Taoism (in het Engels)

Introduction

In this piece of work we are going to look deeper into Taoism.
Along with Confucianism and Buddhism, Taoism is one of the three major teachings in China. Unfortunately no precise date can be set for the birth of Taoism. It is also quite complicated to define the boundaries since the teachings are very open and are at all time developing and changing.

The Chinese character Tao or Dao ("Way").

It is an ancient teaching which takes form as a pair of oppositions, known as yin and yang. The word Tao can be literally translated into path or way. It is a complete way of life based on the natural goodness within every person.
Politics, philosophy, religion, medicine, art and science have all been inspired by the approach of life within the Taoist faith. In today’s world people try their very best to improve something and to succeed and fulfil their dreams. Taoist believe that you can accomplish much more without all the effort which causes often lots of discomfort and stress. Not until you become one with Tao, and as a result with yourself, you are able to develop your talents fully. Through this ancient teaching Taoist believe that you can find out a new way of stillness and creativeness as well as strategies for living.
This is a short summary of the idea behind Taoism. We will answer the following key question with reference to Taoism.
Our key question is;
Is Taoism a religion or a philosophy?
Our hypotheses is as follows;
We would expect the following answer to our key question: We think that Taoism is both a religion and a philosophy. It is a philosophy when it is discussed, it is a religion when it's teachings are adopted as a way to live. At the end of our piece of work we hope to form a conclusion whether our hypothesis is right or wrong.

Conclusion

Our key question was;
Is Taoism a religion or a philosophy?
At the beginning of this piece of work our hypotheses was as followed;
We would expect the following answer to our key question: We think that Taoism is both a religion and a philosophy. It is a philosophy when it is discussed, it is a religion when it's teachings are adopted as a way to live.

At this moment we hope to form a conclusion whether our hypothesis is right or wrong.
Taoism is by researchers divided into philosophical and religious systems. Philosophical Taoism refers to the writings of Lao Tzu and the religious Taoism to a enormous variety of "popular" religious traditions in China. Religious Taoism is historically related (mainly as an ancestor) to Chinese Zen Buddhism.
The term philosophy derives from a combination of the Greek words philos meaning love and sophia meaning wisdom. What philosophy is, or should be, is a philosophical question that philosophers have understood and treated differently through the ages. Some say it is any personal belief about how to live or how to deal with a situation
Together with the development of Taoism as a philosophy another more strictly religious understanding of Taoism was evolving. This 'religious' Taoism had its own temples, priests, rites and symbolic images. Lao Tzu was honoured as a 'saint' a ‘deity’ and grand sacrifices were made to him. It drew strongly upon the ideas of yin-yang and of the 'Five Agents' (metal, wood, water, fire & earth).

So by wrapping up all our information we can say that Taoism is indeed a religion as well as a philosophy, and so our hypothesis was correct. Nevertheless, when we searched the internet, we also came across the opinion that Taoism is not a religion nor a philosophy, they believed it is a way of life. Although most of us think that a religion and a philosophy has a major impact on the way of life. When you believe that you only go to heaven when you lived a good life, you indeed will live a good life.

History

It is believed that the originator of Taoism is acknowledged as Lao-Tzu. He dedicated his whole live balancing his inner spirits. Throughout his lifetime he has been searching for an approach that would avoid the constant warfare and other conflicts that disturbed the entire society during his lifetime. Lao-tzu desired that all humankind would grow closer to nature. He wanted to get away from the set of laws made by the government or society. The government was selfish and power-hungry in his point of view. In his world, he would have absolutely no rules. Here people would live uncomplicated and peaceful lives.

"They would find that their plain food is sweet, and that their simple clothes were fancy. They would have their war horses become plough horses. And their homes would then be happy places”.
Lao-Tzu
Lao-Tzu would like people to transform their ways of live and of the world they knew. Nevertheless most ordinary people still wanted the help of a god. Therefore old superstitions and magic continued and were mixed together with his ideas. About 700 years later, a group of people formed a religion, called Taoism, around the ideas of Lao-tzu. In opposition to the wishes of Lao-tzu, his followers searched for islands in the sea where they supposed to find some very special plants. These plants would allow man to live forever. Whilst creating these medicines, they learned a great deal about plants. Even though they didn't know it, they were among the first who worked in the science of botany, the study of plant life. When Lao-Tzu was eighty years old he set out for the western border of China, toward what is now known as Tibet. Saddened and disappointed that men were unwilling to follow the path to natural goodness. At the border, a guard Yin Xi, asked Lao-Tzu to put his teachings in writing before he left. He then collected in 5,000 characters the Tao Te Ching (The Way and Its Power). This automatically became the original book of Tao. The Tao is the natural order of things. When the Tao is in balance it is possible to find perfect happiness. Many of the Taoist became hermits (isolated), living far away from the worry of the city in mountain caves or forests. They wanted too get closer to nature. Even though, other people might get close to nature by reading some Chinese poetry or looking at some Chinese paintings. Taoism is more a style of living than an actual religion, it enquires that each and every person focuses on the world around him or her in order to understand the inner harmonies of the world. This type of religious system is for the most part focused on meditation and consideration. The Tao surrounds every person, the trick is that you have to pay attention and believe in it to finally find enlightenment. Taoism was developed into a religious faith or a religious way of live in 440 CE as soon as it was officially adapted as a state religion during the late East Han Dynasty. You can imagine that Lao-Tzu became popularly honoured as a true deity. Along with Confucianism and Buddhism, Taoism is one of the three main religions in China which have shaped Chinese life for more than 2000 years. Whereas Confucianism is to a great extent concerned with social relations, behaviour and human society, Taoism has a much more personal and mystical character, greatly influenced by nature.

