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Unit‌‌13:‌‌Taoism‌ ‌
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Lesson‌‌13.1‌ ‌
The‌‌Taoist‌‌Belief‌‌System‌ ‌
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Contents‌ ‌
Introduction‌ 1‌ ‌

Learning‌‌Objectives‌ 2‌ ‌

Explore‌ 2‌ ‌

Discover‌ 4‌ ‌
Taoism‌ 4‌ ‌
Lao‌‌Tzu‌ 5‌ ‌
Sacred‌‌Texts‌‌of‌‌Taoism‌ 7‌ ‌
Tao‌‌Te‌‌Ching‌ 7‌ ‌
Book‌‌of‌‌Chuang‌‌Tze‌ 8‌ ‌
Other‌‌Books‌‌of‌‌Taoism‌ 8‌ ‌
General‌‌Features‌‌of‌‌Taoism‌ 9‌ ‌
Tao‌ 9‌ ‌
People‌ 10‌ ‌

Wrap-Up‌ 12‌ ‌

Try‌‌This!‌ 12‌ ‌

Challenge‌‌Yourself‌ 13‌ ‌

Reflect‌‌on‌‌This‌ 15‌ ‌

Photo‌‌Credits‌ 15‌ ‌

Bibliography‌ 16‌ ‌
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Unit‌‌13:‌‌Taoism‌ ‌
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Lesson‌‌13.1‌ ‌

The‌‌Taoist‌‌Belief‌‌System‌ ‌
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Introduction‌ ‌
The‌ ‌East‌ ‌Asian‌ ‌region‌ ‌has‌ ‌a‌‌fair‌‌share‌‌of‌‌contribution‌‌to‌‌world‌‌society.‌‌The‌‌cultures‌‌of‌‌the‌‌
region‌‌influence‌‌many‌‌parts‌‌of‌‌the‌‌world‌‌as‌‌its‌‌people‌‌migrate‌‌and‌‌settle‌‌to‌‌new‌‌places‌‌and‌‌
countries‌ ‌bring‌ ‌in‌ ‌their‌ ‌traditions‌ ‌and‌ ‌cultures.‌ ‌Likewise,‌ ‌belief‌ ‌systems‌ ‌from‌ ‌East‌ ‌Asia‌‌
proliferated‌‌all‌‌across‌‌the‌‌globe.‌‌One‌‌of‌‌these‌‌is‌‌Taoism,‌‌an‌‌ancient‌‌belief‌‌system‌‌with‌‌rich‌‌
doctrines,‌‌history,‌‌and‌‌practices.‌‌However,‌‌how‌‌well‌‌do‌‌you‌‌know‌‌the‌‌Taoist‌‌belief‌‌system?‌‌
Are‌‌you‌‌familiar‌‌with‌‌its‌‌origin‌‌and‌‌background?‌‌Do‌‌you‌‌know‌‌any‌‌Taoist‌‌sacred‌‌text?‌‌Who‌‌is‌‌
the‌‌founder‌‌of‌‌Taoism?‌
‌
In‌‌this‌‌lesson,‌‌we‌‌will‌‌bring‌‌light‌‌to‌‌Taoism’s‌‌background,‌‌origin,‌‌and‌‌features.‌‌Moreover,‌‌we‌‌
will‌‌discover‌‌the‌‌belief‌‌systems’‌‌important‌‌figures,‌‌sacred‌‌texts,‌‌and‌‌general‌‌features.‌ ‌ ‌
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Unit‌‌13:‌‌Taoism‌ ‌
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Learning‌‌Objectives‌ ‌ DepEd‌‌Learning‌‌Competencies‌ ‌
At‌t‌ he‌e
‌ nd‌o
‌ f‌t‌ his‌l‌esson,‌y
‌ ou‌s‌ hould‌b
‌ e‌‌
In‌‌this‌‌lesson,‌‌you‌‌should‌‌be‌‌able‌‌to‌‌do‌‌the‌‌ able‌t‌ o‌d
‌ o‌t‌ he‌f‌ ollowing:‌ ‌
following:‌ ‌ ● State‌t‌ hat‌“‌ Tao‌i‌s‌t‌ he‌o
‌ rigin‌o
‌ f‌a
‌ ll‌‌
beings,‌w
‌ hose‌e
‌ ssence‌i‌s‌n
‌ othing”‌‌
● Describe‌‌Taoism‌‌as‌‌a‌‌system‌‌of‌‌faith‌‌and‌‌
(HUMSS_WRB12-II/IVf-g-13.1).‌ ‌
belief.‌‌ ‌ ● Give‌e
‌ xamples‌o
‌ f‌a
‌ cts‌s‌ howing‌l‌ove‌‌
and‌r‌ espect‌o
‌ f‌n
‌ ature‌a
‌ nd‌t‌ he‌‌
● Discuss‌‌the‌‌life‌‌of‌‌Lao‌‌Tzu‌‌and‌‌his‌‌influence‌‌
environment‌‌
on‌‌Taoism.‌ ‌ (HUMSS_WRB12-II/IVf-g-13.3).‌ ‌
● Discover‌‌Taoist‌‌sacred‌‌books.‌ ‌ ‌

