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The history of Taoism stretches throughout Chinese history.Originating in prehistoric China, it has exerted a powerful influence over Chinese culture throughout the ages. . Taoism evolved in response to changing times, with its doctrine and associated practices being revised and ref
Taoism or Daoism ( / ˈ t aʊ. ɪ z əm / ⓘ , / ˈ d aʊ . ɪ z əm / ⓘ ) is a diverse philosophical and religious tradition indigenous to China , emphasizing harmony with the Tao 道 ( pinyin : dào ; Wade–Giles : tao 4 ).
In the Tao Te Ching, the ancient philosopher Laozi explains that the Tao is not a name for a thing, but the underlying natural order of the universe whose ultimate essence is difficult to circumscribe because it is non-conceptual yet evident in one's being of aliveness. The Tao is "eternally nameless" and should be distinguished from the ...
Forms of religion in China throughout history have included animism during the Xia dynasty, which evolved into the state religion of the Shang and Zhou.Alongside an ever-present undercurrent of Chinese folk religion, highly literary, systematised currents related to Taoism and Confucianism emerged during the Spring and Autumn period.
Daoism (or Taoism) is a philosophy centered on living in harmony with the Dao (Tao) (Chinese: 道; pinyin: Dào; lit. 'Way'), which is believed to be the source, pattern and substance of all matter. [9] Its origin can be traced back to the late 4th century B.C.E. and the main thinkers representative of this teaching are Laozi and Zhuang Zhou. [6]
Within the context of traditional Chinese philosophy and religion, Dao is a metaphysical concept originating with Laozi that gave rise to a religion (in Wade–Giles: Tao Chiao; in Pinyin: Daojiao) and philosophy (in Wade–Giles: Tao chia; in Pinyin: Daojia) referred to in English with the single term Daoism (aka Taoism).
Bagua diagram from Zhao Huiqian's (趙撝謙) Liushu benyi (六書本義, c. 1370s).. The Daodejing (also known as the Laozi after its purported author, terminus ante quem 3rd-century BCE) has traditionally been seen as the central and founding Taoist text, though historically, it is only one of the many different influences on Taoist thought, and at times, a marginal one at that. [12]
Ancient Chinese books were commonly referenced by the name of their real or supposed author, in this case the "Old Master", [16] Laozi. As such, the Tao Te Ching is also sometimes referred to as the Laozi , especially in Chinese sources.