Philosofy of taoism

Taoism is a religion that can be interpreted in many ways, and has many sub-flows next to its main flow. However, there are a few basic philosophies in Taoism. The main one is the following:

“It is in the nature of the Tao that it cannot be spoken of. Talking about Taoism in a clear and rational way is, in fact, not to talk about Taoism. The Tao that can be named is not the true Tao.”

So, how exactly could someone explain anything about Taoism, if you cannot talk about it? For starters one could explain what the Tao is.

Tao means “the Way”, it is life and the way you live it, the path you walk. The Tao always has to be in balance and in opposites; the Yin-Yang figure represent this. Taoism makes people concentrate on the world around them so that they can begin to understand the inner harmonies of the universe. This is why a lot of Taoists spend their time in meditation, focusing themselves on the single task of “understanding”. Because the Tao surrounds everyone and everything one must focus and listen in their meditation to be able to find enlightenment.

Taoists have a few simple rules of conduct too. They believe that a person must try to shape their lives as little as possible. This means that most Taoists are recognised for their spontaneity. Lack of planning is a must in their society. One must also try to live as simple as possible, while still enjoying their life to the fullest. Taoism is about individual freedom, not interfering in another’s affairs and focusing on the now and here. Taoists would see their way reflected in the government too as much as possible. They, however, also realize that this is not possible and therefore try to limit government control whenever they can.
Taoists also put a lot of effort into becoming immortal. Immortality, or old age, is much respected in their culture. These old men and women are often considered to be wise people. Taoists therefore follow a very healthy diet, meditate a lot and practise the fine art of breath-control. Alchemy, the use of magical talismans and body-training techniques (gymnastics and massage) are also often practised to reach the stadium of long life or immortality.
Their Alchemy involves herbs and chemical compounds which would help people live long lives. They are especially good with herbal medicine and pharmacology.
Al these alternate ways of achieving immortality evolve around keeping the body strong yet youthful.

As said before, Taoists do not plan, nor do they try to unnecessary involve themselves into things and situations. If they could have their way, there would be no necessity for any kind of action anymore. This, however, does not mean that they are lazy people. They simply do that what needs to be done, without creating any more fuss about it. But when faced with a bigger challenge, with a life threatening situation, with things that do need a lot of planning, they believe in Wu Wei.
Wu Wei literary means “without action”. It is an important Taoist view on everything that they do.

Wei Wu Wei: "action without action."

Wu Wei tells us to practise minimal action. It is the art of letting-be. It helps Taoists find their way. The universe was created to excists in perfect harmony with all its elements. However, a man’s will disrupts the balace that already exists. So man should adapt their will to coexist with the universal harmony. To do this, is an aspect in Wu Wei. The mind, and will of man must not be dimmed by these rules. Especially the mind must learn tp percieve the Tao within all things and find a way to coincide with it.
Wu Wei has also often been compared to water. Water by itself is weak, but when you have alot of it, it is strong and has a lot of power. Water has no shape (like Wu Wei and the Tao); it has the ability to reunite (like the Tao); water is a (strong) force (it is also a life force); water is pure and clean.
Practising the Wu Wei would also mean that one should take action before the real action even started. To the ouside worls one must appear to be taking no action, while in fact the action has already been taken befor the need for action arose. It is thinking strategically and deep about the actions which you take.

Taosim is about peace and harmony, understanding the world around you, living long prosperous lives and it is also about love.
Taoists also have a particular view upon love. Love, in their eyes is to take care of people; they call this Universal love. Caring in this context literally means that Taoists would dress someone, feed someone even house someone if they would be in a position to. They would help people if the oudcome would be preferable by both parties; happiness. It also means that they try to avoid hurting anybody unless if there is absolutely no choice (like in a war). They make it clear that you are not only responsible for the happiness of yourself and your family and friend, but also for the hapiness of strangers. If you do not or cannot oblige the rules of universal love, you are practising partioal love; loving only those who are close to you. They believe that partial love is responsible for all the misfortunes and unhappiness that people can suffer.
Taoists have a particular saying which shows how they would also practise Universal love:

"I am good to the man who is good to me; likewise, I am also good to the bad man."