● Analyze‌‌the‌‌fundamental‌‌principle‌‌of‌‌Taoism.‌

● Distinguish‌‌the‌‌features‌‌and‌‌elements‌‌of‌‌the‌‌
belief‌‌system.‌‌ ‌

Explore‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌
‌ Chinese‌‌Proverbs‌ ‌ 10‌‌minutes‌

Instructions‌ ‌
1. Read‌‌the‌‌following‌‌proverbs.‌ ‌

2. Complete‌‌the‌‌statements‌‌by‌‌looking‌‌for‌‌the‌‌appropriate‌‌words‌‌in‌‌the‌‌word‌‌bank.‌ ‌

3. Look‌ ‌for‌ ‌a‌ ‌partner‌ ‌and‌ ‌try‌ ‌to‌ ‌explain‌ ‌the‌ ‌meaning‌ ‌of‌ ‌each‌ ‌saying.‌ ‌Share‌ ‌your‌‌
thoughts‌‌and‌‌insights‌‌with‌‌your‌ ‌partner.‌ ‌
‌

‌ ‌ ‌
journey‌ ‌ nature‌ ‌ beginnings‌ ‌

step‌ ‌ accomplished‌ ‌ painful‌ ‌

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‌

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Unit‌‌13:‌‌Taoism‌ ‌
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a.‌ ‌ “A‌‌___________‌‌of‌‌a‌‌thousand‌‌miles‌‌begins‌‌with‌‌a‌‌single‌‌___________.”‌
‌
b.‌ ‌ “___________‌‌does‌‌not‌‌hurry,‌‌yet‌‌everything‌‌is‌ ‌___________.”‌ ‌
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c.‌ ‌ “New‌‌___________‌‌are‌‌often‌‌disguised‌‌as‌‌___________‌‌endings.”‌ ‌
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Guide‌‌Questions‌ ‌
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1. Are‌‌you‌‌familiar‌‌with‌‌these‌‌proverbs?‌‌Where‌‌did‌‌you‌‌encounter‌‌them?‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌

________________________________________________________________________________________‌

________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌

2. Would‌‌you‌‌agree‌‌to‌‌these‌‌proverbs?‌‌Why‌‌or‌‌why‌‌not?‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌

________________________________________________________________________________________‌

________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌

3. Choose‌ ‌one‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌proverbs‌ ‌and‌ ‌cite‌ ‌an‌ ‌example‌ ‌where‌ ‌it‌ ‌can‌ ‌be‌ ‌applied‌ ‌to‌ ‌a‌‌
person's‌‌day-to-day‌‌life.‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌

________________________________________________________________________________________‌

________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌

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Unit‌‌13:‌‌Taoism‌ ‌
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Discover‌ ‌
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Taoism‌ ‌remained‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌‌confines‌‌of‌‌the‌‌people‌‌

‌ ords‌‌to‌‌Remember‌ ‌
W
of‌‌East‌‌Asia.‌‌However,‌‌many‌‌of‌‌its‌‌customs‌‌and‌‌
● Tao‌—
‌ ‌ ‌literally‌‌translated‌‌as‌‌
traditions‌ ‌have‌ ‌already‌ ‌entered‌ ‌the‌‌social‌‌fiber‌‌
the‌‌“way,”‌‌it‌‌is‌‌a‌‌concept‌‌that‌‌
and‌ ‌consciousness‌ ‌of‌ ‌other‌ ‌world‌ ‌populations‌‌
is‌‌hard‌‌to‌‌define‌‌but‌‌loosely‌‌
without‌ ‌knowing‌ ‌it.‌ ‌For‌ ‌example,‌ ‌the‌ ‌Chinese‌‌
associated‌‌with‌‌the‌‌way‌‌of‌‌
proverb,‌ ‌“A
‌ ‌ ‌journey‌ ‌of‌ ‌a‌ ‌thousand‌ ‌miles‌‌
the‌‌universe‌ ‌
begins‌‌in‌‌a‌‌single‌‌step‌”‌‌is‌‌in‌‌fact‌‌traced‌‌to‌‌this‌‌
● Shi‌—
‌ ‌ ‌modern‌‌times,‌‌
belief‌‌system.‌‌ ‌
considered‌‌as‌‌a‌‌historian;‌‌in‌‌
‌
the‌‌ancient‌‌times,‌‌those‌‌who‌‌
There‌ ‌are‌ ‌also‌ ‌prominent‌ ‌Taoist‌ ‌religious‌‌
worked‌‌in‌‌astrology‌‌and‌‌
symbols‌ ‌that‌ ‌are‌ ‌common‌ ‌worldwide.‌ ‌An‌‌
divination‌ ‌
example‌ ‌of‌ ‌this‌ ‌is‌ ‌the‌ ‌Yin‌ ‌and‌ ‌Yang‌.‌ ‌They‌‌
● linguistics‌‌—
‌ ‌ ‌a‌‌field‌‌which‌‌
represent‌‌the‌‌balance‌‌in‌‌nature‌‌which‌‌is‌‌one‌‌of‌‌
studies‌‌the‌‌complexity‌‌of‌‌
its‌‌most‌‌essential‌‌principles.‌ ‌
language‌ ‌
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What‌ ‌are‌ ‌the‌ ‌principles‌‌and‌‌values‌‌taught‌‌by‌‌the‌‌Taoist‌‌
belief‌‌system?‌ ‌

