Taoism

By: Lauren, Derek, Leon, Gillian dsdf& Scott

Significant Figures Gongsun Xuanyuan better known as Huang Di was a significant figure

in the expansion of Taoism. The name Huang Di Translates into “Yellow Emperor”, this name was given to him by his citizens because of his benevolent acts.

Lao Tzu is known as the father of Taoism through his writing of the “Tao Te Ching” a book consisting of 5000 characters. Lao Tzu Developed the book when he had traveled west of China where a guard asked him to write a book before he left. This book would later affect the development of Taoism by influencing future philosophists.

Chuang Tzu was renowned for his writing that had deep meaning yet had roots with every day workers. Chuang Tzu further developed Taoism after the Lao Tzu, a prominent addition being self-transformation.

Scholars believe that Lao Tzu the father of Taoism did not exist.

This belief was based on a key fact that Lao Tzu is not a name.

The “Tao Te Ching” is the most translated literature next to the bible.

“Taoism” translates to “the way” and often described as water.

There are two different types of Taoism, one being a philosophical view and the other a religious view.

Interesting Facts

Rituals and key practices

-Taoists place a tremendous emphasis on physical health and longevity therefore their rituals and practices are always revolved around their lives in some way. One of these practices being TaiChi; An expression of Martial Arts that was developed in Taoisim to promote physical activity and to harmonize the flow of chi (energy) through ones body

- The second practice is Chinese medicine and acupuncture, specializing in regulating ones chi with exercise or herbal medication or applying pressure on the 365 of a human’s point system, accupunture is used to cure pains and regulate health -The third ritual or practice is feng shui where taoists believed in the balancing of our lives and the environment around us by arranging the way we live to encompass the spiritual energy around us i.e moving the bed to the north-east corner because good spiritual energy has gathered there

Religious SignificanceThough there have been 3 distinct periods of

Taoism (the growth stage, development stage and declining stage) the biggest and most significant event that occurred is in the declining stage, where the cultural revolution started. This was the period of tragedy where Mao Zedong attempted to eliminate the legacies of Taoism and in turn helped to spread

Taoism and invoked interest from many western countries of ancient Chinese spirituality. Because of Mao Zedong’s movement now Taoism is spread out not only concentrated in china, though the most active Taoist nation is still Taiwan, there are estimated around 30,000 Taoists in North America and many spread across European and Asian countries too

KEY BELIEFS:Each believer's goal is to harmonize

themselves with the Tao.

What is the Tao?

"Te" or "The Way" is what the Taoists follow. They seldom refer to a God therefore there is no prayer.  The Te Surrounds everyone and therefore everyone must listen to find enlightenment.

MeditationKIND TO OTHERS

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YIN YANG

Yin:Yin: every action has a negative consequence.

Yang:Yang: every action has a positive consequence

BALANCEBALANCE

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Equilibrium

Taoists seek a perfect equilibrium between the mind and emotions, causing inner peace and tranquility.

The art of “Wu Wei”

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COMPASSION MODERATION HUMILITY

The promotion of health and

vitality is a daily lifestyle.

Taoism: Symbols & Images

• - Ying-Yang dyagram is the most important of all Taoist symbols, represents the movement of heaven or the Tao. The small opposing dots in each area to represent the fact that in all evil there exists some good, while in all the good there exists some evil. Also, it represents dark and bright, night and day, dry and moist, aggressive and passive; sun and rain.

• Fu-hsi is the creator of pakua - one of the Chinese cultural heroes.

• Pakua is the eight triagrams that constitutes the inner structure of the sixty-four hexagrams of I-Ching. This symbol created by Fu-Hsi 

• The dragon is one of the Yang symbols, represents the power, sage or saint

Taoism: Symbols & Images

• The three sages are Buddha, Confucius and Lao-Tzu. They represent money, power and talent.

• The sacred tortoise with pukua on its back is the symbol of wisdom and divinatory power.

• Kua is a hexagram formed of six continuous or discontinuous lines.

• The I-ching coin is one of the symbol of Taoism, which three coins are used to consult the oracle

Taoism Origins• Taoism originated in China• The root of Tao is defined as the way

of the universe, nature, balance, it is a reality that can not be grasped in language, or thought.

• Taoism is one of the most important “strains” of Chinese thought through time.

• Taoism, unlike other religious traditions has no single origin, like Christianity or Islam.

• There are two distinct sources for Taoism: One, the philosophers of the Civil War period who followed a Tao or way of nature instead of following the Tao of society. 

• Second, The shamans and magicians who, since the Shang Dynasty played a significant role in the life of the ordinary Chinese population.

Taoism Timeline• 550BCE Taoism is created by

Lao Tze.• 350BCE Taoist philosophy is

developed further by Chuangto Tzu.

• 155 to 220 CE Zhang Lu organizes the Way of Five Bushels of Rice into religious communities, which become known as Taoism of Heavenly Masters.

• 226 to 249 Wang Bi introduces Taoist concepts into Confucian learning.

• 251 to 334 Wei Huacun becomes the first female leader of the Shangqing sect.

• 365 to 448 Taoism of Heavenly Masters is brought back by Kou Qianzhi.

• 637 Emperor Taizong issues an edict ensuring that Taoists take precedence over Buddhists.

• 845 Emperor Wuto Zong persecutes Buddhists and all other non Taoist religions.

• 1500 San yi Jiao (Threeto into One Religion) is founded by Lin Zhaoen as a synthesis of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism.

Taoism Timeline Continued• 1644 to 1911 During the

Manchu Qing dynasty, new movements are founded within Taoism, Buddhism and Christianity in China. The Threeto into One Religion is persecuted.

• 1920s to 1930s National Taoist organizations are founded.

Thank you for Listening