However, there is one question that remains unanswered for me. I wonder how they can combine the ‘let-be philosophy’ with Universal love?

Taoist Worship

Taoism worship actually started witch alchemy. Usually the first Taoist priests mixed elixirs, trying to make an elixir for immortality. Practically everything Taoists say or do has something to do with finding immortality, eternal life. These priests, often referred to as the magicians, were seen as spirit mediums and experts in levitation.
Old legends say that the early priests were the heirs of the ancient folk religion of China, which had been rejected by the early Confucians.
Along the fact that the Taoists have a strong belief in alchemy, the also find breath control and hygiene (“internal alchemy”) rather important.
A lot of these things are described in the Tao-te-ching, or Dao-de-ding, the holy book of Taoism. According to the myths, the Tao-te-ching was written by the highest deity in Taoism, Lao Tzu.
The actual worship takes place in special tramples, in which the deities are displayed in richly coloured images or statues. People pray to these deities, usually asking them what to do, since the Tao means ‘the Way’.
Every deity holds one, or more than one, Taoist symbol. These symbols are usually common Chinese items, with a special meaning.

Taoist Gods/deities

Yu-huang
Yu-huang is the great High God of the Taoists, the ‘Jade Emperor’. He rules Heaven and Earth. All other gods must report to him. His most important function is to keep justice, which he does through the court system of Hell where evil deeds and thoughts are punished. Yu-huang is the Lord of the living and the dead and of all the Buddhas, all the gods, all the spectres and all the demons.
According to legend he was the son of an emperor Ch'ing-te and his wife Pao Yueh-kuang. After spending few years on the throne he abdicated and retired. So he became a monk, spending his time studying medicine and Taoist texts.

Yuan-shih T'ien-tsun
Although Yu-huang is the High God, there are other abstract deities above him. He rules; they simply exist and instruct. First and most important one is Yuan-shih T'ien-tsun, the ‘First Principal’.
He has no beginning and no end. He existed "before the void and the silence, before primordial chaos." He is self-existing, never changes, has no limits, is invisible, contains all virtues, is present in all places and is the source of all truth.

San-ch'ing, Three Pure Ones
The so-called Three Pure Ones. They are Yu-ch'ing (Jade Pure), Shang-ch'ing (Upper Pure) and T'ai-ch'ing (Great Pure). They are believed to be different appearances of Lao Tzu. They are no rulers, but they try to save mankind by teachings and charity.
Yu-ch'ing lives in the same place as Yuan-shih T'ien-tsun and the Holy Men (sheng-jen) live. Shang-ch'ing lives with Ling-pao T'ien-tsun (Spiritual Treasure Honoured by Heaven) and the Heroes. T'ai-ch'ing is the direct appearance of Lao Tzu. He holds a fan, symbol of his powers, on which are written the yin-yang symbol and the Big Dipper* (see the end of this part).

San-kuan, Three Officials
The San-kuan rule over all things in the three regions of the universe, keep a register of good and evil deeds and award good or bad fortune with what they think is the right. T'ien-kuan, the Ruler of Heaven, promises happiness. Ti-kuan, Ruler of Earth, promises to release you from your sins, and Shui-kuan, Ruler of Water, prevents all evil. Their compassion for all people is unlimited. The San-kuan originated in a ceremony, from the time of the Yellow-Turban Taoists.

San-yuan, Three Epochs (or Principals)
The San-yuan originate from the time called the Eastern Chin Dynasty (317-420 A.D), when the year was divided into three periods of a different length. Shang- yuan ruled during the first six moons (winter and spring), Hsia-yuan ruled during the 7th and 8th moons (summer) and Chung-yuan ruled during the 9th to 11th moons (autumn). It was believed that they lived in the tzu-wei, or the North Star* (see the end of this part).

T'ien-shih
Chang Tao-ling, or T'ien-shih (157-178 A.D.), the founder of the Yellow Turban Taoists (peasant rebellion against Emperor Lingdi of the Han Dynasty) . Taoists believe that he received the Ling-pao (spiritual Treasure) Scripture written on golden tablets, from the Gods. He succeeded in finding the elixir of immortality, swallowed it, and went to Heaven, leaving his secrets, including his seals and demon-banishing sword, with his son.
Since then the title T'ien-shih has passed through the family for generations.

Lu Tung-pin
Lu Tung-pin (755 - 805 A.D.) was a scholar, doctor and official. He became a Taoist after a long and famous life as an official, but it ended in shame. He was very popular in his life and after his people referred to him as the King of Medicine. He represents the wealthy and literacy.

