Neth B.

Reas, MEd-Chem

TAOISM

Eastern philosophies addressing education (including Taoism, Buddhism and

Confucianism) focus on virtue and wisdom instead of wealth, prominence and status. Because of

this, these philosophies align well with many of the contemporary ideas related to humanistic

ideals, holistic views, inter-disciplinary instruction and constructivist education. Taoism is a subtle

and complex facet of traditional Chinese culture. Its precise dimensions have often been debated,

by Eastern and Western interpreters alike. Such debate is understandable, for Taoists historically

eschewed self-definition: the contours of their tradition have almost always been fluid and

unbounded. The only feasible method of determining a "Taoist" viewpoint is by comparison with

other traditions (especially Confucianism), from which Taoists sometimes distinguished

themselves.

Taoism is an ancient tradition of philosophy and religious belief that is deeply rooted in

Chinese customs and worldview. It is also referred to as Daoism, which is a more accurate way of

representing in English the sound of the Chinese word. It is attributed to Lao Tzu and is originated

in China 2000 years ago. It includes many deities that are worshipped in Taoist temples, they are

part of the universe and depend, like everything on the Tao. It is a religion of unity and opposites;

Yin and Yang. The principle of Yin Yang sees the world as filled with complementary forces –

action and non-action, light and dark, hot and cold, and so on. Taoism promotes achieving harmony

or union with nature, the pursuit of spiritual immortality, being virtuous and self-development.

Taoism is about Tao. Tao is usually translated as the Way. But it is hard to say exactly what

this means. It is the ultimate creative principle of the universe. The Tao includes

several concepts in one word: the source of creation, the ultimate, the inexpressible and
indefinable, the unnameable, the natural universe as a whole, and the way of nature as a whole. It

might be more helpful to regard Tao as a system of guidance. And if one does this one can translate

“achieving union with the Tao” into “developing oneself so as to live in complete conformity with

the teachings of the Tao” which is easier to understand, and closer to the truth.

Approximately twenty-five hundred years ago, during the Golden Age of ancient China, a

wise sage named Lao-tzu is thought to have written the eighty-one chapters of the Tao Te Ching.

Tao Te Ching is a book of poetry presenting the simple way of following the Tao and living life

at peace with one's self, others, and the world of changes. It is important to note that even though

Taoism is a philosophy and a religion, its implications for education do not include the promotion

of Taoist religious practices. Its philosophy is not dependent upon belief in certain gods or

prophets. Instead, it focuses on individuals; a wise individual is unassuming, simple, and not

egotistical. Moderation, according to Taoism, means to transcend passion, not suppress it (Nagel,

1994). Taoist philosophy, though different on several accounts than Confucianism, is similarly

based on the central idea of yin and yang. The yin represents earth and the yang represents heaven.

Taoists believe that all things contain yin and yang and it is their blended influence that promotes

harmony. It is this constant balancing that is at the heart of Taoism and, ultimately, in the interest

of the best teachers. All excellent educators allow for give and take and realize that the ability to

shift perspective is one of the greatest tools a teacher can utilize (Chan, 1964).

The way of the Tao is in accordance with nature while resistance to the Tao is unnatural

and causes friction. The best way for a person to live, according to Taoism, is to submit to whatever

life brings and be flexible. Taoism claims the same thing with the Logos of the Roman stoics:

nothing is bad in itself, only self-interest makes people think that some events in life are bad and
others good. Taoism arose from the observations and beliefs of the Chinese people. The concept

of the importance of a harmonious existence of balance fit well with the equally popular

philosophy of Confucianism (also native to China). Taoism and Confucianism were aligned in

their view of the innate goodness of human beings but differed in how to bring that goodness to

the surface and lead people to act in better, unselfish, ways. Taoism believes that when people die

they went somewhere else where they continued to live, they did not just disappear. Everyone's

ancestor who had ever died still lived on in another place and in the presence of the gods. Taoism

also believes that if one relaxed the artificial rules and regulations which were supposed to improve

life, only then would one find that life naturally regulates itself and one would fall into pace with

the Tao which runs through and regulates and binds and releases all things naturally.

Taoism has several implications on education are by not choosing to give a particular name

to the style of teaching, teachers should not rely on any one instructional approach to, a good

teacher lets students learn naturally, and the Tao holds that no one is good or bad, students simply

make good or bad choices that teachers must strive to be the type of educator who does not judge

students as being bad and in need of reform. Another one is that the teachers must have an ability

to make material relevant to those being taught for an experiential learning, teachers should

provide insight, provoke thinking, and support ways to obtain information, promote cooperation

and encouragement for the learners to develop learning, working together with students to find

resources, share ideas, check out opinions, and do research in order to build on experience that

teachers keep the control that is necessary to create the best possible learning environment and

reduce selfishness and have few desires.

 Taoism is an ancient tradition of philosophy and religious belief that is deeply rooted in

Chinese customs and worldview. It is also referred to as Daoism, which is a more accurate way of

representing in English the sound of the Chinese word. It is attributed to Lao Tzu and is originated

in China 2000 years ago. Lao-tzu is thought to have written the eighty-one chapters of the Tao Te

Ching. Tao Te Ching is a book of poetry presenting the simple way of following the Tao and living

life at peace with one's self, others, and the world of changes. Taoist philosophy, though different

on several accounts than Confucianism, is similarly based on the central idea of yin and yang. The

yin represents earth and the yang represents heaven. Taoists believe that all things contain yin and

yang and it is their blended influence that promotes harmony. Taoism has several implications on

education that had a good impact to our education system today.