What is Taoism

**Nøz** · 02-17-2007, 05:52 AM

Taoism (pronounced and often written as Daoism (dow-ism)) is the English name for a cluster of Chinese religious and philosophical traditions. While there is a great deal of debate over how (and whether) Taoism should be subdivided, some scholars have divided it into the following three categories.

1. a philosophical school based on the texts the Tao Te Ching (ascribed to Laozi and alternately spelled Dào Dé Jīng) and the Zhuangzi;
2. a family of organized Chinese religious movements such as the Zhengyi ("Orthodoxy") or Quanzhen ("complete reality") sects, which collectively trace back to Zhang Daoling in the late Han Dynasty;
3. the Chinese folk religion.

The English word Taoism is used to translate the Chinese terms Daojiao (道教 "teachings/religion of the Dao") and Daojia (道家 "school of the Dao"). The character Tao 道 (or Dao, depending on the romanisation scheme) means "path" or "way", but in Chinese religion and philosophy it has taken on more abstract meanings. The compound Daojiao refers to Daoism as a religion; Daojia refers to the activity of scholars in their studies. It must be noted that this distinction is itself controversial and fraught with hermeneutic difficulty. Many scholars believe that there is no distinction between Daojia and Daojiao, and that the distinction is propagated by people who are not familiar with Taoism.

Much uncertainty exists over the meaning of Taoism. In some countries and contexts (for example, the Taoism organisations of China and Taiwan), the label is applied to Chinese folk religion, which would otherwise not have a readily recognisable English name. However many, if not most, of its practitioners would not recognise Taoism (in any language) as the name of their religion. Moreover, the several forms of what we might call organised Taoism often distinguish their ritual activities from those of the folk religion, which some professional Taoists (Daoshi) tend to view as debased.

Chinese alchemy, astrology, cuisine, several Chinese martial arts, Chinese traditional medicine, fengshui, and many styles of qigong breath training disciplines have some relationship with Taoism.

Taken from: Taoism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I'm a hero · 02-17-2007, 09:01 AM

It is Loa Tzu.

Pronounced Dow Day Jing.

My favorite english translation is by Stephen Mitchell. One will never be able to comprehend the Tao until they have read its pages. The Tao is not a religion. The Tao is an entity that resides in every being's hearts and minds. The Tao is that feeling you get when you do something and for some reason in your subconsciousness knows that it is bad. A Taoist is someone who practices not-doing. So any Taoist would not be in this forum debating.

rclcryan · 04-06-2007, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I'm a hero

It is Loa Tzu.

A Taoist is someone who practices not-doing. So any Taoist would not be in this forum debating.

This generally correct, and I love your last sentance. ; )