Pa-hsien, Eight Immortals
These are popular deities based on historical figures. They were believed to live in caves in Heaven. They are:

Ts'ao Kuo-chiu
Ts'ao Kuo-chiu represents the nobility. He was connected with the Imperial Sung Dynasty. His brother committed a crime, which he regretted and he retired. He became a monk who studied the Tao and learned the recipe for perfection. He holds in his hands the tablet that admits one to an audience with the emperor.
“One day Han Ching-li and Lu Tung-pin found him and asked him what he was doing. He replied that he was studying the Tao. "What is that and where is it?" they asked. He pointed first to the sky and then to his heart. Then they realized that he understood and they gave him the recipe for perfection.”

Chang Kuo-lao
Chang Kuo-lao was once the head of the Imperial Academy, but he retired to live as a monk on mount Chung-t'iao in Shansi. He was summoned to court by the Empress Wu (684-705 A.D.). But, when he reached the Temple of the Jealous Woman, he fell down dead. Shortly afterwards he came back to life.
He had a magic mule which could travel thousands of miles a day. When he reached his destination the mule would turn to paper and Chang Kuo-lao could fold it up and put it in his pocket. To turn the paper back into a mule again, he unfolded it and squirted water on it with his mouth. He is often pictured riding the mule, but facing its tail.

Li T'ieh-kuai
Li T'ieh-kuai has an iron crutch and a black face. He represents the crippled and deformed. He tries to relieves human suffering. He was mas made immortal by Hsi-wang-mu, Queen of the Immortals.
One day, when his soul went to mount Hua, he told his pupil to guard his body and cremate it after seven days if he had not returned. On the sixth day the pupils mother fell ill, so he decided to leave and burn the body a day earlier. Li T'ieh-kuai's soul on returning could not find his body so he entered that of an old man who had just died. He discovered that it was a cripple. At first he wanted to leave it but Lao Tzu convinced him to stay and gave him golden jewelry and an iron crutch.
He carries a jar with him in which he keeps medicine to help people. Some say that it contains the elixir of life made from the peaches of immortality that grow in Hsi-wang-mu's garden.

Ho Hsien-ku
Ho Hsien-ku is holding a lotus blossom (a symbol of purity) and a peach. The legend is that she lived in the time of the Empress Wu (684-705 A.D.) in the Yun-mu (Cloud Mother) Mountains.
One night she had a dream that she should crush a stone called Yun-mu and eat it. She did this and vowed purity at the same time. After that she floated from mountain peak to peak gathering fruits which she gave to her mother (she didn’t have to eat them herself). The Empress heard of her and summoned her to the court but on the way she disappeared. In this way she became an immortal.
She is the patron deity of women.

Han Hsiang-tsu
Han Hsiang-tsu represents youth. He was the grand nephew of Han Yu (768- 824 A.D.) who was a minister to Emperor Hsing-tung. He is said to have accomplished all kinds of remarkable achievements, including producing extraordinary plants.
He became an immortal by eating one of the peaches of immortality. He carries a basket of fruit or flowers with him.
He was a disciple of Lu Tung-pin.

Han Chung-li
Han Chung-li represents military men. He lived during the Han dynasty when he was a Marshall of the Empire. In his old age he became a monk and lived on Yang-chiu mount in Shansi where he met the Five Heroes who taught him how to be an immortal. Later on, he taught this knowledge to Lu Tung-pin.
During a famine he turned base metals into silver which he divided between poor people.
He holds a fan or a peach.
When he achieved immortality he was carried by a stork into Heaven.
Another legend says that Han Chung-li was in his hut and then suddenly the walls opened and showed him the way to become immortal.

* The North Star, or the Little Dipper is the brightest star in the constellation Ursa Minor, also known as Polaris, alpha Ursae Minoris, or "Little Bear”.

Taoist Temples

Taoism temples look a lot like the Buddhist temples, in the traditional Chinese gardens. It’s easy to mistake an Buddhist temple for a Taoist one, or the other way around. They look quite the same. But, to see whether you’re dealing with a Buddhist, or a Taoist temple, just look at the decorations and the deities the people pray to.
Right next to the main entrance of the temple, you can find a statue of a dragon and a lion, guarding the gate. In the main hall al kinds of important deities are displayed. These deities are displayed more like common people than the Buddhist holy or sacred world.
Another decoration you will probably find in a temple is a tortoise together with a snake, an elephant, a lion, a gourd, of one of the other important Taoist symbols. Most decorations are brightly coloured.
Many temples are decorated with timber framework, a traditional Chinese architecture. This is because timber is derived from wood, which is one of the five elementary substances of which are believed to form everything in the world. These five elements are: gold, wood, water, fire and earth. It is rumoured that Taoists always chose the things which are the closest to nature. Therefore, they would rather use timber framework or houses than cement or stone ones.
Another typical thing for Taoist temples are up-turned overhangs. These overhangs are beautifully curved and represent the explosive and lively style. They also symbolise flying to the Taoist wonderland.

