What Is the Meaning of Taoism?
Taoism (pronounced DOW-ism) is a school of belief and philosophical thought with roots in Chinese culture. Tao is difficult to define, but is often translated as "The Path" or "The Way." In fact, there are many variations under the umbrella of Taoism. The general belief of Taoists is that existence is a fluid process, and that all things relate and depend on each other. As philosopher Lao Tzu put it, "Be still like a mountain and flow like a great river."
Other People Are Reading
-
History
-
Historians believe that Taoism was founded by the philosopher Lao Tzu (also written as Lao Tse, Laotze and other variations). Lao Tzu lived around the time of Confucius: 604-531 B.C. Taoism began as a system of psychology and philosophy but was made an official religion in 440 B.C., when it was adopted as a state religion. State support for Taoism ended in 1911, and much of the Taoist heritage was subsequently destroyed. Today, Taoism has around 20 million followers, mostly in Taiwan. Around 30,000 Taoists are estimated to live in the United States, where Taoism influences alternative medicine, meditation and martial arts.
Essential Beliefs
-
The Tao signifies a force that flows through everything in the universe. The believer's goal is to harmonize himself with the Tao. This includes taking good care of one's body: Taoists believe that the five major organs correspond to the five parts of the sky (water, fire, wood, metal and earth). It is also important to be humble, kind and virtuous, and to allow things to take their natural course. Taoists believe that everything has always existed: there is no beginning or end of time and death does not have a particular significance.
-
Yin and Yang
-
Taoists believe that the forces of yin and yang move through everything, in harmonious opposition. Yin and yang are difficult to define, but yin has been described as the dark, shaded side of a mountain while yang is the brightly lit side of the same mountain. Based on this description, a list of opposing forces has been described: Yang is the illuminated, visible or evident, aggressive, warm and masculine. Yin is dark, hidden, passive or receptive, cool and feminine. When yin and yang are both present in equal amounts, the universe is in harmony. One cannot exist without the other, and each contains a little bit of the other inside itself. Taoists believe that humans often interfere with the natural balance of yin and yang, disrupting the flow of the Tao. This can lead to failed efforts and other problems.
Tai Chi
-
A man practicing Tai Chi. Tai Chi is a series of motions that is believed to improve the flow of energy through one's body. Tai Chi is characterized by very slow movement, often practiced by groups in a natural setting such as a park. Taoists believe that each of us is endowed with "Ch'i", defined as air or "breath." Ch'i needs to be able to move through the body unimpeded; if it is blocked, illness and unhappiness can result. Tai Chi is a very gentle type of exercise that is specifically designed to use or stimulate every part of the body.
Deities, Feng Shui and the I Ching
-
Taoists do not believe in a single incarnation of god; there is only the Tao. Some Taoists believe in the existence of minor deities and spirits, which are everywhere in nature and are just as real as the visible world. The I Ching is a system of symbols representing combinations of elements. These symbols can be "cast" in order to predict auspiciousness or inauspiciousness, and to provide insight on situations. Feng shui, on the other hand, is the arrangement of physical elements to aid the flow of Ch'i. Feng shui has gained popularity in Western cultures: practitioners work to arrange their houses in such a way that Ch'i can flow freely, improving the health and the state of mind of its residents.
-
References
- Photo Credit life balance image by Liu xiang from Fotolia.com young business man exercising image by MAXFX from Fotolia.com
