History UsefulNotes / Taoism

Offered for your edification is [[http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/core9/phalsall/texts/taote-v3.html one of many translations]] of the ''Tao Te Ching''. Other important texts include the Zhuangzi, which is best known in the west for the story about being a man-dreaming butterfly, or a butterfly-dreaming man.

The foundational text of Taoism is the ''Tao De Ching'' written by {{Laozi}}. Traditionally, it's been said he was a contemporary of {{Confucius}}'s; modern research seems to indicate that either he lived in the Warring States Period (4th Century BCE) or he never existed. (So if he never existed, who would have written it? A compilation of various authors' works is the theory.)

Of the traditional Chinese religions, Taoism has substantially higher appeal in the West than {{Confucianism}}, if only because the latter is so concerned with politeness and filial piety, whereas Taoism actually has things to say about spiritual matters. Possibly the most notable non-Chinese Taoist is UrsulaKLeGuin, who inserts Taoist themes into her works and has written a commentary about the Tao Te Ching.

* ''Woochi'': A Korean movie about a Taoist wizard. It's a bit of a stretch as far as religious accuracy goes though, in all probability.

* ''MomentInPeking'': The heroine's father is a follower of Taoism, and at one point leaves home to become a hermit.

To start with, it's a philosophy, not a religion. However, there are many religious sects based off of Taoism. The line between philosophical and religious Taoism is very, very blurry. Philosophically, you can sum up Taoism thus: "Go with the flow." All problems in life come from going against the natural order of things. Passive virtue is superior to imposing your will, and poverty is better than great wealth. Taoism in its "pure" form is non-dualistic; both light and darkness, good and evil, active and passive qualities are contained within the eternal, flowing Tao.

* ''OracleOfTao'': Strangely subverted. There is a Taoist temple, and many Taoist teachings. The subversion is that although this includes Taoism, it also includes Christianity, and a syncretic religion called Aiken. And some ''very strange'' cults, like the Church of the Holy Maple Tree.

* ''Woochi'': A Korean movie about a Taoist wizard. It's a bit of a stretch as far as religious accuracy goes though, in all probability.

[[caption-width-right:350:The ''Taijitu'' ("Diagram of Ultimate Power"), the symbol of Taoism.]]

Of course nothing is really that simple. Taoism is deeply infused with Chinese animism and cultural beliefs. Taoism has a variety of sects with sweet names like "The Mighty Commonwealth of Orthodox Oneness" and "The School of Complete Reality." Many Taoist sects are deeply concerned with the individual soul, and are famed for discovering gunpowder in their pursuit of an alchemical elixir of immortality.

Oh, and it's pronounced "Dow".

* ''OracleOfTao'': Strangely subverted. There is a Taoist temple in-game, and many teachings. The subversion is that although this includes Taoism, it also includes Christianity, and a syncretic religion called Aiken. And some ''very strange'' cults, like the Church of the Holy Maple Tree.

* ''OracleOfTao'': Strangely subverted. There is a Taoist temple, which although largely incomplete as far as temple imagery (this may be due to graphical limits of a video game, since the FourGods or [[ChineseMythology Eight Immortals]] are difficult to draw in pixels), at least attempts to incorporate some Taoist symbols to the area. The subversion is that although this includes Taoism, it also includes Christianity, and an odd syncretic religion called Aiken. And some very strange cults, like the Temple of the Holy Maple Tree. The same is true of the morals of this game.

* ''OracleOfTao'': Strangely subverted. There is a Taoist temple, which although largely incomplete as far as temple imagery (this may be due to graphical limits of a video game, since the FourGods or [[ChineseMythology Eight Immortals]] are difficult to draw in pixels), at least attempts to incorporate some Taoist symbols to the area. The subversion is that although this includes Taoism, it also includes Christianity, and an odd syncretic religion called Aiken. And some very strange cults, like the Temple of the Holy Maple Tree. The same is true of the morals of this game.

* ''OracleOfTao'': Strangely subverted. There is a Taoist temple, which although largely incomplete as far as temple imagery (this may be due to graphical limits of a video game, since the FourGods are difficult to draw in pixels), at least attempts to incorporate some Taoist principles to the area. The subversion is that although this includes Taoism, it also includes Christianity, and an odd syncretic religion called Aiken. And some very strange cults, like the Temple of the Holy Maple Tree. The same is true of the morals of this game.

* ''OracleOfTao'': Strangely subverted. There is a Taoist temple, which although largely incomplete as far as imagery (this may be due to graphical limits of a video game), at least attempts to incorporate some Taoist principles to the area (ceremonial things go on the left, military things go on the right) to differentiate from a church. The subversion is that although this includes Taoism, it also includes Christianity, and an odd syncretic religion called Aiken. And some very strange cults, like the Temple of the Holy Maple Tree. The same is true of the morals of this game.

* ''OracleOfTao'': Strangely Subverted. There is a Taoist temple, which although largely incomplete as far as imagery (this may be due to graphical limits of a video game), at least attempts to incorporate some Taoist principles to the area (ceremonial things go on the left, military things go on the right) to differentiate from a church. The subversion is that although this includes Taoism, it also includes Christianity, and an odd syncretic religion called Aiken. And some very strange cults, like the Temple of the Holy Maple Tree.

