Origins of TaoismOrigins of Taoism

Mavra A.Mavra A.

Taoism is a traditional Chinese native Taoism is a traditional Chinese native religion Laozi (also called: Lao Dan, Li religion Laozi (also called: Lao Dan, Li Er, Laotzu, and Laotse) is the founder Er, Laotzu, and Laotse) is the founder of this religion. of this religion. The Doctrine of The Doctrine of MoralityMorality is regarded as their holy is regarded as their holy Bible.Bible.

It was started by a child name Lao It was started by a child name Lao Tzu who lived in China around 600 Tzu who lived in China around 600 B.C. He is called Lao Tzu ("Old Boy"), B.C. He is called Lao Tzu ("Old Boy"), because nothing is known of his because nothing is known of his youth or origins. He worked in the youth or origins. He worked in the Chinese government,Chinese government,

Taoism (pronounced Dao-ism) is Taoism (pronounced Dao-ism) is believed to have originated around believed to have originated around 300 B.C. The word "Tao" means “the 300 B.C. The word "Tao" means “the way” or “the pathway” or “the path

Many people interested in the Tao are still Many people interested in the Tao are still under the impression that Lao Tzu founded under the impression that Lao Tzu founded Taoism about 2,500 years ago. There is Taoism about 2,500 years ago. There is some truth to this, as long as we are only some truth to this, as long as we are only talking about philosophical Taoism (talking about philosophical Taoism (Dao Dao JiaJia) or religious Taoism () or religious Taoism (Dao JiaoDao Jiao). ). However, the one thing that most people However, the one thing that most people do not realize is that both variants of do not realize is that both variants of Taoism came from a much older tradition, Taoism came from a much older tradition, known to the Chinese simply as the Tao. known to the Chinese simply as the Tao.

It is not possible for Lao Tzu to be the It is not possible for Lao Tzu to be the founder of this ancient tradition for founder of this ancient tradition for the simple reason that it began at the simple reason that it began at leasht 2,300 years before his timeleasht 2,300 years before his time

Fu Hsi was the first of the legendary Fu Hsi was the first of the legendary emperors of ancient China. His reign emperors of ancient China. His reign marked the starting point of Chinese marked the starting point of Chinese civilization, and the Tao concept that civilization, and the Tao concept that originated at the same time also originated at the same time also reflected the spirit of Chinese culture reflected the spirit of Chinese culture from this ancient beginningfrom this ancient beginning We can We can see the evidence for this when we see the evidence for this when we get closer to Chinese culture.get closer to Chinese culture.

Key Beliefs of TaoismKey Beliefs of Taoism

Spencer StevensSpencer Stevens

TaoTao Tao is literally translated as “the Tao is literally translated as “the

way” or “the path.” way” or “the path.” MMany different beliefs as to what Tao any different beliefs as to what Tao

really is. really is. Taoists say that the “eternal Tao” Taoists say that the “eternal Tao”

can never be truly defined. can never be truly defined. AA non-personal energy that created, non-personal energy that created,

and resides in all living things. and resides in all living things.

Wu WeiWu Wei LLiterally translated as “not doing.” iterally translated as “not doing.” MMeans not doing anything that goes eans not doing anything that goes

against nature. against nature.

WuWu LLiterally translated as emptiness. iterally translated as emptiness. TThe ideal state of mind, empty of any he ideal state of mind, empty of any

thoughts or desires that conflict with thoughts or desires that conflict with the Tao. the Tao.

Yin and YangYin and Yang The two complimentary forces that The two complimentary forces that

exist in nature.exist in nature. Yang represents everything Yang represents everything

masculine and active.masculine and active. Yin represents everything feminine Yin represents everything feminine

and passiveand passive Too much of either is bad, a balance Too much of either is bad, a balance

needs to be achieved. needs to be achieved.

QiQi Qi (or Chi) is literally translated as Qi (or Chi) is literally translated as

“breath,” or “air”“breath,” or “air” It is the life energy present in all It is the life energy present in all

living things. living things. The martial art of Tai Chi is designed The martial art of Tai Chi is designed

to aid the flow of Qi throughout the to aid the flow of Qi throughout the body. body.

