TaoismTaoismTaoismTaoism

Lao Tzu (604 BC - 531 BC)

•father of Taoismfather of Taoism•attribute with the writing of Tao-attribute with the writing of Tao-te Chingte Ching

–"tao" - the way or the path–"te" - virtue–"ching" - laws

•He believed “simplicity” to be He believed “simplicity” to be the key to truth and freedomthe key to truth and freedom

“The truth is not always beautiful, nor beautiful words the truth.”- LAO TZU

• In this way,Taoist philosophy reached out to council rulers and advise them of how to govern their domains. Thus Taoism, in a peculiar and roundabout way, became a political philosophy. The formulation follows these lines:

The Taoist sage has no ambitions, therefore he can never fail. He who never fails always

succeeds. And he who always succeeds is all- powerful.

•  When he was eighty years old he set out for the western border of China, toward what is now Tibet, saddened and disillusioned that men were unwilling to follow the path to natural goodness

Tao-te Ching

• a series of poems that can be considered to be a work of philosophy, a treatise on how to run a government, a how-to book for achieving a balanced life, or a sage’s reflection of humanity and the universe

Chuang Tzu: The Next Voice

• His style of writing with its parables and conversations both accessible while at the same time pointing to deeper issues

• Chuang Tzu took the Taoist position of Lao Tzu and developed it further

• he brought into Chinese philosophy is that of self-transformation as a central precept in the Taoist process

"Once I, Chuang Tzu, dreamed I was a butterfly and was happy as a butterfly. I was conscious that I was quite pleased with myself, but I did not know that I was Tzu. Suddenly I awoke, and there was I, visibly Tzu. I do not know whether it was Tzu dreaming that he was a butterfly or the butterfly dreaming that he

was Tzu. Between Tzu and the butterfly there must be some distinction. [But one may be

the other.] This is called the transformation of things."

Development Development of Taoismof Taoism

Development Development of Taoismof Taoism

Yang HsiungYang HsiungWang Ch'ungWang Ch'ungHuai-Nan TzuHuai-Nan TzuLieh Tzu & Yang ChuLieh Tzu & Yang Chu

Yang Hsiung (53 B.C. to 18 A.D.)

• was an exponent of what he called Tai Hsuan (Great Mystery)

• This philosophy combined classical Taoism with elements of Confucian ethics

• He is well known for his doctrine that human nature is a mixture of good and evil.

"...To make clear the achievement of nature and throw light on all things is called yang. To be hidden, without form, deep and unfathomable, is called yin. Yang knows yang but does not know yin. Yin knows yin but does not know yang. The Profound Principle alone knows both yin and yang, both going and stopping, and both darkness and light."

--Tai Hsuan Ching

Wang Ch'ung(27 to 100 A.D.)

• Like Yang Hsiung he was a Taoist in terms of his metaphysics which he combined with certain Confucian ideas. He was less interested in ethics and more concerned with human institutions, however.

•He declared that Heaven takes no direct action; that natural events occur spontaneously; that there is no such thing as teleology; that fortune and misfortune come by chance; and that man does not become a ghost at death. In all these beliefs is stood against a prevailing current of superstition and divination.

Huai-Nan Tzu(died 122 B.C.) [born Liu An]

• was a prince of Huai-Nan and a fervent Taoist.

• He was not original in his writings but gave Taoism further prominence. He came to a tragic end as he plotted a rebellion, failed and committed suicide

Lieh Tzu & Yang Chu• Taoism is the hedonism

• Taoism is the pessimism

Yang Chu (440 to 360 B.C. )

• hedonism - school of thought that argues that pleasure is the only intrinsic good

• intrinsic good

Lieh Tzu (5th century B.C.)

• pessimism - it is a philosophy or worldview that directly challenges the notion of progress and what may be considered the faith-based claims of optimism

• extensial value

Religious Religious TaoismTaoism

Religious Religious TaoismTaoism

Taoist Practices and BeliefsTaoist Practices and BeliefsTaoist SectsTaoist SectsHistory of Religious TaoismHistory of Religious Taoism

Taoist Practices and Beliefs

• This 'religious' Taoism had its own temples, priests, rites and symbolic images. Lao Tsu was venerated as a 'saint' and imperial sacrifices were made to him. It drew strongly upon the ideas of yin-yang and of the 'Five Agents' (metal, wood, water, fire & earth)

• During this time there began to develop a pantheon of TAOIST DEITIES which were often venerated as gods.

• Among the important features of Taoist religion were the belief in physical immortality, alchemy, breath control and hygiene (internal alchemy). It supported a pantheon of deities, including Lao Tzu as one of the three 'Supreme Ones'

• There is considerable evidence that this religious Taoism came to take on many 'Tantric' elements, in which the worship of yin-yang takes on a distinctly sexual and erotic form. The interplay of yin and yang elements is represented, and celebrated, as a sexual union.

Headquarter: • White Cloud Temple, Beijing, China

Taoism has no centralized authority and different sects have different headquarters. However, the White Cloud Temple in Beijing is a key center for training for priests and for administration.

Taoism did not exist as an organized religion until the Way of the Celestial Masters sect was founded in 142 C.E. by Zhang Daoling

Taoist SectsAmong the principal Taoist sects to

emerge were:

• The Heavenly (or Celestial) Masters sectThe Heavenly (or Celestial) Masters sect, founded in West China in the second century A.D. It was founded by Chang Tao-ling (AD 34?-156?) who reputedly possessed remarkable healing powers. It advocated faith healing through the confession of sin and at one time recruited members as soldiers and engaged in war against the government.

In the 11th century, the sect obtained a large tract in Jiangxi province that remained an important Taoist center until 1927. The sect still flourishes in Taiwan and continues to pay homage to Zhang Daoling, who is regarded as immortal.

• The Supreme Peace sectThe Supreme Peace sect, also founded in the second century A.D., adopted practices much like those of the Heavenly Master sect and launched a great rebellion that went on for several years before ending in 205 A.D.

• The Mao-shan (Mount Mao) sectThe Mao-shan (Mount Mao) sect, founded in the 4th century, introduced rituals involving both external and internal alchemies, mediumistic practice, and visionary communication with divinities.

• The Ling-pao (Marvelous Treasure) The Ling-pao (Marvelous Treasure) sectsect, also founded in the 4th century, introduced the worship of divinities called T'ien-tsun (Heavenly Lords).

• The Ch'uan-chen (Completely Real) The Ch'uan-chen (Completely Real) sectsect was founded in the 12th century as a Taoist monastic movement.

• Eventually the Heavenly Master sectEventually the Heavenly Master sect absorbed most of the beliefs and practices of the other sects and, in the 20th century, became the most popular Taoist group.

History of Religious Taoism

Lao Tzu - Quotes• Seek not happiness too greedily, and be not fearful of

happiness. - Lao-tzu

• A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.- Lao-tzu

• He who knows does not speak.He who speaks does not know.

- Lao-tzu

• He who knows others is wise;He who know himself is enlightened.

- Lao-tzu• He who loves the world as his body may be entrusted with

the empire.- Lao-tzu

'doing nothing' one could 'accomplish everything.'