* ''OracleOfTao'': Strangely Subverted. There is a Taoist temple, which although largely incomplete as far as imagery (this may be due to graphical limits of a video game), at least attempts to incorporate some Taoist principles to the area (ceremonial things go on the left, military things go on the right) to differentiate from a church. Interestingly, some of its "worshippers" are wild animals, along with cooks, and tradesmen. The subversion is that although this includes Taoism, it also includes Christianity, and an odd syncretic religion called Aiken. And some very strange cults, like the Temple of the Holy Maple Tree.

* ''OracleOfTao'': Strangely Subverted. There is a Taoist temple, which although largely incomplete as far as imagery (this may be due to graphical limits of a video game), at least attempts to incorporate some Taoist principles to the area (ceremonial things go on the left, military things go on the right) to differentiate from a church. Interestingly, some of its "worshippers" are wild animals, along with cooks, and tradesmen. The subversion is that although this includes Taoism, it also includes Christianity, and an odd syncretic religion called Aiken. And some very strange cults, like the Temple of Maple.

* ''OracleOfTao'': Strangely Subverted. There is a Taoist temple, which although largely incomplete as far as imagery, at least attempts to incorporate some Taoist principles to the area (ceremonial things go on the left, military things go on the right) to differentiate from a church. Interestingly, some of its "worshippers" are wild animals, along with cooks, and tradesmen. The subversion is that although this includes Taoism (to the best of the author's ability) it also includes Christianity, and an odd syncretic religion called Aiken.

Offered for your edification is [[http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/core9/phalsall/texts/taote-v3.html one of many translations]] of the ''Tao Te Ching''. Other important texts include the Zhuangzi, which you have never heard of but is familiar to you by the quote about being a man-dreaming butterfly, or a butterfly-dreaming man.

Beyond all this, Taoism, like all Chinese religions, got liberally mixed up with UsefulNotes/{{Buddhism}} once it arrived in China in the sixth century CE. Most significantly, a Taoist philosopher of the Warring States period, {{Zhuangzi}}, was famous for telling parables and inventing {{koan}}s. A few centuries later, Zhuangzi's style got mixed up with Mahayana Buddhist theology to create the school of ''Chán'', known to the West by its Japanese name: {{Zen}}.

Of the traditional Chinese religions, Taoism has substantially higher appeal in the West than [[{{UsefulNotes/Confucianism}} Confucianism]], if only because the latter is so concerned with politeness and filial piety, whereas Taoism actually has things to say about spiritual matters. Possibly the most notable non-Chinese Taoist is UrsulaKLeGuin, who inserts Taoist themes into her works and has written a commentary about the Tao Te Ching.

To start with, it's a philosophy not a religion. However, there are many religious sects based off of Taoism. The line between philosophical and religious Taoism is very, very blurry. Philosophically, you can sum up Taoism thus: "Go with the flow." All problems in life come from going against the natural order of things. Passive virtue is superior to imposing your will, and poverty is better than great wealth. Taoism in its "pure" form is non-dualistic; both light and darkness, good and evil, active and passive qualities are contained within the eternal, flowing Tao.

The foundational text of Taoism is the ''Tao De Ching'' written by {{Laozi}}. Traditionally, it's been said he was a contemporary of {{Confucius}}'s; modern research seems to indicate that either he lived in the Warring States Period (4th Century) or he never existed. (So if he never existed, who would have written it? A compilation of various authors' works is the theory.)

->The way that can be followed is not the true Way,\\
the name that can be spoken is not the true Name.\\
-- '''Tao Te Ching'''

To start with; it's a religion. Or else there are a lot of priests, monks, and nuns in China who are just damned confused. Philosophically, you can sum up Taoism thus: "Go with the flow." All problems in life come from going against the natural order of things. Passive virtue is superior to imposing your will, and poverty is better than great wealth. Taoism in its "pure" form is non-dualistic; both light and darkness, good and evil, active and passive qualities are contained within the eternal, flowing Tao.

* ''A Chinese Ghost Story'': One of the main characters is a reclusive Taoist wizard, who at one point has a musical number ''rapping'' about Taoism.

Beyond all this, Taoism, like all Chinese religions, got liberally mixed up with UsefulNotes/{{Buddhism}} once it arrived in China in the sixth century CE. Most significantly, a Taoist philosopher of the Warring States period, Zhuangzi, was famous for telling parables and inventing {{koan}}s. A few centuries later, Zhuangzi's style got mixed up with Mahayana Buddhist theology to create the school of ''Chán'', known to the West by its Japanese name: {{Zen}}.

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Yin_Yang.jpg
[[caption-width:500:The ''Taijitu'' ("Diagram of Ultimate Power"), the symbol of Taoism.]]

-->The way that can be followed is not the true Way,\\
the name that can be spoken is not the true Name.
-->'''Tao Te Ching'''