Taoist Symbols

Lotus blossom, the symbol of peace.
Double-gourd. This contains all magical medicines of Li Tieguai, dispenser of medicine. Peach and Fan. Resurrect the dead and is hel by Zhongli Quan, who represents the military man.
Flower basket or sometimes a flute of Lan Caihe, the patron of florists and a symbol of fake pleasure. The Flute is an emblem of harmony and also of the Patron Saint of Musicians.
Bamboo drum and rods of Zhang Guo represent old age and are the symbol of life.
Sword, and sometime a fly brush, of Lu Dongbin, the Patron Saint of scholars and barbers is worshipped by the sick. He slays dragons and gets rid of all the evil in the world. A fly brush is also a symbol for the Buddhist warning "Do not Kill", for 'magic' and 'leadership'.
Flute of Han Xiangxi, the Patron Saint of Musicians has the power to make flowers grow and blossom immediately. The Flute is an emblem of harmony and also of the Patron Saint of Florists.
Castanets of Cao Guojiu, the patron saint of theater actors.

Summary

Chapter 1: If the Tao can be told, it is not the eternal Tao.
Chapter 2: When people find some things beautiful, other things become ugly.
When people find some things good, other things immediately become bad.
Chapter 3: Practice not doing and everything will fall into place.
Chapter 4: The Tao is like a well: you can use it as much as you want, but it never runs out.
It is like the eternal void: everything is possible.
Chapter 5:The Tao doesn't take sides, it gives birth to both good and evil.
Hold on to the centre.
Chapter 6: The Tao is always within you, you can use it any way you want.
Chapter 7: The Tao is infinite, eternal.
It was never born, so it can never die.
The Tao is not selfish, it’s always there for all beings.
Chapter 8: When you’re happy to be yourself, and feel no need to compare yourself with someone else, everybody will respect you.
Chapter 9:Do your work, then step back.
The only path to patience and peacefulness.
Chapter 10:Giving birth and nursing, having without possessing, acting with no expectations, leading and not trying to control: this is the supreme virtue.
Chapter 11: We shape the clay into a pot, but it is the emptiness inside that holds whatever we want.
We work with being, but non-being is what we use.
Chapter 12: Colours blind the eye. Sound deafens the ear.
Flavours numb the taste. Thoughts weaken the mind.
Desires collapse the heart.
The master observes the world, but trusts his inner vision.
Chapter 13: Success is as dangerous as failure. Hope is as hollow as fear.
See the world as your self. Have faith in the way things are.
Chapter 14: Look, and it can't be seen.
Listen, and it can't be heard.
Reach, and it can't be grasped.
Just realize where you come from: this is the essence of wisdom.
Chapter 15: Not seeking, not expecting, the Tao is the present and can welcome all things.
Involved in the wonder of the Tao, you can deal with whatever life brings you, and when death comes, you are ready.
Chapter 16: Immersed in the wonder of the Tao, you can deal with whatever life brings you,
and when death comes, you are ready.
Chapter 17: When the Master governs, the people are hardly aware that he exists.
If you don't trust the people, you make them untrustworthy.
Chapter 18: When the great Tao is forgotten, goodness and loyalty will disappear.
Chapter 19: Just stay at the centre of the circle and let all things take their course.
Chapter 20: Stop thinking, and end your problems.
Chapter 21: The Tao is ungraspable. The Tao is dark and bottomless.
The Tao existed long before time and space were even here.
Chapter 22: When the ancient Masters said, "If you want to be given everything, give everything up,"
Only in being lived by the Tao can you be truly yourself.
Chapter 23: Open yourself to the Tao, then trust your natural responses, and everything will fall into place.
Chapter 24: If you want to agreement with the Tao, just do your job, then let go.
Chapter 25: There was something formless and perfect before the universe was born.
The universe follows the Tao. The Tao follows only itself.
Chapter 26: If you let restlessness move you, you lose touch with who you are.
Chapter 27: A good traveller has no fixed plans and is not intent upon arriving.
A good artist lets his intuition lead him wherever it wants.
A good scientist has freed himself of concepts and keeps his mind open to what is.
Chapter 28: If you receive the world, the Tao will never leave you.
If you are a pattern for the world, the Tao will be strong inside you.
If you accept the world, the Tao will be luminous inside you.
Chapter 29: The Master sees things as they are, without trying to control them.
She lets them go their own way, and resides at the centre of the circle.
Chapter 30: For every force there is a counterforce.
The Master does his job and then stops.
Chapter 31: He enters a battle gravely, with sorrow and with great compassion, as if he were attending a funeral.
Chapter 32: All things end in the Tao as rivers flow into the sea.
Chapter 33: If you stay in the centre and embrace death with your whole heart, you will endure forever.
Chapter 34: The great Tao flows everywhere.
It isn't aware of its greatness; thus it is truly great.
Chapter 35: When you look for it, there is nothing to see.
When you listen for it, there is nothing to hear.
When you use it, it is inexhaustible.
Chapter 36: Let your workings remain a mystery. Just show people the results.
Chapter 37: The Tao never does anything, yet through it all things are done.
When there is no desire, all things are at peace.
