Taoism

Lao TzU

• a philosopher and poet of ancient

China

• A legendary figure, he is usually

dated to around the 6th century BC

• founder of philosophical Taoism

• reputed author of the Tao Te Ching

Style in Writing

• Combination of old adages or cryptic

saying

• Often in rhyme

• Use of parallel construction

• Neatly balanced phrases

• Statements are laconic

• Paradoxical

Tao Te Ching

• “Classic of Tao and Its Virtue” also called

as “Lao Tzu”

• Contains 5000-words

• Contains the basic Taoism teachings

(Bible)

• Most influential book in China next to

Analects of Confucius

• Not all written by Lao Tzu

Taoism

• Named after the central idea “Tao” or “The Way”- basic principle of the universe

• Philosophical and religious system in China second to Confucianism

• Provide spiritual inspiration and moral standard for the Chinese

• Cult of Immortals and Way of Heavenly Teacher

Three Meanings of Tao

• Way of ultimate Reality

- cannot be perceived

• Way of the Universe

- driving power of all nature, ordering

principle

• Way of Human Life

-selflessness, cleanliness, emotional

calm

Writers

• Make striking use of symbols (water)

-All powerful, humble, self-effacing

• Female/mother

-passivity/creation

Types of Taoism

Cult of Immortals

• Sought immortality through meditation,

breathing exercises, bathing, gymnastics,

sexual arts, medicine and chemistry

• I Ching (Book of Changes)

-All elements could be concentrated

and harmonized in one’s body

• Eight Immortals

Eight Immortals

• He Xiangu

• Cao Guojiu

• Li Tieguai

• Lan Caihe

• Lü Dongbin

• Han Xiangzi

• Zhang Guolao

• Zhongli Quan

Way of Heavenly Teacher

• Highly organized religion

• Regulated the Taoism ceremonies, fixed

the named of deities

• Formulated a theology

• Three Pure Ones

Confucianism VS. Taoism

• Prosaic

• Dull

• Moralistic

• Common-Sensical

• Mysticism

• All wit

• Paradox

• Poetic vision

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we

fall.”

“To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.”

Chuang Chua

• Second greatest Taoist teacher

• Author of many stories about sage

*Books

• One of the shortest

• Most provocative

• Inspired works in all Chinese literature

• Much of his work deals with nature

The Turtle

Chuang Tzu with his bamboo pole

was fishing in the Pu river

The prince of Chu sent two vice-chancellors

with a formal document:

We hereby appoint you prime minister

Chuang Tzu held his bamboo pole still.

Watching the Pu river, he said:

“I am told there is a sacred tortoise offered

and canonized three thousand years ago,

venerated by the prince, wrapped in silk,

in a precious shrine on an altar

in the temple.

What do you think?

Is it better to give up one’s life

and leave a sacred shell

as an object of cult

in a cloud of incense

for three thousand years,

or to live as a plain turtle

dragging its tail in the mud?”

“For the turtle”, said the vice-chancellor,

“better to live and drag its tail in the mud!”

“Go home!”, said Chuang Tzu.

“Leave me here

to drag my tail in the mud.”

Notable Books on Taoism

• Tao Te Ching

-Lao Tzu

• I Ching (Yijing)- one of the oldest

surviving books of the world (Book of

Changes)

• The Art of War- is the most famous book

on applying Tao in military strategies.

-Sun Tzu

THANK YOU!

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you

strength, while loving someone deeply

gives you courage.”

-Lao Tzu