FREE ESSAY ON TAOISM

TAOISM

Taoism is a religion that originated in Ching, probably during the 300a??s B.C. Taoism is
also the name of a religion that began in the 100a??s B.C. Through the many years this
religion has influenced artists and writers in the East and West. The word Tao (also
spelled Dao) originally meant road or way. The Taoist studied their religion and they
believed that everything in the world was explained by the way. The word (the way) is
also meant as reality as a whole or individual a??waysa?? 
The beliefs of Taoism appear in two books, the a??Lao-tzua?? (later renamed the a??Tao Te
Chinga?? The Classic Way and Virtue) and the Chuan-tzu are all the different books that
they often read. The a??Lao-tzua?? is a book that was brought together by many unknown
authors. At first Confucianism was very popular among the Chinese but they believed they
had to many rules. In Confucianism people can live a good life only in a well-disciplined
society that stresses attention to ceremony, duty, mortality, and public service.
Although in Taoism it was not as strict. In the Taoist religion they believed to live a
simple life yet still mediated and was close to nature. The Taoist religion had an
influence on many of the artist involved. Tao Qian was highly against any type of
violence and wanted a life in harmony with nature. Xia Gui painted paintings and
landscapes that reflected the Taoist sensitivity to nature.
Taoism was influenced by Chinese folk religion. In folk religion their gods are
represented as human being who displayed exceptional powers during their lifetime. One of
many they believed was a god that was a human being in there past lives was Guan Di, who
is the protector of business people, lived as a general during the A.D. 200a??s. The
priests would display public rituals in which they submit the peoplea??s prayers to the
gods of folk religion. The chief priest, who is in a trance, prays to other divinities
for the worshipers. These divinities are not former human beings but represent aspects of
Tao. a??The members of some Taoist groups have sought to attention immortality through
magic, meditation and special diets, breath control, or the recitation of scriptures.
Tao is the first-cause of the universe. It is a force that flows through all life. The
goal of everyone is one with the Tao. The concept of a personified deity is foreign to
Taoism, as is the concept of the creation of the universe. Thus, they do not pray as
Christians do; there is no God to hear the prayers or act upon them. They seek answers to
lifea??s problems through inner meditation and other observation. Time cyclical, not
linear as in western thinking. Yin (dark side) is a breath that formed the earth. Yang
(light side) is the breath that formed the heavens. They symbolize pairs of opposites
that are seen through the universe, such as good and evil, light and dark, male and
female. Intervention by human civilization upsets the balances of Yin and Yang. a??The
Tao surrounds everyone therefore everyone must listen to find enlightenment.a?? Five main
organs and the body that complement Taoism are the five parts of the sky: water, fire,
wood, metal and earth. Each person must nurture the Cha??I (air, breath) that has been
given to him or her. Development of virtue is ones major task. The three jewels that
identify Taoism are compassion, moderation, and humility. Taoists follow the art of a??wu
weia??, which is to achieve action through minimal action. a??It is the practice of going
against the stream not by struggling against it and trashing about, but by standing still
and letting the stream do all the work. Thus the sage knows that relative to the river,
he still moves against the current. To the outside world the sage appears to take no
action-but in fact he takes action long before others ever foresee the need for
action.a?? Taoists believe that a?? people are compassionate by nature... left to their
own devices [they] will show this compassion without expecting an award.a??
Bibliography
Sivin, N. a??Taoisma?? The World Book Encyclopedia. 1997, Volume19 page 36
www.taoism.com