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Lao Tzu (Laozi) is credited as being the founder of Daoism (Taoism).

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There is no historical evidence to support this fact. Yet it is believed that Laozi worked as a government official but left to live as a hermit in the mountains.

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Daoists believe that before Laozi becamea hermit, a gatekeeper asked him towrite his philosophy for future seekers.

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Laozi wasa contemporary

of Confucius.However, he

believed that thebest way to achievepeace and harmonywas to live naturally.

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Laozi believed that people had lost theirway. They needed to look to nature andlearn from nature.

The fish is a fish.It does not try

to live as a bird.

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The Dao is the way or the path. It is theway of nature. By acting naturally,peace and harmony arise.

A crooked treeis not good

for lumber butit provides

shade on a hotday.

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Like Confucius, Laozi wanted to restorepeace and harmony to China but he believed that society’s rules were

unnatural. When man lived simply innature, according to his true nature,man achieved peace and harmony.

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The Yin-Yang is an important symbol inDaoism. It represents nonduality or theconcept that within every concept is itsopposite.

In the darkness, islight. In the light,is darkness.

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Water is another important symbol inDaoism. Water flows. It is soft but itcan wear away the hardness of a rock.

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The Tao Te Ching is an important bookin Daoism. It explains the wisdom of the Dao.

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Although Confucianism became theofficial philosophy of dynastic China,Daoism influenced the arts.

Do you see the Daoist influence?