in Canada?

Influence in 21Influence in 21stst Century Century

• Taoism has a significant affect on North American Taoism has a significant affect on North American and Worldwide cultureand Worldwide culture- Acupuncture- Acupuncture- Tai Chi- Tai Chi- Feng Shui - Feng Shui

• Many medicines that come from Taoism are used Many medicines that come from Taoism are used todaytoday

• Taoists are involved with herbals and practice Taoists are involved with herbals and practice healing using different kindshealing using different kinds

• Ying Yang symbol is drawn and used all around the Ying Yang symbol is drawn and used all around the world in the 21st century, even though most people world in the 21st century, even though most people don’t understand its true meaningdon’t understand its true meaning

Other Interesting FactsOther Interesting Facts

• ""Be still like a mountain and flow like a great Be still like a mountain and flow like a great river.river." Lao Tse " Lao Tse

• ""Different Chinese philosophers, writing Different Chinese philosophers, writing probably in 5-4 centuries B.C., presented probably in 5-4 centuries B.C., presented some major ideas and a way of life that are some major ideas and a way of life that are nowadays known under the name of Taoism, nowadays known under the name of Taoism, the way of correspondence between man and the way of correspondence between man and the tendency or the course of natural world.the tendency or the course of natural world." " Alan Watts, from his book: "Alan Watts, from his book: "Tao: The Tao: The Watercourse Way.Watercourse Way." "

• ""We believe in the formless and eternal Tao, and We believe in the formless and eternal Tao, and we recognize all personified deities as being mere we recognize all personified deities as being mere human constructs. We reject hatred, intolerance, human constructs. We reject hatred, intolerance, and unnecessary violence, and embrace harmony, and unnecessary violence, and embrace harmony, love and learning, as we are taught by Nature. We love and learning, as we are taught by Nature. We place our trust and our lives in the Tao, that we place our trust and our lives in the Tao, that we may live in peace and balance with the Universe, may live in peace and balance with the Universe, both in this mortal life and beyond.both in this mortal life and beyond." Creed of the " Creed of the Western Reform Taoist CongregationWestern Reform Taoist Congregation

[source:http://www.religioustolerance.org/[source:http://www.religioustolerance.org/taoism.htm]taoism.htm]

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