‌
Taoism‌ ‌
The‌‌name‌‌of‌‌the‌‌belief‌‌system‌‌can‌‌be‌‌spelled‌‌out‌‌as‌‌either‌‌‌Daoism‌‌or‌‌‌Taoism‌.‌‌It‌‌is‌‌because‌‌
both‌ ‌terms‌ ‌refer‌ ‌to‌ ‌it.‌ ‌The‌ ‌variation‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌name‌ ‌came‌‌about‌‌when‌‌the‌‌Chinese‌‌language‌‌
was‌ ‌translated‌ ‌using‌ ‌an‌ ‌ancient‌ ‌system.‌ ‌The‌ ‌d‌ ‌sound‌ ‌is‌ ‌spelled‌ ‌as‌ ‌t.‌ ‌In‌ ‌recent‌ ‌years,‌ ‌the‌‌
Chinese‌ ‌switched‌ ‌it‌ ‌back;‌ ‌hence‌ ‌those‌ ‌words‌ ‌with‌ ‌d‌ ‌sounding‌ ‌pronunciation‌ ‌are‌ ‌now‌‌
spelled‌‌out‌‌as‌‌d.‌ ‌
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Unit‌‌13:‌‌Taoism‌ ‌
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Fig.‌‌1.‌‌‌Folk‌‌rituals‌‌are‌‌incorporated‌‌in‌‌the‌‌Taoist‌‌religion.‌‌ ‌
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Taoism‌‌is‌‌a‌‌belief‌‌system‌‌that‌‌emphasizes‌‌that‌‌all‌‌beings,‌‌humans,‌‌and‌‌animals,‌‌should‌‌live‌‌
in‌ ‌harmony‌ ‌with‌ ‌the‌ ‌Tao‌.‌ ‌The‌ ‌balance‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌universe‌ ‌should‌ ‌be‌ ‌maintained‌ ‌to‌ ‌achieve‌‌
order‌‌and‌‌harmony.‌‌Consequently,‌‌it‌‌also‌‌speaks‌‌about‌‌the‌‌"going‌‌with‌‌the‌‌flow"‌‌of‌‌the‌‌Tao.‌‌
With‌‌this‌‌characterization,‌‌it‌‌can‌‌be‌‌said‌‌that‌‌the‌‌belief‌‌system‌‌is‌‌a‌‌middle‌‌ground‌‌between‌‌
rigid‌‌Confucianism‌‌and‌‌the‌‌highly‌‌fluid‌‌Chinese‌‌folk‌‌religions.‌‌
‌
Lao‌‌Tzu‌ ‌
Many‌ ‌historians‌ ‌attributed‌ ‌the‌ ‌origin‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌religion‌ ‌to‌ ‌Lao‌ ‌Tzu‌.‌ ‌There‌ ‌are‌ ‌multiple‌‌
variations‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌spelling‌ ‌of‌ ‌his‌ ‌name,‌ ‌such‌‌as‌‌Laozi,‌‌Lao‌‌Tze,‌‌Li‌‌Er,‌‌Tai‌‌Shang‌‌Lao-Jun,‌‌Lao‌‌
Dun,‌‌and‌‌Lao‌‌Dan,‌‌but‌‌all‌‌these‌‌refer‌‌to‌‌the‌‌same‌‌person‌‌from‌‌whom‌‌the‌‌religion‌‌can‌‌trace‌‌
its‌‌roots.‌‌His‌‌name‌‌means‌‌"Old‌‌Man"‌‌or‌‌"Old‌‌Master."‌‌It‌‌is‌‌believed‌‌that‌‌this‌‌was‌‌not‌‌his‌‌real‌‌
name,‌‌though.‌ ‌
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Unit‌‌13:‌‌Taoism‌ ‌
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Lao‌ ‌Tzu‌,‌ ‌who‌ ‌lived‌ ‌around‌ ‌the‌ ‌6th‌ ‌century‌‌BCE,‌‌was‌‌considered‌‌an‌‌essential‌‌figure‌‌of‌‌the‌‌
Taoist‌‌faith‌‌as‌‌he‌‌is‌‌believed‌‌to‌‌have‌‌written‌‌an‌‌important‌‌Taoist‌‌sacred‌‌text.‌‌He‌‌came‌‌from‌‌
Quren,‌‌a‌‌small‌‌village‌‌in‌‌Chu,‌‌which‌‌is‌‌now‌‌part‌‌of‌‌the‌‌modern-day‌‌Henan‌‌province,‌‌located‌‌
in‌ ‌central‌ ‌China.‌ ‌He‌‌was‌‌a‌‌statesman‌‌in‌‌the‌‌Zhou‌‌Dynasty‌‌‌and‌‌served‌‌as‌‌‌Shi‌‌‌for‌‌the‌‌royal‌‌
court.‌ ‌His‌ ‌principal‌ ‌works‌ ‌included‌ ‌the‌ ‌upkeep‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌sacred‌ ‌text‌ ‌and‌‌matter‌‌of‌‌astrology‌‌
and‌‌divination.‌ ‌ ‌
‌

