QUICK LOOK IN DEPTH RESOURCES/LINKS
- PRACTICED BY
Approximately 20 million people
- MAJORITY OF FOLLOWERS IN
Taiwan
- FOLLOWERS CALLED
Taoists
- DAY OF WORSHIP
No specific theological practice
- FOUNDER
Lao Tzu
- DEITY/DEITIES
Over time, Lao Tzu became venerated a near deity
- SACRED TEXT(S)
Tao Te Ching Taoism traces its roots to the birth of Lao Tzu in 604 BCE, in China. Lao Tzu was a contemporary of Confucius and began to develop Taoism as a philosophy during his lifetime. The legend surrounding the formation of the philosophy says that Lao Tzu was trying to leave China when he was told that he must leave his belongings in China. Lao Tzu replied that the only possessions he had were in his head, so he commenced writing the Tao Te Ching to "leave his thoughts in China." The thoughts were so powerful that Taoism eventually came to be recognized as the state religion in 440 CE.
The Tao is translated as "the way." Taoists follow the path set forth by Lao Tzu in his writings. The Tao Te Ching contains 81 poems that put forth the idea that everything in the world is interrelated. Taoists do not separate the physical, mental and spiritual worlds. These worlds combine in Ch'i, which is the life force that pervades everything. Ch'i can be translated as breath, and Taoists believe that it flows through the physical, mental and spiritual worlds. Taoists live in the moment, and while they revere the past, they don't worship it. Nor do they look to the future. They simply live and exist in harmony with their surroundings.
Creationism is a foreign concept to Taoists, as Ch'i has always existed. Some definition of creation can be found in the symbol of Taoism, the Yin and Yang. The dark side is the Yin. Yin formed the earth. The light side formed the heavens. It is the Yang. The Yin and Yang are opposites and the duality of the Yin and Yang represent all the dualities that exist in our world. This opposition drives change. Taoists realize that this change is inevitable, and seek to become one with it. Taoists are generally very tolerant and look toward virtue and seek the "Three Jewels" of compassion, moderation and humility.
Taoism is extremely popular and the legacy of Taoism has given us Tai Ch'i and other "Ch'i-freeing" procedures such as acupuncture. A quick look at any bookstore will yield any number of Tao Te Ching knock-offs such as the Tao of Pooh, a popular book applying the principles of Tao to Winnie the Pooh.
http://www.religious tolerance.org/taoism.htm Author. B.A. Robinson, Copyright © 1995 to 2003 incl., by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance Original publishing date: 1995-JUN-3 Latest update on: 2003-APR-18
http://www.taoism.net/ Moderator, dereklin@prodigy.net
Hicks, Johnnie. Ideas from class discussions and handouts, Multicultural Education, a Global Perspective.
Copyright ©2003, Jason Coleman
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