History UsefulNotes / Taoism

Of the traditional Chinese religions, Taoism has substantially higher appeal in the West than [[Creator/{{Confucius}} Confucianism]], if only because the latter is so concerned with politeness and filial piety, whereas Taoism actually has things to say about spiritual matters [[note]]Probably another, greater, reason, was that Confucianism fundamentally emphasizes on a class system/ hierarchy, which is offensive to modern sensibilities.[[/note]]. Possibly the most notable non-Chinese Taoist is Creator/UrsulaKLeGuin, who inserts Taoist themes into her works and has written a commentary about the Tao Te Ching.

Of the traditional Chinese religions, Taoism has substantially higher appeal in the West than [[Creator/{{Confucius}} Confucianism]], if only because the latter is so concerned with politeness and filial piety, whereas Taoism actually has things to say about spiritual matters [[note]]Probably another, greater reason, was that Confucianism fundamentally emphasizes on a class system/ hierarchy, which is offensive to modern sensibilities.[[/note]]. Possibly the most notable non-Chinese Taoist is Creator/UrsulaKLeGuin, who inserts Taoist themes into her works and has written a commentary about the Tao Te Ching.

Of the traditional Chinese religions, Taoism has substantially higher appeal in the West than [[Creator/{{Confucius}} 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 Creator/UrsulaKLeGuin, who inserts Taoist themes into her works and has written a commentary about the Tao Te Ching.

* ''Franchise/TouhouProject'': Following the 13th game in the series, a Taoist faction has become a part of [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters the massive cast of mainstay characters]]. In a bit of a twist, these so-called "Taoists" do not practice either the religious or philosophical aspects of Taoism but only seek enlightenment in order to gain [[EnlightenmentSuperpowers the powers that come with it]]. Ironically, the main character of the Touhou Project, local [[{{miko}} shrine maiden]] Reimu Hakurei, is in-universe noted as being more akin to a Taoistic hermit, both power and mentality-wise, than a Shinto shrine maiden.

* ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiI'':Tai Shang Lao Jun is the key representative of the Neutral path

* ''The Tao of Pooh'': Author Benjamin Hoff attempts to explain tenets of Taoism by comparison with A.A.Milne's ''Winnie the Pooh'' characters.

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* One of the religions in ''VideoGame/CrusaderKings'' ''Jade Dragon'' DLC, followed mainly by Han Chinese characters, mostly the ones living in the "Western Protectorate" of the Chinese Empire, which exist in the eastern fringes of the map in the 769 A.D and 936 A.D start dates. It is a suprisingly good religion for stability and economic power, giving you bonus stewardship, no "Short reign" relations penalty with vassals, the ability to choose heirs, allows concumbines and Taoist characters can choose between three "school of thought": Zhengyi Dao - the Way of Orthodox Unity, Quanzhen - School of Complete Perfection, and Shangqing - School of Supreme Clarity; It also makes it easier to "adopt Chinese imperialism" and form your own Imperial Dynasty. It should be noted that it comes with a dose of ArtisticLicenseReligion -- Confucianism/Neo-Confucianism are absent, which is notable as the entire system of Chinese Meritocracy (which ''is'' present in-game) is based on its precepts. All Chinese characters are instead Taoist, so in-game Taoism also represents confucionism to a certain degree.
** Taoism is back in ''VideoGame/CrusaderKingsIII'' but has been DemotedToExtra, there's only one start with Taoist rulers (867 A.D) and no province in the map follows Taoism. The religion has also been split in three separate faiths: Quanzhen, Shangqing and Zhengyi (the only one actually present in the start).