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Fig.‌‌2.‌‌‌Lao‌‌Tzu‌‌is‌‌one‌‌of‌‌the‌‌most‌‌important‌‌Taoist‌‌thinkers.‌ ‌
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Many‌ ‌legends‌ ‌surround‌ ‌the‌ ‌life‌ ‌of‌ ‌Lao‌ ‌Tzu.‌ ‌For‌ ‌example,‌ ‌it‌ ‌is‌ ‌believed‌ ‌that‌ ‌he‌ ‌was‌ ‌the‌‌
teacher‌ ‌of‌ ‌Confucius‌.‌ ‌His‌ ‌wisdom‌ ‌inspired‌ ‌Confucius‌ ‌to‌ ‌form‌ ‌his‌ ‌own‌ ‌system‌ ‌of‌ ‌belief.‌‌
Another‌‌story‌‌is‌‌about‌‌his‌‌journey‌‌of‌‌going‌‌out‌‌of‌‌China‌‌through‌‌the‌‌Western‌‌pass.‌‌He‌‌met‌‌
the‌ ‌gatekeeper‌ ‌Yin‌ ‌Hsi‌ ‌and‌ ‌asked‌ ‌him‌ ‌to‌ ‌write‌ ‌his‌ ‌thoughts‌ ‌about‌ ‌life.‌ ‌He‌ ‌sat‌ ‌down‌ ‌and‌‌
prepared‌ ‌the‌ ‌manuscript.‌ ‌After‌ ‌that,‌ ‌he‌‌was‌‌never‌‌seen‌‌again.‌‌Such‌‌stories‌‌contributed‌‌to‌‌
the‌ ‌mysteriousness‌ ‌of‌ ‌his‌ ‌life.‌ ‌According‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌historian‌ ‌Sima‌ ‌Qian,‌ ‌this‌ ‌attitude‌ ‌of‌‌
elusiveness‌‌and‌‌obscurity‌‌was‌‌because‌‌of‌‌his‌‌lifestyle‌‌of‌‌silence‌‌and‌‌gentle‌‌reclusion.‌‌ ‌

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Unit‌‌13:‌‌Taoism‌ ‌
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Check‌‌Your‌‌Progress‌ ‌
What‌‌is‌‌the‌‌role‌‌of‌‌Lao‌‌Tzu‌‌in‌‌the‌‌Taoist‌‌belief‌‌system?‌ ‌
‌

______________________________________________________________________‌
______________________________________________________________________‌
______________________________________________________________________‌ ‌

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Sacred‌‌Texts‌‌of‌‌Taoism‌ ‌
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Tao‌T
‌ e‌C
‌ hing‌ ‌
It‌ ‌is‌ ‌a‌ ‌classic‌ ‌Taoist‌ ‌sacred‌ ‌text‌ ‌that‌ ‌discusses‌ ‌putting‌‌
order‌ ‌and‌ ‌harmony‌ ‌in‌ ‌a‌ ‌chaotic‌ ‌society.‌‌The‌‌title‌‌of‌‌the‌‌
text‌‌can‌‌be‌‌translated‌‌as‌‌“C
‌ lassic‌‌of‌‌the‌‌Way‌‌of‌‌Power‌.”‌‌
One‌‌of‌‌the‌‌critical‌‌thoughts‌‌of‌‌the‌‌text‌‌is‌‌a‌‌disdain‌‌for‌‌the‌‌
very‌ ‌moralistic‌ ‌view‌ ‌of‌‌Confucianism‌‌in‌‌governance‌‌and‌‌
civil‌ ‌affairs.‌ ‌It‌‌discredits‌‌the‌‌disorderly‌‌conduct‌‌of‌‌public‌‌
servants,‌ ‌which‌ ‌disregards‌ ‌harmony‌ ‌in‌ ‌society‌ ‌and‌‌
nature.‌‌ ‌
‌
In‌‌this‌‌text,‌‌the‌‌discussion‌‌of‌‌Tao‌‌has‌‌been‌‌mentioned‌‌as‌‌
a‌ ‌force‌ ‌that‌ ‌governs‌ ‌the‌ ‌universe‌.‌ ‌However,‌ ‌the‌‌
commentators‌ ‌and‌ ‌scholars‌ ‌who‌ ‌studied‌ ‌Tao‌ ‌Te‌ ‌Ching‌‌
have‌ ‌a‌ ‌varying‌ ‌comprehension‌ ‌of‌ ‌what‌‌Tao‌‌means.‌‌The‌‌
elusiveness‌‌of‌‌the‌‌terms‌‌and‌‌their‌‌vagueness‌‌resulted‌‌in‌‌
the‌‌mysterious‌‌understanding‌‌of‌‌the‌‌concept‌‌of‌‌the‌‌Tao.‌‌
With‌ ‌its‌ ‌81‌ ‌verses,‌ ‌the‌ ‌sacred‌ ‌Taoist‌ ‌text‌ ‌is‌ ‌a‌ ‌famous‌‌
literature‌ ‌with‌ ‌a‌ ‌significant‌ ‌number‌ ‌of‌‌commentaries‌‌in‌‌
Chinese‌‌and‌‌Japanese.‌‌Since‌‌the‌‌20th‌‌century,‌‌40‌‌English‌‌
translations‌‌are‌‌in‌‌circulation.‌ ‌
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Fig.‌‌3.‌‌‌An‌‌ancient‌‌manuscript‌‌of‌‌
the‌‌‌Tao‌‌Te‌‌Ching‌ ‌