Key FiguresKey Figures

Brittney Lee-Own

Lao Tzu (Laozi)Lao Tzu (Laozi)

Might have founded Might have founded TaoismTaoism

We are not sure if We are not sure if he existedhe existed

Lao Tzu:Lao Tzu: Old Master Old Master If he did exist he If he did exist he

could’ve been Li could’ve been Li Erh, an archivist Erh, an archivist

He wrote He wrote Tao Te Tao Te Ching Ching

Huang DiHuang Di Visited a Hermit who Visited a Hermit who

told him the secret to told him the secret to TaoTao

Changed the way he Changed the way he governed people governed people

Earned the name Earned the name “Yellow Emperor”“Yellow Emperor”

The Greatest Emperor The Greatest Emperor China has ever seenChina has ever seen

Created harmony Created harmony within himself and within himself and then created then created harmony within his harmony within his kingdomkingdom

Chuang Tzu (Zhuangzi) [369-Chuang Tzu (Zhuangzi) [369-286BC]:286BC]:

He is one of the He is one of the authors of the book authors of the book

Chuang Tzu is a Chuang Tzu is a collection of stories collection of stories

written in prose written in prose form instead of form instead of

poetry that teaches poetry that teaches Tao from the Tao from the

perspective of perspective of active, everyday lifeactive, everyday life

Yu-Huang:Yu-Huang:

Known as the Jade Known as the Jade EmperorEmperor

The Great High GodThe Great High God Main job is to Main job is to

distribute justice, distribute justice, which he does which he does through a court through a court system of Hell where system of Hell where evil deeds and evil deeds and thoughts are thoughts are punishedpunished

Yuan-shih T'ien-tsun (The First Yuan-shih T'ien-tsun (The First Principal)Principal)

He has no beginning He has no beginning and no end and no end

Existed "before the Existed "before the void and the void and the silence, before silence, before primordial chaos”primordial chaos”

Self existing, Self existing, changeless, changeless, limitless, invisible, limitless, invisible, source of all truthsource of all truth

Taoism Taoism

Symbols/ImagesSymbols/Images

By: Theron NichollsBy: Theron Nicholls

IntroductionIntroduction

Yin Yang most well-known Taoist Yin Yang most well-known Taoist symbolsymbol

Taiji tu visual of all of Taoist Taiji tu visual of all of Taoist cosmologycosmology

The Five Elements which produce the The Five Elements which produce the Ten-Thousand ThingsTen-Thousand Things

The Lo Pan Compass The Lo Pan Compass The Guodian bamboo stripsThe Guodian bamboo strips

Yin and YangYin and Yang

Universal harmonyUniversal harmony andand unityunity betweenbetween

complimentary opposites. complimentary opposites. Yin = Yin =

darkdark, ,

passive, negative.passive, negative. Yang = Yang =

lightlight, ,

active, positive.active, positive.

1010thth Century Century

Guodian Bamboo StripsGuodian Bamboo Strips

44thth Century Century

““This is like the discoveryThis is like the discovery

of theof the

Dead Dead

Sea Sea ScrollsScrolls.”.”

Rituals and PracticesRituals and Practices

By Corey YeungBy Corey Yeung

Rites and CeremoniesRites and Ceremonies

Written memorial on Written memorial on behalf of the people to behalf of the people to their God’stheir God’s

Major festivals can last Major festivals can last for daysfor days

Rites can vary from Rites can vary from purification, invocation purification, invocation of the deities, prayers, of the deities, prayers, consecration and consecration and offerings, hymns and offerings, hymns and dancesdances

RitualsRituals

Can involve tens and hundreds of villages.Can involve tens and hundreds of villages. Occur every five to ten years.Occur every five to ten years. Communal Meals, Military Parades, and playsCommunal Meals, Military Parades, and plays

MeditationMeditation

Taoists practice meditationTaoists practice meditation Stillness of body lets them collect full Stillness of body lets them collect full

chichi Chi can be described as energy and Chi can be described as energy and

mattermatter

Tai Chi ChuanTai Chi Chuan

The martial arts The martial arts form practiced for form practiced for balancebalance

Spiritual, Spiritual, emotional, and emotional, and mental aspectsmental aspects

Form of movement Form of movement meditationmeditation

Used for self Used for self defensedefense

!Thank You!!Thank You!