Chapter 38: He has no will of his own. He dwells in reality, and lets all illusions go.
Chapter 39: He doesn't glitter like a jewel but lets himself be shaped by the Tao, as rugged and common as stone.
Chapter 40: Return is the movement of the Tao. Yielding is the way of the Tao.
All things are born of being. Being is born of non-being.
Chapter 41: The Tao is nowhere to be found. Yet it nourishes and completes all things.
Chapter 42: The Tao gives birth to One. One gives birth to Two.
Two gives birth to Three. Three gives birth to all things.
Chapter 43: Teaching without words, performing without actions: that is the Master's way.
Chapter 44: When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.
Chapter 45: The Master allows things to happen. She shapes events as they come.
She steps out of the way and lets the Tao speak for itself.
Chapter 46: There is no greater illusion than fear, whoever can see through all fear will always be safe.
Chapter 47: The more you know, the less you understand.
Chapter 48: True mastery can be gained by letting things go their own way.
It can't be gained by interfering.
Chapter 49: The Master has no mind of her own. She works with the mind of the people.
Chapter 50: The Master gives himself up to whatever the moment brings.
Chapter 51: Every being in the universe is an expression of the Tao.
That is why love of the Tao is in the very nature of things.
Chapter 52: In the beginning was the Tao. All things issue from it; all things return to it.
Chapter 53: Be aware when things are out of balance. Stay centred within the Tao.
Chapter 54: Whoever is planted in the Tao will not be rooted up.
Whoever embraces the Tao will not slip away.
Her name will be held in honour from generation to generation.
Chapter 55: He lets all things come and go effortlessly, without desire.
He never expects results; thus he is never disappointed.
Chapter 56: Those who know don't talk. Those who talk don't know.
Be like the Tao. It gives itself up continually. That is why it endures.
Chapter 57: If you want to be a great leader, you must learn to follow the Tao.
Stop trying to control.
Let go of fixed plans and concepts, and the world will govern itself.
Chapter 58: Try to make people happy, and you lay the groundwork for misery.
Try to make people moral, and you lay the groundwork for vice.
Chapter 59: For governing a country well there is nothing better than moderation.
The mark of a moderate man is freedom from his own ideas.
Chapter 60: Give evil nothing to oppose and it will disappear by itself.
Chapter 61: Humility means trusting the Tao, thus never needing to be defensive.
Chapter 62: The Tao is the centre of the universe, the good man's treasure, the bad man's refuge.
Chapter 63: Act without doing; work without effort.
Think of the small as large and the few as many.
Confront the difficult while it is still easy; accomplish the great task by a series of small acts.
Chapter 64: Prevent trouble before it arises. Put things in order before they exist.
The giant pine tree grows from a tiny sprout.
The journey of a thousand miles starts from beneath your feet.
Chapter 65: Content with an ordinary life, you can show all people the way back to their own true nature.
Chapter 66: All streams flow to the sea because it is lower than they are.
Humility gives it its power.
Chapter 67: Simple in actions and in thoughts, you return to the source of being.
Patient with both friends and enemies, you accord with the way things are.
Compassionate toward yourself, you reconcile all beings in the world.
Chapter 68:The best athlete wants his opponent at his best.
The best general enters the mind of his enemy.
The best businessman serves the communal good.
The best leader follows the will of the people.
Chapter 69: When two great forces oppose each other, the victory will go to the one that knows how to yield.
Chapter 70: My teachings are older than the world. How can you grasp their meaning?
If you want to know me, look inside your heart.
Chapter 71: Not-knowing is true knowledge. Presuming to know is a disease.
Chapter 72: He teaches without a teaching, so that people will have nothing to learn.
Chapter 73: The Tao is always at ease.
It overcomes without competing, answers without speaking a word,
arrives without being summoned, accomplishes without a plan.
Chapter 74: If you realize that all things change, there is nothing you will try to hold on to.
If you aren't afraid of dying, there is nothing you can't achieve.
Chapter 75: Act for the people's benefit. Trust them; leave them alone.
Chapter 76: Whoever is stiff and inflexible is a disciple of death.
Whoever is soft and yielding is a disciple of life.
The hard and stiff will be broken.
The soft and supple will prevail.
Chapter 77: As it acts in the world, the Tao is like the bending of a bow.
The top is bent downward; the bottom is bent up.
It adjusts excess and deficiency so that there is perfect balance.
It takes from what is too much and give to what isn't enough.
Chapter 78: Nothing in the world is as soft and yielding as water.
Yet for dissolving the hard and inflexible, nothing can surpass it.
True words seem paradoxical.
Chapter 79: Failure is an opportunity. If you blame someone else, there is no end to the blame.
Chapter 80: If a country is governed wisely, its inhabitants will be content.
Chapter 81: True words aren't eloquent; eloquent words aren't true.
Wise men don't need to prove their point; men who need to prove their point aren't wise.
The Tao nourishes by not forcing. By not dominating, the Master leads.

