Taoism

By : Raiysha and Rahil

Metaphysical Beliefs.
Taoism, along with Buddhism and Confucianism, are the three great religions / philosophies of Ancient
China. In 440 B.C. Taoism was adopted as a state religion of China, with Lao Tzu (so called founder of
Taoism) honoured as a deity. State support of Taoism ended in 1911 with the end of the Ch'ing Dynasty
and much Taoist heritage was destroyed.

The way of the Tao is the way of Nature and of ultimate reality. Tao is often described as a force that flows
through all life. A happy and virtuous life is one that is in harmony with the Tao, with Nature.

Taoism is basically indefinable. It has to be experienced. It refers to a power which, surrounds and flows through all
things, living and non-living. Taoism is basically indefinable. It has to be experienced. It refers to a power which
envelops, surrounds and flows through all things, living and non-living.
Quotes by Lao Tzu ( founder )
Be still like a mountain and flow like a great river. (Lao Tzu)

Being one with Nature, he is in accord with the Tao. Being in accord with the Tao, he is everlasting.

The Tao that can be expressed is not the Eternal Tao.

Deities
Taoism is a polytheist religion, believing the universe can
be divided into many parts; human beings and gods. Each kind
of god has its highest commander the highest revered god is
personalised into San Qiang gods - Yu Qing, Shang Qing and
Tai Qing.

Most Taoist gods are associated with a spot in the external

world and a corresponding spot on the inside of man and
often have a role in preventing disease.
SHOU HSING

←
God Of
Longevity

TSAI SHE

→
God Of
Wealth
FU HSING

←
God of
Happiness

TSAO
CHUN

→
Kitchen
God
KUAN KUNG

←
God of
War

CHU SHENG
NIANG

→
God of
Fertility
and Birth
Sacred Texts.
The most important Taoist text is the “Dao de jing” (“Tao te ching”,
“The Way and Its Power”), a 5000-character synopsis of Taoist beliefs
reportedly written by Lao-tzu shortly before he died. This short book
was divided into eighty-one chapters in the traditional edition ad was
the inspiration for a primarily philosophical form of Taoism. It is very
different from the Confucian Analects.

There are 1120 volumes of the Dao de Jing, which are a collection of
writings by many different wise people like ; Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu.
Spiritual Leader - Lao Tzu (Laozi)
Lao Tzu belongs to the Zhanj Dynasty.
Lao-Tzu (also known as Laozi or
Lao-Tze) was a Chinese philosopher
credited with founding the
philosophical system of Taoism. The
name by which he is known is not a
personal name but an honorific title
meaning `Old Man’ or `Old Teacher’
and there has been countless
speculation as to whether an
individual by that name ever existed
or whether Lao-Tzu is an amalgam of
many different philosophers
Prayer or Meditation
Taoists do not address their prayers to
a god, because Taoists believe that
there is no god capable of responding to
them. Instead, Taoist prayers center on
inner meditation and outer observation.
Taoist prayers are about focusing the
practitioner's mind so that they are more
in sync with the Tao.
Festivals
1. Zhēngyuè - The new moon of the first lunar month marks the beginning of the Chinese New Year.
2. Xìngyuè Birthday of Tu-ti Gong: the Earth Father—the Dragon Head Raising Festival is part of this
celebration
3. Táoyuè Birthday of Xuantian Shangdi: God of Rain
4. Púyuè 5th da Chu-Yuan. This feast day is known as the Dragon Boat Festival
 Sacred Places
Taoism focuses on harmony, both internally and with the natural world.
As such, some natural sites have become the focus of Taoist
veneration. Mountains are considered especially sacred in Taoism, as
they were traditionally the site of retreat and pilgrimage. Taishan
mountain in Shandong is the easternmost of China's five sacred
mountains, and has long been a site of Taoist pilgrimage and
meditation. Qingchen Shan is another holy mountain, located in
Sichuan province. It is one of the best-preserved Taoist sites in China,
home to both a temple and a series of caves used by past sages

Water is also a potent symbol is the Taoist tradition, representing purity,

flexibility and endlessness. Water in motion is particularly venerated,
and many mountain springs and waterfalls have become sites of
Taoist veneration. Perhaps the most famous of these is the Longtan
Waterfall, located in the Wudong mountains. Legends abound about
the religious heritage of the site, and its water is considered to be
especially pure.