WORLD AND RELIGION:

DAOISM GROUP 4
• Taoism or Daoism?

• Unlike other philosophers who would like to do something to

change the system, Daoism is opposite.

• Daoism do not believe in God

• The Dao can be told is not the eternal Tao the name that can be
names is the eternal name.

• Wei Wu Wei - doing nothing requires the doer to do something

 DAOISM
Functioned as a philosophy of abandonment and
withdrawal from the rampant warfare and social unrest
which characterized the reign of Zhou dynasty.
 LAOZI
• Old Master

• Said to be born with flawing

hair, which signified that he
would become a wise man. Laozi

• Authored the book Dao De Jing dating

back around 3rd Century B.C.E
 ZHUANGZI
• Was believed to have lived from
369 to around 286 B.C.E

• Authored the book Zhuangzi Zhuangzi

• Zhuangzi means “Master Chuang”

 SYMBOL
Balance of the Universe

Tao (Dao)
- the source of existence

Yin-qi and Yang-qi

-feminine and masculine
energy
 SACRED
SCRIPTURE
SACRED SCRIPTURE
DAO DE JING

Taoism’s foundational text meaning

“The Book of the Way and its Power”.
It emphasizes living in harmony with “ T he name that
can be name is
the Dao, the fundamental force that
not the eternal
underlies and unites all things. It name”
encourages simplicity humility, and
going with the natural flow of life.
SACRED SCRIPTURE
ZHUANGZI

Zhuang Zi is another key Daoist text. It

explores the concept of Dao through
SECTIONS
anecdotes and philosophical dialogues. • Inner section

•
Zhuangzi emphasizes the relativity of Outer section

• Miscellaneous
things, the impermanence of life, and the section

i m p o r t a n c e o f e m b r a c i n g s p o n t a n e i t y.
BELIEFS AND CONCEPTS
 DAO
“Something unformed and complete before
heaven and earth were born, solitary and silent,
stands alone and changing. pervading all things
without limit. it is like the mother of all things
under heaven, but I don't know its name, better
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call it Dao, Better call it great” - DaoDeJing

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Chapter 25
 DAO (Tao)
According to Laozi, the Dao, which is the essential concept
and creative principle in Taoism, existed before the word. It is
undetectable, indistinct, shapeless, and indefinable, it is the
foundation of all being and how nature and the universe exist.
 DEITY/GOD
Taoism does not have a God, for Taoist believe that the universe
originated from the Tao, which created and controls the universe and
distantly guides things on their own way.

DAOISM
=
DAO + ISM
 Wu-wei
• Wu-wei means “no behaviorr” or “doing nothing”. It also means to do without doing’
(wei-wu wei) or “actionless activity.
• ‘Go with the flow’

• Yu-wei (taking actions)

• “Yin in its highest form is freezing and yang in its

highest form is boiling”
 QI
• Means air or vapor QI
• Stuff or the energy that makes up and connect the
universe. The Solid, Liquid, Gas

• Flows through your body. Everyone gets a certain

amount of QI at birth and uses throughout life.

• Cultivating good Qi through meditations, you can

live longer and better.
 The DE
• “De” or “Te” in Daoism refers to a concept often translated as “virtue” or “integrity”. It
plays a crucial role in understanding Daoist ethics ethical and the way individuals interact
with the Dao and the world around them.

Moral character Inner Power

• De is associated with virtue
• It is not merely an external
qualities, moral character,
display of virtue but also an
and ethical conduct. It
inner power that arises from
involves embodying qualities
living in accordance with
such as kindness,
the Dao.
compassion, humility, and
sincerity.
Cultivating De involves aligning one’s action and behavior with the natural order of the Dao. It
is about being in harmony with the fundamental principles that govern the universe.
WORSHIP
AND
OBSERVANCE
 WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCE
Ritual or liturgical expressions are important to the Taoist religion. Taoist
priests are licensed to perform rituals of specific traditions.

Meditative Practices
-The physical appearance of the Taoist exemplifies the virtue of non-
competition by not competing the emerging victorious nonetheless. The Taoist
has achieved oneness with the Dao by understanding its simplicity: the mind is
undistracted that is why he can discover the simplicity in the Tao
 MEDITATIVE PRACTICES
 Physical and spiritual techniques are just as important as ethical or moral
techniques or practices; Taoist practices these certain rituals.

GOAL PRACTICES
• To obtain longevity and  Use potions
immorality  Practice Meditation
 Breathing technique

• To dispel illness or  Jiao Festival

 Refrain from eating grain
suffering
 Confession and purging of one’s sin.
 SELECTED ISSUES
Fatalism
Taoism has often been criticized for propagating laziness or
espousing a fatalistic attitude in life by letting nature take its
course and reminding Taoists to just go with the flow. However,
inaction in Taoism simply means avoiding unnatural actions by
not doing anything but doing things naturally by taking the
natural action without the use of power.
 SELECTED ISSUES
d
Superstitions

There is a misconception that Taoism involves sorcery,

which includes the drawing of signs, chants, and other
practices which led to the notion that Taoism promotes
superstitious practices.
 SELECTED ISSUES
d
Urban Development

Taoism believes in the dictum “Leave nature alone

and nature will thrive”. Taoism advocates the idea that
we should follow the lead of nature instead of
controlling it, for humans are natural creatures who
should live in harmony with.
 TAKEAWAYS
• Daoists believe that everything comes from the Dao. Human nature should be
aligned with the rest of nature to achieve harmony and balance. Self-cultivation
should be encouraged for people to return to the natural mode of existence.

• For some Daoists, spontaneity is the mode of being experienced fully only by
immortals: for most Daoists, living a long healthy life is their goal. They can
achieve this through practicing methods of nourishing life by way of physical
exercise designed to improve one’s health and lengthen life, breathing
exercises, drinking potions believed to lengthen life and etc.
 TAKEAWAYS
• Living in harmony with nature is the way of living with the Dao, which
will lead to good health and long life )even immortality for some)
because there is a balance of Yin and Yang, therefore QI flows freely.

• Life and death are mere phrases of the QI according to Daoists. They are
advised not to be afraid of death since life and death are put phases of
the circulation of the QI. Thus, Daoist concept of salvation focuses on
this life than the afterlife.
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