Religion Essay

This creates discussion about whether Laozi was an actual person who wrote the Tao Te Ching as some Western scholars have concluded or if the Tao Te Ching is just a collection of work from various authors. Chinese scholars have accepted that Laozi was an actual person and that there are exaggerated stories and folklore about him.

Laozi gathered eighty-one short texts and placed them into two books. Book one contains thirty-seven and Book two consist of thirty-eight. Each passage falls into one or more themes. These themes are; the Way, Non-desiring, Knowledge, Value, Non-action, Nothingness, and Nature. In the thirty-seven chapters each one describes a different aspect of The Daodejing.

The Daodejing is a collection of chapters from ancient China. The chapters explain why things happen the way they do. In order to understand everything that exists and the way it exits, the Daoists explain “dao” which means the way. The way helps people to find their way to excellence during a time of turmoil and strife. Life as it is known is uncertain and unclear. Daodejing uses a non-logical approach to explain the uncertainties in life. The authors of this ancient text use contradictions to prove their points because logic cannot always be used as a guide. Contradictions help to find balance and teach people to live in a world without having a full understanding of things. According to chapter 15, it was stated that “those who prize way-making

He is said to have written down his teaching (the Daodejing) when a guard at a gate asked him to do so.

The Daodejing is a classic philosophical text whose authorship is unknown. There are a number of theories attributing the authorship to Laozi, the

During the end of the Zhou dynasty, China moved away from its ancient values of social order, harmony, and respect for authority. In order to maintain these values, Chinese scholars and philosophers looked for different solutions. Confucius was China’s most influential scholar who had a scholarly life and wanted to restore the order and moral living China had left behind. Besides Confucius other Chinese scholars and philosophers developed ethical systems with very different philosophies. Some were more focused in nature and others in government. For example, a Chinese thinker, Laozi, for him only natural order was important. This involves relationships among all living things. He said that a universal force called the Dao, meaning ‘’The Way’’,

Lao Tzu is the father of Daoism, and his book was a philosophical writing, which was mainly about the nature and philosophy of life. Lao Tzu is the first person who answered to the problem of the origin of the universe. Lao Tzu believed that before all things in the universe were occurred, the Dao, which means the road, were naturally existed already. Lao Tzu states, “there was something formless and perfect before the universe was born…Eternally present. It is the mother of the universe…I call it the Tao” (Ch 25). Lao Tzu also explains how the universe generated by stating that “the Tao gives birth to One. One gives birth to Two. Two gives birth to Three. Three gives birth to all things” (Ch 42).

The word “Daoism” holds little significance to people in some areas of the world; however in China, as well as several other countries, the word signifies an ancient religion important to the people. Daoism relates to a set of principles that state the “way” one should lead their life so that one does not interfere with the will of nature. During the Tang Era (618-907 A.D.) in China many poets were inspired by the faiths of not only Daoism but also Confucianism as well as Buddhism. One of these famous poets was Li Bo; Bo was known for many poems with a prominent one titled Zhuang Zhou and the Butterfly. The poem depicts three different scenarios that are affiliated with Daoism through their ties in nature paired with the path one must take through life to show the reader that following the “path” is essential in life.

According to Daoists, the Dao De Jing, written by Laozi, serves as a manual on how to operate in life. “Dao De Jing” translates to “The Book on the ‘Way’ and its Virtues” (Daoism 1, p. 4). This classic Chinese piece of philosophical literature was written during the Warring States Period in China, a time of political instability. The majority of the Dao De Jing provides ideas to strengthen the nation and bring it to peace, reflecting ideas that revolve around a chaotic kingdom.

The Confucian ideas of Dao, Xiao and Li, all have important aspects in contributing to Kongzi’s ideal society. Dao (the Way) is part of the moral path Tian gives to human beings. Dao (the Way) is followed by the sage kings and provides the proper way of behaving for human beings. Xiao, representing (familial piety) is a fundamental attribute too Kongzi’s ideal society. Xiao is centered on family duties, love and respect, identifies the natural relationship of superiority/inferiority. With

(Robert Eno’s The Analects of Confucius vi). “Dao”, in Daodejing, means “the teaching or skill formula that is a key to some arena of action: an art, self-perfection, and world transformation” ( Robert Eno’s The Analects of Confucius vi). And “li” is described as the ritual institutions of the Zhou, of which Confucius was master (Robert Eno’s

Taoism, also known as Daoism, is an indigenous Chinese religion with its origin traced to the sage Laozi (Lao-tzu), a philosopher of ancient China believed to have lived in the sixth century B.C.E (Little 115). In Chinese, Dao means "way" or "path,” which is the appropriate way to behave and to lead others — but the Daode jing also refers to Tao as something that existed "before Heaven and Earth," a primal and chaotic matrix from which all forms emerged. The Classic of the Way and Its Power (Dao de jing or Tao-te-ching) introduces the doctrine of the Tao and serves as a guide for Taoists’ behavior and experience. The Dao de jing teaches the importance of cultivating simplicity,

This text often emphasizes the Heaven as the supreme power over everything below it. In contrast to Heaven, which represents purity, power, and righteousness, Zhuangzi depicts humanity as people that interfere with the natural way, like their punishment for criminals, as well as creative beings that can come up with ideas about the world and themselves, like knowing what is right and what is wrong. Although he accepts the Dao, he does not believe that people can truly learn the Dao by thought or books. Instead, using one’s intuition and prior experience is a greater teaching tool than studying about the Way. Zhuangzi’s text is intended to make the people aware that trying to learn the purpose of life is a fruitless task. He teaches that there is a time to talk and a time to think, and he even encourages to do both. His idea of the ideal man is a someone whose actions make him a perfect example for human morality. In Daoism according to Zhuangzi, the ideal man, also known as Zhenren 真人, was associated with perfect or wise person. Because of his perfection, the ideal man accomplished endless life and enduring fame. He was not subject to the lowly desires and dangers of the earth. In some cases, the ideal man is used to define a Chinese philosopher because of their wisdom and heightened spirituality. Other translations for the Zhenren were the “enlightened one” or the “Spiritual

Daoism is synonymous with Taoism; in this religious philosophy, the way of nature is central theme of life. It was founded by Lao Tzu in 500BC in China. Lao is believed to have authored the “Dao de Jing”, which details the Daoist beliefs. Dao is a concept, a way, a principle that will lead a person to a happy, peaceful life. Dao can be achieved by incorporating the Three Jewel of Taoism that are humility, simplicity and compassion in one’s life. According to Dao, de Jing “The Way to Heaven is to benefit others and not to injure”.15 Further, there is no concept of good and evil, the Dao is simply the universe, which is perceived as a self- sustaining entity that generates energy called qi. Like other Chinese traditions, Daoist also have great reverence for the spirits of ancestors as well as spirits of nature that is plants, animals, rivers, etc. 16

What religion am I? In my life, I have been told many things about my religion. My mother is a Roman Catholic, while my father is Jewish. I have learned about both religions, and I have tried to practice both as best I could, but I am now faced with the decision; which one am I?