Taoism (too spelled Daoism) is a religion and a philosophy from aboriginal Mainland china that has influenced folk and national belief. Taoism has been continued to the philosopher Lao Tzu, who around 500 B.C.E. wrote the master book of Taoism, the Tao Te Ching. Taoism holds that humans and animals should live in balance with the Tao, or the universe. Taoists believe in spiritual immortality, where the spirit of the body joins the universe afterwards death.

The Tao Te Ching, or "The Way and Its Power," is a collection of poetry and sayings from around the tertiary and quaternary centuries B.C.E. that guides Taoist idea and actions. While the author is traditionally believed to be the philosopher Lao Tzu, there is little prove that Lao Tzu existed at all. Rather, the Tao Te Ching is a gathering of earlier sayings from many authors. This book was given an origin with the philosopher Lao Tzu for cultural and political reasons. Lao Tzu is sometimes understood as the image of the Tao, or a god, and given legendary status.

The Tao (or Dao) is hard to define but is sometimes understood as the way of the universe. Taoism teaches that all living creatures ought to live in a state of harmony with the universe, and the free energy found in it. Ch'i, or qi, is the free energy present in and guiding everything in the universe. The Tao Te Ching and other Taoist books provide guides for behavior and spiritual ways of living in harmony with this energy. However, Taoists do not believe in this free energy equally a god. Rather, there are gods as part of the Taoist beliefs, often introduced from the various cultures found in the region known now as China. These gods are part of the Tao, like all living things. Taoism has temples, monasteries, and priests who make offerings, meditate, and perform other rituals for their communities.

I of the principal ideas of Taoism is the belief in balancing forces, or yin and yang. These ideas represent matching pairs, such as light and dark, hot and cold, action and inaction, which work together toward a universal whole. Yin and yang show that everything in the universe is continued and that nothing makes sense past itself.

Taoism became well-known in the eighth century C.Due east. as the religion of the Tang dynasty. In the following centuries, it existed alongside Buddhism and Confucianism (some other philosophical religion). However, during the Communist takeover in 1959, Taoism, Confucianism, and other religions were banned. This caused a decline in the practice of Taoism in People's republic of china. Many modern Taoists live in Taiwan, although recent reforms in Communist china accept increased the number of Chinese Taoists.

Taoism

Mountain Laojun in Luoyan, Henan Province, Prc is a sacred site for Taoists. Hundreds of Taoists embark on pilgrimages every year along with tourists from around the world to see this spectacular site.

communist

Noun

person or group of people who support communism, a type of economy where all property, including country, factories and companies, is held by the regime.

Confucianism

Noun

system of philosophical and ethical teachings founded by Confucius.

catholic

Adjective

having to practice with the universe (creation).

Noun

learned behavior of people, including their languages, conventionalities systems, social structures, institutions, and cloth goods.

meditate

Verb

to appoint in deep idea, contemplation, or introspection.

monastery

Noun

place of residence and worship for a community of religious followers, usually called monks.

philosophy

Noun

the report of the basic principles of knowledge.

religion

Noun

a system of spiritual or supernatural belief.

Taoism

Noun

Chinese philosophy and religion emphasizing noninterference with the grade of natural events.

yang

Noun

agile, male one-half of yin and hang; represents rut, low-cal, and dryness

yin

Noun

passive, female person half of yin and yang; represents common cold, night, and wetness

yin and yang

Noun

inseparable and contradictory elements; a concept found in Taoism

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