TAOISM

Prepared by: Mulat, Gwen

Bajenting, Mark
Ugalino, Lawrence
"The truth is not always
beautiful, nor beautiful
words the truth."

- Lao Tzu
TAO
The Chinese word tao literally means
“way.”

In both philosophical and religious forms, it

is what gives Taoism its English name.

The fundamental concept of Taoism.

Received a wide variety of interpretations

because of its elusiveness and mystical
overtones.

It is difficult to define but is typically

understood as the way of the universe.
What is TAOISM?
Simply put, Taoism (also spelled
Daoism) is an ancient Chinese
religion (and philosophy) that
instructs its followers on how to
exist in harmony along with the
universe.
What is TAOISM?
Taoism started out as just a
philosophy

It was not until 142, when

Zhang Daoling founded the
“Way of the Celestial Masters”
sect, that Taoism became an
organized religion.
What is TAOISM?
It has two main religious texts

Taoism is a polytheistic
religion
-The three purities were the
highest gods of Taoism.
HIGHEST GODS
OF TAOISM

THREE PURITIES
“The Celestial Worthy of the Primordial
Beginning”

“The Celestial Worthy of the Numinous

Treasure”

“The Celestial Worthy of the Way and its

Power”
A FEW TAOIST PRINCIPLES
The One: the spirit of Tao, which is believed to be the
“essential energy of life”

Wu and Yu: not-having and having (respectively)

Te: virtue or awareness of the Tao coupled with the ability

to adhere to the Tao

Tzu Jan: naturalness

Wu Wei: going with the flow

Yin Yang: the principle of complementary forces that are

in harmony with each other

Ch’i: the energy that permits life and connects it to the

world
YIN YANG
The belief in the balance of
forces is one of the main ideas
of Taoism.

Represents matching pairs that

work together towards a
universal whole such as:
-Hot & cold
-Light & darkness
-Good & bad

Showcases how everything in

the universe is connected and
that nothing makes sense by
itself.
 TAOISTS & TAOISM
Taoism teaches that all living creatures ought to live
in a state of harmony with the universe, and the
energy found in it.

Taoism became well-known in the 8th century C.E. as

the religion of the Tang dynasty.

In the following centuries, Taoism existed alongside

Confucianism and Buddhism.

Taoism has temples, monasteries, and priests who

make offerings, meditate and perform other rituals
for their communities.
 TAOISTS & TAOISM
Taoists believe in spiritual immortality, where
the spirit of the body joins the universe after
death.

Ch’i, or qi, is the energy present in and guiding

everything in the universe (However, Taoists do
not believe in this energy as a god.)

During the Communist takeover in 1959, Taoism

was banned causing a decline in the practice of
Taoism in China. Many modern Taoists live in
Taiwan.
LEADERS OF
TAOISM

LAO TZU (604 BC to 531 BC)

Also rendered as Laozi and Lao-Tze.

Was an ancient Chinese philosopher and writer.

He believed “simplicity” to be the key to truth and

freedom.

"Father" (founder) of philosophical Taoism.

Wrote the main book of Taoism, the Tao Te Ching at

around 500 B.C.E.

Known as a deity within religious Taoism and traditional

Chinese religions.
TAO TE “The Way and Its Power."

CHING Daodejing in Pinyin romanization.

Was previously called Laozi.

Collection of poetry and sayings from

around the 3rd and 4th centuries
B.C.E. that guide Taoists' thoughts
and actions.

Considered to be a work of
philosophy, a treatise on how to run
a government, a how-to book for
achieving a balanced life, or a sage’s
reflection of humanity and the
universe.
 Tao Te Ching was given an origin with the
philosopher Lao Tzu for cultural and political
reasons;

Yet even though the author is traditionally believed

to be the philosopher Lao Tzu, there is little
evidence that Lao Tzu existed at all.

Lao Tzu is sometimes understood as the image of

the Tao, or a god, and given legendary status.

This book is supposedly a gathering of earlier

sayings from multiple authors.

–"tao" - the way or the path

TAO TE
–"te" - virtue
–"ching" - laws
CHING
Zhuangzi (Chuang-Tzu, 369
to 298 BCE): The Next Voice
• His style of writing is parables and
conversations both accessible whilst pointing to
deeper issues.