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Book‌o
‌ f‌C
‌ huang‌T
‌ ze‌ ‌
The‌ ‌Book‌ ‌of‌ ‌Chuang‌ ‌Tze‌ ‌is‌ ‌also‌ ‌called‌ ‌Zhuangzi‌,‌ ‌which‌ ‌is‌ ‌attributed‌ ‌to‌ ‌Master‌ ‌Zhuang.‌‌
Master‌ ‌Zhuang‌ ‌was‌ ‌believed‌ ‌to‌ ‌be‌ ‌a‌ ‌contemporary‌ ‌of‌ ‌Mencius,‌ ‌a‌ ‌Confucian‌ ‌thinker.‌ ‌His‌‌
biography‌ ‌is‌ ‌based‌ ‌on‌ ‌the‌ ‌sacred‌ ‌text‌ ‌itself,‌ ‌and‌ ‌his‌ ‌origin‌ ‌is‌ ‌rooted‌ ‌in‌ ‌speculation‌ ‌by‌‌
biographers.‌ ‌Still,‌ ‌his‌ ‌work,‌ ‌the‌ ‌sacred‌ ‌text,‌ ‌is‌ ‌a‌ ‌testament‌ ‌to‌ ‌his‌ ‌wisdom‌ ‌and‌ ‌mastery‌ ‌of‌‌
linguistics.‌‌ ‌
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The‌ ‌Book‌ ‌of‌ ‌Chuang‌ ‌Tze‌ ‌is‌ ‌one‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌earliest‌‌
Taoist‌ ‌sacred‌ ‌texts‌ ‌and‌ ‌is‌ ‌considered‌ ‌essential‌‌
literature‌ ‌in‌ ‌Chinese‌ ‌culture.‌ ‌There‌ ‌are‌‌
thirty-three‌ ‌chapters‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌holy‌ ‌text.‌ ‌The‌ ‌first‌‌
seven‌ ‌chapters‌ ‌are‌ ‌called‌ ‌the‌ ‌Inner‌ ‌Chapters‌,‌‌
and‌ ‌they‌ ‌are‌ ‌thought‌ ‌to‌ ‌be‌ ‌written‌ ‌by‌ ‌Master‌‌
Zhuang‌ ‌himself.‌ ‌The‌ ‌other‌ ‌chapters‌ ‌are‌ ‌a‌‌
compilation‌ ‌of‌ ‌Taoist‌ ‌thoughts‌ ‌that‌ ‌the‌‌
followers‌‌of‌‌Master‌‌Zhuang‌‌have‌‌compiled.‌‌ ‌
‌
The‌ ‌book‌ ‌offers‌ ‌a‌ ‌way‌ ‌of‌ ‌disengagement‌ ‌from‌‌
the‌ ‌complexity‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌social‌ ‌structures‌ ‌and‌‌
advice‌ ‌to‌ ‌go‌ ‌back‌‌to‌‌natural‌‌and‌‌simple‌‌yet‌‌full‌‌
life.‌ ‌It‌ ‌asks‌ ‌the‌ ‌people‌ ‌to‌ ‌understand‌ ‌life‌‌more‌‌
fluidly‌‌and‌‌flexibly‌‌rather‌‌than‌‌a‌‌structured‌‌and‌‌
fixed‌‌system.‌ ‌

