Early Religions: TaoismEarly Religions: Taoism

““The Tao surrounds everyone and therefore The Tao surrounds everyone and therefore everyone must listen to find enlightenment.”everyone must listen to find enlightenment.”

-Lao-Tse (604-531 BCE)-Lao-Tse (604-531 BCE)

• ultimate goal is to become one with Taoultimate goal is to become one with Tao

• seek answers to life’s problems through seek answers to life’s problems through inner meditation and outer observationinner meditation and outer observation

• must nurture the ‘Chi’ given to themmust nurture the ‘Chi’ given to them

The FounderThe Founder- Lao-Tse (604-531 BCE) Lao-Tse (604-531 BCE)

- He has been credited with writing the seminal He has been credited with writing the seminal Taoist workTaoist work Example Example Dao De JingDao De Jing (( 道德經道德經 ) )

- As well he is As well he is acknowledgedacknowledged as the founding as the founding father of Taoismfather of Taoism

- Chinese name:Chinese name: 老子老子

Place of OriginPlace of Origin

- - Taoism's origins have been traced backed to the Taoism's origins have been traced backed to the prehistoric Chinese religionprehistoric Chinese religion

- - The The organizationorganization of the of the Dao De JingDao De Jing is the first is the first record of Taoism in the third or fourth century record of Taoism in the third or fourth century BCEBCE

-- Taoism, became one of Taoism, became one of China’s China’s great religionsgreat religions

History Of TaoismHistory Of Taoism Tao roughly translates to “Tao roughly translates to “the paththe path””

It evolved into a religious faith in 440 It evolved into a religious faith in 440 CE when it was adopted as a state CE when it was adopted as a state religionreligion

With the end of the Ch'ing Dynasty in With the end of the Ch'ing Dynasty in 1911, state support for Taoism ended1911, state support for Taoism ended

History Of TaoismHistory Of Taoism (cont.)(cont.)

After the Communist victory in 1949, After the Communist victory in 1949, religious freedom was severely restricted.religious freedom was severely restricted.

Monks were put into labour camps. Several Monks were put into labour camps. Several million were reduced down to less then 50 000.million were reduced down to less then 50 000.

Some religious tolerance has been Some religious tolerance has been restored under Deng Xiao-ping from 1982 restored under Deng Xiao-ping from 1982 to the present time. to the present time. 

SYMBOLSSYMBOLS There are many symbols and images associated with There are many symbols and images associated with

Taoism. However, there is once central symbol, known as:Taoism. However, there is once central symbol, known as:

THE YIN-YANG or TAIJITU (太極圖 )

Yin (black) represents eternity, dark, feminine, left side of the body, etc.

Yang (white) is its opposite and represents history, light, masculine, right side of the body, etc.

Together they represent the peace and harmony of the opposing sides.

ADHERENTSADHERENTS Last year, the estimated Taoist population was 31 million outside Last year, the estimated Taoist population was 31 million outside

China ( primarily centered in Taiwan) and around 30,000 Taoists China ( primarily centered in Taiwan) and around 30,000 Taoists living in North America.living in North America.

INFLUENCE IN THE INFLUENCE IN THE 2121stst CENTURY CENTURY

Taoism can be seen in Western societies in areas of acupuncture Taoism can be seen in Western societies in areas of acupuncture and herbalism, certain exercises and martial arts such as Tai-chi, and herbalism, certain exercises and martial arts such as Tai-chi, and other art forms such as feng-shui. and other art forms such as feng-shui.

Tai ChiTai Chi• slow moving exerciseslow moving exercise

• balances energy flow, promoting healthy balances energy flow, promoting healthy lifelife

• exercise that requires whole body exercise that requires whole body concentrationconcentration

TaoismTaoism

• three jewels: compassion, moderation and three jewels: compassion, moderation and humilityhumility

• Taoists follow art of ‘wu wei’Taoists follow art of ‘wu wei’

• strongly promote health and vitalitystrongly promote health and vitality

Religious vs. Religious vs. PhilosophicalPhilosophical

• rituals such as presenting sacrifices, rituals such as presenting sacrifices, bowing toward an altar holding insense in bowing toward an altar holding insense in one’s hand, parades, dragon dances one’s hand, parades, dragon dances coinciding with lunar calendarcoinciding with lunar calendar