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* One of the religions in ''VideoGame/CrusaderKings'', followed mainly by Han Chinese characters, mostly the ones living in the "Western Protectorate" of the Chinese Empire, which exist in the eastern fringes of the map in the 769 A.D and 936 A.D start dates. It is a suprisingly good religion for stability and economic power, giving you bonus stewardship, no "Short reign" relations penalty with vassals, the ability to choose heirs, allows concumbines and Taoist characters can choose between three "school of thought": Zhengyi Dao - the Way of Orthodox Unity, Quanzhen - School of Complete Perfection, and Shangqing - School of Supreme Clarity; It also makes it easier to "adopt Chinese imperialism" and form your own Imperial Dynasty. It should be noted that it comes with a dose of ArtisticLicenseReligion -- Confucianism/Neo-Confucianism are absent, which is notable as the entire system of Chinese Meritocracy (which ''is'' present in-game) is based on its precepts. All Chinese characters are instead Taoist, so in-game Taoism also represents confucionism to a certain degree.

** Taoism is back in ''VideoGame/CrusaderKingsIII'' but was DemotedToExtra, as there's only one start with Taoist rulers (867 A.D) and no province in the map follows Taoism. The religion has also been split in three separate faiths: Quanzhen, Shangqing and Zhengyi (the only one actually present in the start).

To start with, it's sometimes considered a philosophy, and 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.

Nothing can be said about the Tao/Dao (a more accurate pronunciation). It's ineffable. So we can all go home, right?

Nothing can be said about the Tao/Dao. It's ineffable. So we can all go home, right?

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, Creator/{{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.

Offered for your edification is [[http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~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. Taoist works have been collected and compiled together as the "Daozang" (Taoist Canon).

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* One episode of ''Anime/CowboyBebop'' has a girl who is a Taoist novice, going to the crew to have them help her find her father, an old friend of Jet's and a Tao master.
* ''Anime/OutlawStar'': The primary antagonists (as well as the {{Greater Scope Villain}}s) are SpacePirate Tao masters, and their mastery gives them vaguely defined magical powers.


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* ''VideoGame/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.

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Offered for your edification is [[http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~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.

Nothing can be said about the Tao. It's ineffable. So we can all go home, right?

Of the traditional Chinese religions, Taoism has substantially higher appeal in the West than [[Creator/{{Confucius}} 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.

* ''Webcomic/NoNeedForBushido'': A webcomic that features a blind Taoist monk who has an IceCreamKoan for every occasion. He's also rather {{Badass}}.

The foundational text of Taoism is the ''Tao Te Ching'' written by {{Laozi}}. Traditionally, it's been said he was a contemporary of Creator/{{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.)

-->''The way that can be followed is not the true Way,\\

* ''VideoGame/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.
* ''ShinMegamiTenseiI'':Tai Shang Lao Jun is the key representative of the Neutral path
* ''{{Film/Wooshi}}'': A Korean movie about a Taoist wizard. It's a bit of a stretch as far as religious accuracy goes though, in all probability.

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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.

* ''Webcomic/NoNeedForBushido'': A webcomic that features a blind Taoist monk who spouts IceCreamKoans on a regular basis. He's also rather {{Badass}}.

* Music/TheBeatles song "The Inner Light" (written by Music/GeorgeHarrison) has lyrics taken from the 47th chapter of the ''Tao Te Ching''.

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

Everything in the universe is made up from the flow of two equal, opposite, and interpenetrating forces. Yang is solid and masculine, represented by white in the traditional symbol you often see [[DragonsUpTheYinYang in martial arts movies]]. Yin, the feminine and passive quality, represented by black. When casting the traditional Yijing hexagram, Yang is solid yarrow sticks and Yin is broken sticks. From boundless nothingness (wuji) comes the duality of Yin/Yang, and from the duality comes "ten thousand things" as said in the Tao Te Ching (alternatively, Dao De Jing).

Everything in the universe is made up from the flow of two equal, opposite, and interpenetrating forces. Yang is solid and masculine, represented by white in the traditional symbol you often see [[DragonsUpTheYinYang in martial arts movies]]. Yin, the feminine and passive quality, represented by black. When casting the traditional Yijing hexagram, Yang is solid yarrow sticks and Yin is broken sticks. From boundless nothingness (wuji) comes the duality of Yin/Yang, and from the duality comes "ten thousand things" as said in the Tao Te Ching.

The foundational text of Taoism is the ''Tao De Ching'' written by {{Laozi}}. Traditionally, it's been said he was a contemporary of Creator/{{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.)