DAOISM

Presented by: Group 1

 DAOISM
Daoism, also known as Taoism, is a philosophical and
spiritual tradition that originated in ancient China. It
emphasizes living in harmony with the natural world
and seeking the "Dao" (or "Tao"), which is often
translated as "the Way" or "the Path". The central text
of Daoism is the Dao De Jing (or Tao Te Ching), which
teaches that the Dao is the ultimate reality that
underlies everything in the universe, and that humans
should strive to align themselves with it through
simplicity, humility, and non-action.
Founders of Daoism
 laozi
Laozi (Lao-tzu), meaning “Old Master,”
is believed to have authored the Dao
De Jing (Tao te ching or The Book of
the Way and its Power), dating back to
around third century B.C.E. According
to myth, Laozi was conceived by a
shooting star and was born of a virgin
mother, who kept him in her womb for
82 years; Laozi was said to be born
with flowing hair, which signified that
he would become a wise man.
 Zhuangzi
Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu), is believed to
have lived from 369 to around 286 B.C.E.
his last name was Chuang and his given
name was Chou. In addition, Tzu means
“master,” thus Chuang Tzu (Zhuangzi)
means “Master Chuang.” Zhuangzi is
considered a great philosopher and a
great writer. He wrote a book, together
with his followers, which was known as
Zhuangzi, and was believed to be
completed before the Han dynasty
(Fairbank and Reischauer 1989).
 The Yin and Yang

Yin Yang
 Yin and Yang
The Yin and Yang, the most well-known Daoist religious
symbol, represents the interplay of Yin-qi and Yang-qi,
the primordial feminine and masculine energies,
respectively. Daoists believe that the balance between
these energies created the manifest world. The black and
white teardrop-shaped halves of the circle signify these
energies, while the circle represents the Tao (Dao), the
source of existence. In essence, the Yin-Yang symbolizes
the harmonious balance in the universe.
Sacred scriptures of Daoism
 Dao De Jing
The foundational text of Daoism is the Tao te Ching
or Dao De Jing, meaning "The Book of the Way and its
Power". It's a collection of enigmatic remarks that
many find difficult to comprehend. However, upon
closer analysis, it becomes clear that there is no
integrated philosophy in the Dao De Jing. Rather, it's
a compilation of sayings, proverbs, lines from
popular songs, and maxims from various
contributors with different concerns.
Book of Chuang Tzu/Zuangzi
Another important scripture is the Zhuangzi, dating
to the third century B.C.E. and attributed to a man
named Zhuangzi, the second founder of Daoism. It is
consisted of delightful parables, metaphors, and
poetic passages, and is praised for its high literary
value which represents the most significant
formulation of early Daoist thought. Zhuangzi is
divided into three sections: the Inner Chapters,
Outer Chapters, and Miscellaneous Chapters.
 Concepts and Beliefs
associated woth Daoism
 The Dao
The term Dao means a road, and is often
translated as “the Way of Nature.”

Dao is the origin of heaven and earth and it

is also the way in which heaven and earth
now live. Its meaning differ across religions
and philosophies: for Confucians, it refers
to the basic principles of moral philosophy
while for the Legalists, it is the way of
power.
 The De
The De, which means virtue or the proper
adherence to Dao, is another basic concept in
Daoism. It encourages inaction in nature and
advocates the quiet and passive nature of a
person so that the Dao, or the creative
principle in the universe, may act through
them without interference.
“contentment with what is” is another
expression of inaction in nature and of non-
competition in emptiness. By following the way
of nature, a person can attain contentment.
 Wu Wei
It is a concept used to negate or limit human
action. It refers to the cancellation or restriction
of human behavior, especially human activities.

It advocates a “go with the flow” attitude.

Wu-wei—considered by Daoism as the highest

form of virtue—emphasizes passivity, which may
benefit less fortunate or weak people, for it will
help them overcome their opponents and
become strong.
 The Yin-Yang
As stated earlier, the concept of yin yang was
articulated by the Daoist philosopher Zhuangzi
who stated that “yin in its highest form is
freezing while yang in its highest form is boiling.

Ying yang emphasizes complementary,

interconnectedness, and interdependence
of both sides seeking a new balance with
each other.
 Qi/Chi
The Qi refers to the natural energy or life force
that sustains living beings.
Qi literally means “air’ or “vapor.”
It is the fundamental substance of nature
and living beings, as well as life force. It
refers to matter, which is continuous,
energetic, and dynamic.
It is the fundamental substance of nature and
living beings, as well as life force. It refers to
matter, which is continuous, energetic, and
dynamic.
 Dieties/God
(Dao as the origin of all beings)
 Deities/God
Unlike the Abrahamic religions,
Daoism does not have a God, for
Daoists believe that the universe
originated from the Dao, which
created and controls the universe
and distantly guides things on
their way.
 Deities/God
The Dao itself is not God and is not
worshipped by the Daoists. Instead, they
worship deities, who are gods of a
particular role, and they traditionally
worship Laozi not only as the first god of
Daoism but also as the representation
of the Dao.
WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES
WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES
Ritual or liturgical expressions are
important to the Daoist religion. These
include ritual initiation meant for
purification and renewal in the life-
cycle and development of the human
person.
Daoist priests are licensed to perform
rituals of specific traditions. One form
of ritual is exorcism, performed in
cases of sickness with the goal of
gaining victory over the evil spirits.
To obtain longevity
and immortality
To obtain longevity and
immortality
Use of Potions

Practice Meditation

Breathing Technique
To dispel illness or
suffering
 To dispel illness or
suffering
Jiao Festival

Refrain from eating grain

Confession and Purging of one’s sins

Selected Issues Within
Daoism
FATALISM
Daoism has often been criticized for
propagating laziness or espousing a
fatalistic attitude in life by letting
nature take its course and reminding
Daoists to just go with the flow.
SUPERSTITION
Another issue encountered by
Daoism is the belief in superstitious
practices. For instance, there is a
misconception that Daoism involves
sorcery, which includes the drawing
of signs, chants, and other practices
which led to the notion that Daoism
promotes superstitious practices.
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Another issue in Daoism is
environmentalism. Daoists believe
in the dictum “leave nature alone
and nature will thrive.” Daoism
has advocated a utopian vision of
society characterized by order
and harmony, and an emphasis
on self-cultivation as a means of
achieving social harmony.
Still working on the
pages after this!!!
Rituals and Ceremonies
Daoism also includes a variety of rituals
and ceremonies, such as offerings to
ancestors or deities, purification
ceremonies, and meditation retreats.
These practices are intended to
promote spiritual growth and harmony
with the Dao.
 Daoism
Despite the lack of a clear founder,
Daoism has had a significant impact on
Chinese culture and spirituality and
remains an important philosophical
and spiritual tradition to this day
What is it's importance
The importance of Daoism lies in its
significant impact on Chinese philosophy,
religion, health, and culture. Its emphasis on
living in harmony with the natural way of
things, and the idea of non-action, has
influenced many other philosophical
traditions around the world. The practices
associated with Daoism, such as meditation
and qigong, have been shown to have health
benefits.
Thanks for listening!