Taoist Rituals

In Taoism, there are a lot of rituals. Therefore, I will explain only one of them. Since immortality is one of the most important things the Taoists believe in, I chose to explain the Immortal Taoist Ritual.
To perform this ritual you need:
• A sword (one of the holy symbols)
• A bowl with hot water.

The candidate holds these two things for a moment, the sword in his or her right hand and the bowl in his or her left hand. The priest than takes them away and hands an ivory tablet over to the candidate. He or she has to hold this respectfully in front of his or her chest. The upper edge must come up as high as his or her mouth. He or she will be facing the altar, still holding the tablet.
The priest prays to the Gods and Spirits and beats a wooden block in front of him, to indicate the rhythm of the prayer.
After the prayers, the candidate receives the sword and bowl with water again. He or she will again hold this for just a moment. Once again, the priest takes away the sword and bowl, and hands the tablet over to the candidate. He or she is still standing in front of the altar, facing its centre point. Once again, the priest starts praying, but this time it’s the final prayer.
The candidate kneels before the priest, with bowed head. The priest takes out a flame-shaped and places this on a crown the candidate is wearing,. This completes the prayers and illustrates the original vital breathing (chi) of the candidate.
Now the candidate is ‘immortal’: light, shy and doing good without acting or interfering.

The Ying Yang symbol:
One of the best known Chinese symbols is the “ying yang”.
"It represents the balance of opposites in the universe. When they are equally present, all is calm. When one is outweighed by the other, there is confusion and disarray."
But only a few people in the western world know that this symbol belongs to the Taoism religion. There are so many different interpretations of the Ying Yang symbol that I took only 3 of them:
1) "The most traditional view is that 'yin' represents aspects of the feminine: being soft, cool, calm, and healing... and "yang" the masculine: being hard, hot, energetic, moving, and sometimes aggressive.
2) Another view has the 'yin' representing night and 'yang' day.
3) One tradition states that Yin (or Ying; the dark side) represents the breath that formed the earth. Yang (the light side) symbolizes the breath that formed the heavens.
But because nothing in nature is purely white or black each of the 2 sides has a spot of the other colour inside of him. The easiest way to explain the Ying yang symbol is to say that Ying and yang are the opposites of each other in every way. In the Taoist belief humans often disturb nature and thereby disturb the balance of Ying and Yang.

The festivals

Some festivals welcome the seasons of the year, the harvest, the rains or the full moon, whilst others celebrate religious occasions, birthdays of saints and great teachers, or the start of the New Year. The old Taoist calendar is different than the western calendar so it could be that the dates of the festivals are not every were the same.
There are so many festivals in the Taoist belief that I decided to take 4 of them and explain them.
• On September the 18th there is the “harvest moon festival” also known as the mid-autumn festival. It is said that the origin of this festival comes from the legend of Chan Er. Who took a magic pill to become a fairy to fly to the moon and so escape her husband. It is said that you can see Chang Er when the moon is at its brightest. Which is the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar. On the western calendar this changes every year but falls most of the time in September.
• On October the 11th the Chung Yeung festival is hold. It is being held on the ninth day of the ninth month, it is the DOUBLE NINE, also meaning “forever” and is the day on which Chinese people go to the hillsides to attend their ancestors graves, make sacrifices of special paper money and paper winter clothing, and afterwards there is a picnic.
• On the 29th: the Chinese new year is held (2006: year of the dog). New year in China is always very colourful and happy. They use lots of firework and dress up as dragons to drive away the evil spirits of the year before.
• Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated on the 31 of may. The origin of this festival is not clear but the most accepted theory is the one is about the patriotic scholar-statesman Chu Yuan who drowned himself to protest against the emperor. Chu Yuan worked very hard to offer good counsel to the emperor but the emperor wouldn’t listen. When the people heard about this they jumped into their boats to look for him. But as they didn’t find Chu Yuan they hammered on their drums to scare the fish away so that they wouldn’t touch the body. People who lived along the river bank put cooked rice in bamboo leaves on the river as a sacrifice this is todays rice dumbling. It is believed that the Dragon Boat Festival a great Day for collecting herbs as medicine is. It is believed that the herbs work better if you pick them and prepare them on this day.