• He took the Taoist position of Lao Tzu and

developed it further.

• Brought into Chinese philosophy the self-

transformation as a central precept in the Taoist
process.
CHUANG-
TZU The Chuang-tzu was published after
the Tao Te Ching

They began working on it before the

Tao Te Ching.

Chuang-tzu is given credit for

writing the Chuang-tzu

The Tao Te Ching is more about the

fundamentals of Taoism (“the Way”),
while;

the Chuang-tzu contains more

reflections
Yang Xiong
(53 B.C. to 18 A.D.)
• Yang Xiong's chief philosophical writings – an
abstruse book of divination known as the Tài
Xuán Jīng (Great Mystery.)

•The text Tài Xuán Jīng is a guide for divination.

• This philosophy combined classical Taoism with

elements of Confucian ethics.

• He is well known for his doctrine that human

nature is a mixture of good and evil.
 'To make clear the achievement of nature and
throw light on all things is called yang. To be
hidden, without form, deep and unfathomable, is
called yin. Yang knows yang but does not know
yin. Yin knows yin but does not know yang. The
Profound Principle alone knows both yin and
yang, both going and stopping, and both darkness
and light."
=Yang Xiong (Tài Xuán Jīng)
• Wang Ch'ung (27 to 100 A.D.)
Taoist in terms of his metaphysics which he
combined with certain Confucian ideas.

He was less interested in ethics and more

concerned with human institutions, however;

He declared that Heaven takes no direct action;

-that natural events occur spontaneously;
-that there is no such thing as teleology;
-that fortune and misfortune come by chance;
-and that man does not become a ghost at death.

In all these beliefs is stood against a prevailing

current of superstition and divination.
Liu an (180 to 122 B. C.)
The second king of Huai-Nan and a fervent
Taoist.

Wrote the Huainanzi: A Guide to the Theory and

Practice of Government in Early Han China
(consists of sophisticated articulation of Western
Han philosophy and statecraft.)

Unoriginal in his writings yet gave Taoism further

prominence.

He came to a tragic end as he plotted a rebellion,

failed, and committed suicide.
Yang Zhu (440 to 360 B.C. )
Chinese philosopher traditionally associated with
extreme egoism but better understood as an
advocate of naturalism.

Little is known about him beyond the information

provided in several sources that mention his
teachings, most notably the seventh chapter of the
Daoist work Liezi.

He may also have been the first Chinese

philosopher to discuss human nature (xing; literally
“natural tendencies”).
Lie Yukou (400 to c.301 BCE)
Liezi, (Chinese: “Master Lie”) (Lieh-tzu) original
name Lie Yukou.

One of the three primary philosophers who

developed the basic tenets of Daoist philosophy.

Presumed author of the Daoist work Liezi (also

known as Chongxu zhide zhenjing [“True Classic of
the Perfect Virtue of Simplicity and Emptiness”]).
Lie Yukou (400 to c.301 BCE)
Many of the writings traditionally attributed to Liezi and included in
the book bearing his name have been identified as later forgeries.

This fact and the omission of Liezi’s name in the biographical notices of
the historian Sima Qian in 100 BCE have led many to consider Liezi a
fictitious person.

Most modern scholars, however, think that such a man did exist.

 Mount Laojun in Luoyan, Henan Province, China is a

sacred site for Taoists. Hundreds of Taoists embark on
pilgrimages every year along with tourists from
around the world to see this spectacular site.
 TAOISM
PRACTICES

Feng shui uses the Taoist principle of Yin Yang, to create

spaces that allow the right balance of energies in that particular
space.

Recitation is the repetition of texts from the Tao Te Ching. This

practice is believed to “cure sickness, banish evil spirits, bring
good luck, prolong life, and bring human beings closer to the
Tao.”

Talismans are used for purification, healing, and protection.

The talisman is a piece of paper with a symbol or word on it.
Each talisman was (or is) handwritten by a “qualified” person.

The mind and body activities are designed to purify one’s

physical and mental beings. These activities include meditation,
Tai Chi (a form of martial arts), breathing, exercising, and
diet. A typical Taoist diet does not contain meat, grains,
beans, and alcohol.
THANKS FOR LISTENING!
(or not)