Daoism

Carrie BushmanElizabeth Shaw

Yassamin GhafouriLauren Telschow

• Founded by Laozi in the late Eastern Han Dynasty (250-220 BCE)• It was developed during the warring states period• Tao translates to the way• Beliefs include: humility, non-violence, refraining from political

activities, disregard for learning, and following one’s predestined path

Intro

The Gods• The Daoists believe

in deities that represent the beliefs of Daoism, but for current purposes we will call them gods

• Daoism has three main gods called the Clarities or Sanqing

• They preside over the many heavens described in Taoist Cosmography

• Five lesser deities that are North, South, East, West, and Center

Basic Beliefs

• The Daoists believe in the following of the way or the path• Everyone has his/her own path in life to follow• All learning but that of the way is irrelevant• Life’s goal is to harmonize with the Tao that flows through everything• The five major organs of the body represent the five elements: fire,

water, metal, earth, and wood• There is an afterlife for those who follow the right path

Practices• Daoists have special

ceremonies for many things

• They give offerings to divine spirits

• Burn Josh paper on special occasions

• Have festivals, such as the Spring and Dragon Boat festivals

• A tian gong urn goes outside of the house to worship divine beings

• A seven-day ritual follows the death of a person, with daily offerings

Big Rituals

• Memorial presenting rituals: priests send the wishes to the Heavenly Court• The Heavenly Repentances• The Three Heavenly Officials• The Song and Yuan dynasties brought about new memorial ceremonies• Wu-the shamans of Daoism that were believed to meditate between worlds

and see the supernatural• Inner Alchemy was used later in different branches of Taoism

Role Of Women• Yin and Yang: the balance of good

and evil, or masculinity and femininity

• Ceremonial Taoism has important goddesses

• Xiwangmu is the Queen of the Immortals and Shegmu Yuanjun is the Mother of the Tao

• Women were teachers of religion, and necessary for life

• Women are the embodiment of the Tao, which is often represented as a womb

• The Queen Mother of the West is the most important goddess, and is in charge of choosing rulers

• Women from the imperial family can be priests of the Way

• Women can renounce marriage and children to become nuns

Major Texts

• The main sacred text of the Daoists is the Daode Jing• The Zhuanghi was another one of the sacred texts• The Leizi was the last of the three• All together they make up the Daojia, or philosophical

Taoism

Missionary Work• The Tang dynasty

sent missionaries to Korea because they wanted to help the Koreans restrict the spread of Buddhism

• Two Korean Monks went to China to study Daoism, and brought the beliefs back to Korea

Diffusion

• Daoism spread to Tibet through the Laozi• Ruler of Kashmir had the Laozi translated into

Sanskrit• By the 7th century, Daoism had spread to Japan• The Tang tried to promote Daoism

Major Contacts with Other Religions

• Many encounters with the Buddhists

• They very blatantly went against the Confucian followers

• Tried to merge with the Buddhists a little bit because the beliefs are similar in some aspects

• Influenced Hui ( Chinese Islam) and Islam religions with Inner Alchemy

Quotes

• “Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.” –Lao Tzi

• A good traveller has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving. (Laozi)

•  He who conquers others is strong. He who conquers himself is mighty. (Laozi)

Works Cited

• "Daoism - Cosmos And Gods." Science Encyclopedia. Web. 01 Sept. 2009. <http://science.jrank.org/pages/8933/Daoism-Cosmos-Gods.html>.

• "Daoism: A Short Introduction." Oneworld Publications - Books for Thoughtful People. Web. 01 Sept. 2009. <http://www.oneworld-publications.com/samples/daoism.htm>.

• "Daoism (Chinese philosophy and religion) :: Daoism under the Tang, Song, and later dynasties -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia." Encyclopedia - Britannica Online Encyclopedia. Web. 02 Sept. 2009. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/582972/Daoism/42149/Daoism-under-the-Tang-Song-and-later-dynasties>.

• "History Of - A History Of Through The Dynasties." Taoism. Web. 01 Sept. 2009. <http://taoism.about.com/od/throughthedynasties/a/history.htm>.

• "Memorial-Presenting Rituals." Taoist Culture and Information Centre. Web. 01 Sept. 2009. <http://eng.taoism.org.hk/religious-activities-rituals/rituals/pg4-6-7.htm>.

• "Practice of Taoism |." Peace Spiritual Inspiration. Web. 01 Sept. 2009. <http://www.peaceinspiration.com/2008/05/23/practice-of-taoism/>.

• "TAOISM." ReligiousTolerance.org by the Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance. Web. 01 Sept. 2009. <http://www.religioustolerance.org/taoism.htm>.

• Taoism. Web. 01 Sept. 2009. <http://taoism.about.com/od/roleofwomengender/a/gender.htm>.