What is Taoism?There are two kinds of Taoism:
- the philosophical Taoism, also called tao-chia (school of tao), and
- the religious Taoism called tao-chiao or the religious or mystical school.
The 3 sages: Lao Tzu, Confucius and Buddha |
Tao-chia flourished in China during the period of the Warring States, that is 5-4 century BC.
A way of life developed by Lao Tzu in his writing Tao Te Ching (translated the Classic of Tao and Te).
In short, Taoism draws from the basic philosophical concepts developed by Lao Tzu such as the emptiness (wu), nondoing (wu-wei) and return (fu).
Tao itself - the main concept in Taoism - is presented by Lao Tzu as something that can not be described, that stands at the origin of all things and beings (the 10.000 things) in the Universe.
The Taoist adept must conform his life and deeds to the Tao or the Way, that is, he must follow the Tao in his/her pursuits.
Wan-Wu, the Chinese character for the 10.000 things meaning
the entire universe |
The tao-chiao equals our religious systems such the Christian one. It has gods and spiritual practices, rituals,
and rules concerning food and life customs, and so forth.Also tao-chiao includes all the esoteric schools concerned with life-prolonging techniques and the search
for immortality, the alchemical schools, those practicing sexual rituals or based on meditation and breath control. Still Lao Tzu concepts may be found only in the tao-chia
- or the school of Tao - which based its entire knowledge on Tao Te Ching and other such esoteric books.
-> Learn more about the Taoist concepts developed in the Tao Te Ching:
- Tao
- Emptiness
- Nondoing
- Fu (coming soon)
- Tao Te Ching-> More about Taoism concepts may be found by taking our email course on Lao
Tzu and Tao Te Ching. Click here to learn more. |
