Sometimes Spelled Daoism Belief System

He had revolutionary ideas about new relationships and government, different from many things that the Chinese people had ever seen. Another major belief system in Classical China was Legalism, which was technically a branch of Confucianism, and was surprisingly extremely popular (Carr). Legalism was very strict and built a code of law. The laws were generally harsh and discriminatory to women. Confucianism was the more popular and long lasting of the two. Daoism was also a notable belief system in the Classical Chinese time period. A possibly fictional philosopher and thinker named Lao Tzu created it. Daoism is partially a philosophy, but partially a religious faith just like most belief systems in this time. Daoists were much like present-day hippies due to their firm belief in the spirit world. Much like Confucianism and Legalism, this new idea was absolutely revolutionary and the Chinese loved it. They believed that respectfulness to the forces in everyday life and respectfulness to ancestors was the secret to being happy and free. While Confucianism argued that order was the only way for true peace, Daoist thought that ancestral veneration was the way for peace (Carr). These religious

Taoism is an ancient Chinese religion dating back to the sixth century. The basic foundation of Taoism is a life philosophy and method

Daoism has everything to do with nature. It plays the most important role in human development and knowledge . It states that humans should help

Daoism is a daily guide to living so a person can experience the most of their own self. Daoism teaches the follower to look inside and to gain knowledge through self-exploration and to connect with our inner nature. The yin and yang shows the complementary sides of objects and nature, even the human body. The Taoist Sanctuary of San Diego states, “All is Tao. All opposites are in actuality part of one whole, giving rise to one another. Neither is

Similar to Confucianism, Daoism has concepts of Tien and Te. It also has philosophical and religious concepts that descended from folk traditions. The difference that Daoists has limitations confucius got somethings wrong. “Daoists developed a counterpoint to the Confucian focus on social hierarchy, political involvement, emotional and moral discipline, and ritual regimentation, a counterpoint based on the concept of the Dao” (CIWR, 491). The two founders, Laozi and huangzi, developed harmonious life in line with Tau. Laozi had his own philosophy, and Zhuangzi believed things were better with no politics. Similar to Confucianism, Taoism have a concept of Te, only they have a different way of obtaining it. “The term de in the Daodejing refers to a ‘virtue-power’ that embodies the mystic inner power attained through alignment with the unseen world, the power that allows a sage ruler to infuse his realm with the harmony he has achieved by ‘doing nothing,’ wuwei” (CIWR, 495). Daoists believe that one can point to what something is by implicitly pointing to what it is not. “To use a finger to show that a finger is not a finger, is not really as good as using something that is not a finger to show that a finger is not a finger” (BC, 12-13).Basically, in order to point to a finger and say what’s around it is not a finger, it would be better not to use a fingure. “The fanciful and the historical exist side by

This was a main concept of Daoism, which was centered around disengaging so nature can control one’s life and make it harmonious. Another concept of Daoism that lingered in Chinese society is the pairing of yin and yang. Yin and yang represent two opposite forces that perfectly balance, creating the perfect symbiotic relationship. Balance and peace were very important concepts in Daoism, and this relationship symbolized the harmony that could occur when two forces were perfectly matched. Yin and yang also inspired art works and scenes in movies, such as the film Hero.

Two produces three. Three produces the myriad creatures. The myriad creatures should yin and embrace yang and by blending they attain harmony” (45,42). The principle of the Yin and Yang shows that the world is filled with opposite forces such as love and hate, strong and weak, life and death. Such forces are in a constant struggle with each other within all aspects of life, usually only one is favored as one force is positive while the other is perceived as negative, but in the Dao both forces are needed in order to have balance.

Over the ages, religion has been an important part of history and is used to understand the unknown. Daoism is a philosophical religion with Chinese origin. Laozi is thought to be the creator of Daoism and is often worshipped as a God. In Daoism, there are many different versions of the religion. Daoism is a easily influenced religion because of the beliefs, practices and history.

a. The principle of yang and yin is that all things exist as inseparable and contradictory opposites, for example femal-male, dark-light and old-young. The two opposites attract and complement each other and, as their symbol illustrates, each side has at ites core an element of the other (represented by the small dots). Neither pole is uperior to the other and, as an increase in one brings a

Daoism means “Followers of the way”, although Dao does not means only “way”. According to the BBC religion, the word Dao or Tao can include several concepts such as “the source of creation”, “the ultimate”, “the unnameable” ,“the way of nature as a whole”, “the natural universe as a whole” and “the inexpressible and indefinable.” In Taoism they believe in way of living in which there were not many rules and believes in the philosophy of inaction. They say that you can find happiness through nature and harmony. Also this is where yin and yang come from. As we can see, there are major differences between Daoism and Confucianism, but one of them is very important, the life after death.

While they both have elements of philosophy and religion, Confucianism and Taoism seem to hold some opposites of each other. Confucianism is a philosophy originated by a Chinese Philosopher, Confucius. Confucianism has certain teachings to spread the beliefs of its religion; for example, “ the traditions of early Chinese culture is the best way to organize society.” The main idea of confucianism teachings are the sayings of confucius. Daoism on the other hand was started by a different philosopher, Lao Tzu. Lao had the idea to follow nature but although shown few concerns with the idea. Therefore, according to Daoism, Daoism teachings and beliefs is all about a person’s relationship with nature.

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).

According to information gathered from the online source, Taoism or the Tao Religion (Our Ultimate Reality), the Yin and Yang represents two breaths or the chi life force. This Yin life force is the feminine principle of darkness, coolness, and dampness, while the white, the Yang, is the masculine principle of brightness, warmth, and dryness. They are not opposites, not all good, or bad, but both needed to maintain universe stability. Defined through opposition, Taoists believe in the virtues of balance and understanding.

This qi is divided into the yin and yang which refer to the opposite and complementary forces in nature. The dark female aspect and the light male aspects both which are dynamic and symbolized the ever changing but perfectly balanced forces of the universe. They stand for the cycles in life that is creation and death, hence transforming into one another ultimately creating the qi in the universe, which is the substance all existence is comprised of. These forces reflect the central concept that all existence is made of the same substance that is qi and humans are merely a small part of a much larger complex cosmos. The

Some of the most recognized symbols are Ying-Yang (Taijitu), Wuji, and The Eight Trigrams.Ying-Yang represents forces that are dependent on each other. Black and white are complementary instead of opposing, like night and day, light and darkness, or life and death. The Wuji is a hollow circle that represents a void that existed in the beginning of the universe. The Eight Trigrams are symbols made out of a series of strokes that represent something different such as Earth, water, fire, wind,