Fig.‌‌4.‌‌‌Master‌‌Zhuang,‌ ‌
a‌‌prominent‌‌Taoist‌‌thinker‌ ‌
‌
Other‌B
‌ ooks‌o
‌ f‌T
‌ aoism‌ ‌
There‌ ‌are‌ ‌several‌ ‌books‌ ‌and‌ ‌literary‌ ‌works‌ ‌that‌ ‌are‌ ‌considered‌ ‌Taoist‌ ‌texts.‌ ‌Though‌ ‌the‌‌
most‌ ‌famous‌‌are‌‌the‌‌two‌‌that‌‌have‌‌been‌‌discussed,‌‌these‌‌other‌‌Taoist‌‌texts‌‌are‌‌also‌‌good‌‌
sources‌‌of‌‌wisdom‌‌about‌‌the‌‌Tao,‌‌the‌‌doctrines‌‌of‌‌the‌‌faith,‌‌and‌‌the‌‌way‌‌of‌‌life‌‌suitable‌‌to‌‌
Taoism.‌ ‌These‌ ‌are‌ ‌I‌ ‌Ching‌ ‌(Book‌ ‌of‌ ‌Change)‌,‌ ‌Hua‌ ‌Hu‌ ‌Ching‌ ‌(Classic‌ ‌on‌ ‌Converting‌ ‌the‌‌
Barbarians)‌,‌T
‌ ao‌‌Tsang‌(‌ Taoist‌‌Canon)‌,‌‌and‌‌the‌F
‌ our‌‌Books‌‌and‌‌the‌‌Five‌‌Classics‌.‌ ‌

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Unit‌‌13:‌‌Taoism‌ ‌
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General‌‌Features‌‌of‌‌Taoism‌ ‌
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Tao‌ ‌
The‌ ‌central‌ ‌principle‌ ‌of‌ ‌Taoism‌ ‌is‌ ‌the‌ ‌belief‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌‌Tao.‌‌In‌‌the‌‌Tao‌‌Te‌‌Ching,‌‌‌Tao‌‌has‌‌been‌‌
attributed‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌way‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌universe.‌ ‌Though‌ ‌the‌ ‌text‌ ‌defined‌ ‌it‌ ‌vaguely,‌ ‌it‌ ‌is‌ ‌associated‌‌
with‌ ‌the‌‌‌force‌‌that‌‌governs‌‌all‌‌beings'‌‌harmony‌,‌‌‌order‌,‌‌and‌‌‌fluidity‌.‌‌It‌‌is‌‌also‌‌reiterated‌‌
in‌‌Taoist‌‌texts‌‌that‌‌any‌‌language‌‌cannot‌‌explain‌‌the‌‌Tao‌‌as‌‌it‌‌is‌‌beyond‌‌the‌‌comprehension‌‌
of‌‌the‌‌human‌‌mind.‌‌The‌‌linguistic‌‌challenge‌‌to‌‌explain‌‌the‌‌Tao‌‌has‌‌prompted‌‌Taoist‌‌thinkers‌‌
to‌‌create‌‌text‌‌that‌‌can‌‌only‌‌emphasize‌‌the‌‌Tao's‌‌experience.‌‌ ‌
‌

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Fig.‌‌5.‌‌‌Tao‌‌is‌‌present‌‌in‌‌nature.‌‌ ‌
‌
There‌‌are‌‌many‌‌assertions‌‌about‌‌the‌‌Tao:‌ ‌
1. The‌‌Tao‌‌is‌‌not‌‌a‌‌thing.‌I‌t‌‌means‌‌that‌‌it‌‌can‌‌be‌‌thought‌‌of‌‌as‌‌something‌‌with‌‌a‌‌
material‌‌self‌‌or‌‌operates‌‌like‌‌any‌‌being‌‌that‌‌possesses‌‌shapes,‌‌sizes,‌‌color,‌‌or‌‌weight.‌ ‌
2. The‌‌Tao‌‌is‌‌not‌‌a‌‌god‌.‌‌In‌‌fact,‌‌gods‌‌and‌‌goddesses‌‌of‌‌East‌‌Asian‌‌cultures‌‌are‌‌part‌‌of‌‌
the‌‌universe,‌‌hence‌‌part‌‌of‌‌the‌‌operations‌‌of‌‌the‌‌Tao.‌ ‌
3. The‌‌Tao‌‌is‌‌not‌‌to‌‌be‌‌worshiped.‌‌ ‌

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People‌ ‌
Unlike‌ ‌the‌‌Abrahamic‌‌religions‌‌that‌‌have‌‌defined‌‌many‌‌adherents,‌‌Taoism‌‌exists‌‌alongside‌‌
other‌‌faiths.‌‌In‌‌China,‌‌the‌‌number‌‌of‌‌followers‌‌varies‌‌depending‌‌on‌‌the‌‌definition‌‌of‌‌Taoism.‌‌
There‌ ‌are‌ ‌over‌ ‌300‌ ‌Taoist‌ ‌temples‌ ‌across‌ ‌the‌ ‌country.‌ ‌In‌ ‌these‌ ‌temples,‌ ‌there‌‌are‌‌30,000‌‌
Taoist‌ ‌Chinese‌ ‌residents.‌ ‌In‌ ‌Japan,‌ ‌the‌ ‌religious‌ ‌Taoism‌ ‌is‌ ‌named‌ ‌Dokyo‌.‌ ‌Originated‌ ‌from‌‌
China,‌‌the‌‌people's‌‌spiritual‌‌activities‌‌are‌‌the‌‌source‌‌of‌‌folk‌‌practices‌‌and‌‌rituals.‌‌ ‌
‌