Clothing

I didn’t find much on the topic of taoism and clothing. I only found out that the clothing had to comfortable with meditating and not to much distracting (belly free). I don’t think that there are rules of clothing outside on the street. On festivals this is of course different.

Don Yong's Wife

In the Han Dynasty in Qiancheng lived a man by the name of Dong Yong. His mother died when he was a child. While living with his father, he worked hard in the fields. Each time they went out, he would put his old father on a small cart and follow it on foot. When his father died, he was willing to sell himself into slavery for a little money for the funeral. Knowing that he was a virtuous man, his master gave him ten thousand coins and allowed him to go home.
Dong was in mourning for three years. When it was over, he decided to return to his master to work as a slave. On his way he met a woman who said to him, "I am willing to marry you." So they went together to his master. "I have given you money," the master said to him. "Thanks to your generous help," Dong said, "I was able to bury my father. Although I am a man of low birth, I know I ought to work for you to repay your kindness." Then the master asked, "What is your wife good at?" "She can weave," Dong answered. "If yOu insist on doing something for me," said the master. "please ask your wife to weave a hundred bolts of fine silk for me." Dong's wife set to work in the master's house. Ten days later the hundred bolts were ready.
When she came out, she said to Dong, "I am a weaver in Heaven. The Emperor of Heaven ordered me to help you pay your debt because he was moved by your filial piety." After saying these words she flew into the sky and vanished.
The Thousand-Day Liquor
Di Xi, who lived in Zhongshan, could make a liquor one cup of which was enough to get one drunk for a thousand days. There lived in the same prefecture a man called Liu Xuanshi, who, being a heavy drinker, went to Di to ask for it. "This brew is not yet ready," said Di. "I dare not give any to you." "Just one cup, please," Liu insisted, "though it is not yet ready." Because he said this, Di could not help giving him a cup, which he finished. "Wonderful!" he said. "Do give me some more." But Di said, "Please return home now and come on another day. The one cup you have drunk will make you sleep for a thousand days." So Liu left, the colour of his face having somewhat changed. As soon as he reached home, he apparently died of intoxication. His family believed he was dead, cried and buried him.
Three years later, Di said to himself, "It is time Liu woke up. I had better go and ask about him." He went to Liu's home and asked, "Is Mr. Liu in?" Surprised, Liu's people said, "He died a long time ago. The mourning for him is already over." It was now Di's turn to be surprised. "The liquor I made was so strong that he would sleep for a thousand days after drinking a cup of it," he said. "He ought to wake up today." He urged them to open the grave and break the coffin to have a look. There was the smell of sweat on the grave. When it was opened, they saw Liu opening his eyes and mouth and heard him drawling, "How happy it is to be drunk!" Then he asked Di, "What did you brew to make me so drunk that I've woken up only today, How high is the sun now?" All those around the grave laughed. The smell of liquor from Liu's mouth got into their nostrils and put them all into a drunken sleep for three months.

Tai chi

The name Tai Chi Chuan actually means “Grand Ultimate Fist” in Chinese. It was the ultimate fighting art for one reason. It held the keys to the only sure-fire door to personal mastery; body awareness and self-knowledge. No wonder it is one of the fastest growing health crazes in the world. Breathe deep from your center, empty your thoughts, sink your Chi energy to the navel and move slowly from the spine. This is the essence of Tai Chi and can take a lifetime to learn. Please be my guest to sample this ancient path toward personal mastery.
1) Completely relax the musculature.

2) Clear your mind and become acutely aware of your internal and external environment.
3) Achieve a stress and tension free posture

4) Increase the unhindered flow of energy throughout the body, with a systemic increase of blood flow.

5) Defend oneself with minimal use of effort by applying the concept of accommodation. (yin/yang)

Tai Chi trains students in what is known as a yielding or soft style of martial arts. The internal art of Pa Kua Chang teaches to evade attacks through a fluid, circling pattern of movements including steps designed to throw an opponent simply by coiling and uncoiling the body. At a higher level, the entire art of Shing Yi Ch'uan (Fist of Will) teaches the student to explode their internal power into every strike.

Meditation exercises help students control their breathing, develop a greater awareness of their body and encourage a calm and controlled mental attitude. The internal arts require decades to master and the constant addition of new material at the Shaolin-Do school ensures that each student remains interested and challenged for a lifetime. Like the famous yin/yang symbol, the balance of these two unique strategies, SHAOLIN & TAI CHIi, creates a powerful force and well-rounded martial artist.

Sources:

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