‌
Fig.‌‌6.‌‌‌The‌W
‌ un‌‌Chuen‌‌Sin‌‌Koon‌T
‌ aoist‌‌temple‌‌in‌‌Hong‌‌Kong‌ ‌
‌
In‌ ‌East‌ ‌Asia,‌ ‌countries‌ ‌with‌ ‌the‌ ‌highest‌ ‌number‌ ‌of‌ ‌Taoist‌ ‌communities‌ ‌can‌ ‌be‌ ‌found‌ ‌in‌‌
China,‌ ‌Japan,‌ ‌Korea,‌ ‌and‌ ‌Vietnam.‌ ‌In‌ ‌addition,‌ ‌pockets‌ ‌of‌ ‌Taoist‌ ‌communities‌ ‌in‌ ‌other‌‌
countries‌‌are‌‌attributed‌‌to‌‌the‌‌diaspora‌‌of‌‌these‌‌East‌‌Asian‌‌countries.‌‌ ‌
‌

Check‌‌Your‌‌Progress‌ ‌
How‌‌would‌‌you‌‌personally‌‌define‌‌the‌‌Tao?‌ ‌
‌

______________________________________________________________________‌
______________________________________________________________________‌
______________________________________________________________________‌ ‌

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In‌‌Philippine‌‌Context‌ ‌
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There‌ ‌are‌ ‌several‌ ‌Taoist‌ ‌temples‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌ ‌Philippines.‌ ‌These‌ ‌temples‌ ‌are‌ ‌located‌ ‌in‌ ‌places‌‌
where‌ ‌there‌ ‌are‌ ‌ample‌ ‌numbers‌‌of‌‌Chinese‌‌migrants‌‌and‌‌communities.‌‌Therefore,‌‌these‌‌
temples‌ ‌are‌ ‌a‌ ‌source‌ ‌of‌ ‌cultural‌ ‌integrity‌ ‌and‌ ‌unity‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌Chinese‌ ‌population‌ ‌in‌ ‌the‌‌
country.‌‌ ‌
‌

‌
A‌‌Taoist‌‌temple‌‌in‌‌Cebu‌ ‌
‌
In‌ ‌Manila,‌ ‌several‌ ‌Taoist‌ ‌monuments‌ ‌and‌ ‌temples‌ ‌can‌ ‌be‌ ‌found‌ ‌in‌ ‌Chinatown,‌ ‌Binondo‌‌
District.‌‌Considered‌‌the‌‌oldest‌‌Chinatown‌‌in‌‌the‌‌world,‌‌this‌‌community‌‌has‌‌a‌‌long‌‌history‌‌
of‌ ‌commerce‌ ‌and‌ ‌trade‌ ‌among‌ ‌the‌ ‌Chinese‌ ‌and‌ ‌Filipinos.‌ ‌Noticeable‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌area‌ ‌is‌ ‌the‌‌
influence‌‌of‌‌Taoism‌‌as‌‌a‌‌cultural‌‌identity‌‌of‌‌the‌‌Filipino-Chinese‌‌residents‌‌of‌‌the‌‌area.‌‌ ‌
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Wrap-Up‌ ‌
_____________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
● Taoism‌‌‌is‌‌a‌‌belief‌‌system‌‌that‌‌originated‌‌in‌C
‌ hina‌‌‌around‌‌the‌‌6th‌‌century‌‌BCE.‌ ‌
● Lao‌ ‌Tzu‌ ‌is‌ ‌considered‌ ‌the‌ ‌founder‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌religion‌ ‌as‌ ‌he‌ ‌authored‌ ‌the‌ ‌famous‌‌
Taoist‌‌sacred‌‌book,‌‌the‌T
‌ ao‌‌Te‌‌Ching‌.‌ ‌
● Other‌‌important‌T
‌ aoist‌‌sacred‌‌books‌‌‌are:‌ ‌
○ Book‌‌of‌C
‌ huang‌‌Tze‌ ‌
○ I‌‌Ching‌‌‌(Book‌‌of‌‌Change)‌ ‌
○ Hua‌‌Hu‌‌Ching‌‌‌(Classic‌‌on‌‌Converting‌‌the‌‌Barbarians)‌ ‌
○ Tao‌‌Tsang‌(‌ Taoist‌‌Canon)‌ ‌
○ Four‌‌Books‌‌and‌‌the‌‌Five‌‌Classics‌ ‌
● Taoists‌‌are‌‌scattered‌‌all‌‌over‌‌the‌‌‌East‌‌Asian‌‌region‌‌and‌‌in‌‌countries‌‌where‌‌there‌‌
are‌‌a‌‌significant‌‌number‌‌of‌‌East‌‌Asian‌‌descent.‌‌ ‌
_____________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌
‌

Try‌‌This!‌ ‌
A. True‌‌or‌‌False.‌W
‌ rite‌t‌ rue‌‌i‌f‌‌the‌‌statement‌‌is‌‌correct.‌‌Otherwise,‌‌write‌f‌ alse.‌‌ ‌
‌

________________‌ 1. Lao‌‌Tzu‌‌is‌‌the‌‌founder‌‌of‌‌Taoism.‌‌ ‌

________________‌ 2. The‌‌‌I‌‌Ching‌‌‌is‌‌composed‌‌by‌‌Lao‌‌Tzu.‌‌ ‌

________________‌ 3. The‌‌Japanese‌‌version‌‌of‌‌Taoism‌‌is‌‌called‌D
‌ okya‌.‌‌ ‌

________________‌ 4. Master‌‌Zhuang’s‌‌contemporary‌‌is‌‌Mencius,‌‌an‌‌important‌‌
Confucian‌‌thinker.‌‌ ‌

________________‌ 5. Lao‌‌Tzu‌‌was‌‌an‌‌important‌‌statesman‌‌during‌‌the‌‌Han‌‌Dynasty.‌‌ ‌

________________‌ 6. The‌‌Tao‌‌can‌‌be‌‌considered‌‌as‌‌God.‌‌ ‌

________________‌ 7. Taoism‌‌is‌‌considered‌‌the‌‌middle‌‌ground‌‌between‌‌Confucianism‌‌
and‌‌folk‌‌Chinese‌‌religion.‌‌ ‌

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________________‌ 8. Taoism‌‌reiterates‌‌the‌‌importance‌‌of‌‌social‌‌structure‌‌and‌‌strict‌‌
rules‌‌in‌‌the‌‌society.‌‌ ‌

________________‌ 9. East‌‌Asian‌‌descent‌‌brings‌‌Taoist‌‌religions‌‌in‌‌different‌‌parts‌‌of‌‌
the‌‌world.‌‌ ‌

________________‌ 10. The‌‌Tao‌‌is‌‌not‌‌a‌‌thing;‌‌hence,‌‌it‌‌doesn’t‌‌occupy‌‌space,‌‌has‌‌nor‌‌

shape‌‌and‌‌size.‌‌ ‌
‌

B. Fill‌‌in‌‌the‌‌Blanks.‌S
‌ upply‌‌the‌‌missing‌‌words‌‌to‌‌make‌‌the‌‌statement‌‌correct.‌ ‌
‌

________________‌ 1. ____________‌‌teaches‌‌to‌‌“go‌‌with‌‌the‌‌flow.”‌ ‌

________________‌ 2. Tao‌‌Te‌‌Ching‌‌‌means‌‌the‌‌Classic‌ ‌____________‌‌of‌‌power.‌ ‌

________________‌ 3. Lao‌‌Tzu‌‌served‌‌as‌‌a‌ ‌____________‌‌in‌‌the‌‌royal‌‌court.‌‌ ‌

________________‌ 4. ____________‌‌means‌‌“old‌‌man”‌‌or‌‌“old‌‌master.”‌ ‌

________________‌ 5. Hua‌‌Hu‌‌Ching‌‌‌means‌‌Classic‌‌on‌‌____________‌‌the‌‌Barbarians.‌ ‌

Challenge‌‌Yourself‌ ‌
Essay.‌A
‌ nswer‌‌the‌‌following‌‌questions.‌ ‌
‌
1. What‌‌is‌‌the‌‌meaning‌‌of‌‌the‌‌phrase,‌‌“going‌‌with‌‌the‌‌flow‌‌of‌‌the‌‌Tao”?‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌

________________________________________________________________________________________‌

________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌

________________________________________________________________________________________‌

________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌

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2. Who‌‌is‌‌Master‌‌Zhuang?‌‌Explain‌‌his‌‌importance‌‌to‌‌Taoism.‌ ‌
________________________________________________________________________________________‌

________________________________________________________________________________________‌

________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌

________________________________________________________________________________________‌

________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌

‌
Suggested‌‌Rubric‌‌for‌‌Grading‌ ‌
‌

The‌ ‌rubric‌ ‌below‌ ‌is‌ ‌a‌ ‌suggested‌ ‌one.‌ ‌Your‌ ‌teacher‌ ‌may‌ ‌modify‌ ‌it‌ ‌based‌ ‌on‌ ‌your‌ ‌needs.‌‌
Consult‌‌your‌‌teacher‌‌for‌‌the‌‌final‌‌rubric.‌‌ ‌
‌

Performance‌‌Levels‌ ‌

1‌ ‌ 2‌ ‌ 3‌ ‌ Suggested‌‌
Criteria‌ ‌ Score‌ ‌
Beginning‌‌ Proficient‌ ‌ Advanced‌‌ Weight‌ ‌
Proficiency‌ ‌ Proficiency‌ ‌

The‌‌answer‌‌is‌‌unclear‌‌ The‌‌answer‌‌is‌‌clear‌‌ The‌‌answer‌‌is‌‌clear‌‌

Content‌‌ ‌ ‌
and‌‌insufficient;‌‌there‌‌ but‌‌barely‌‌sufficient;‌‌ and‌‌sufficient;‌‌the‌‌
×‌‌3‌ ‌
is‌‌a‌‌major‌‌flaw‌‌in‌‌the‌‌ there‌‌is‌‌a‌‌minor‌‌flaw‌‌ argumentation‌‌is‌‌
argumentation.‌ ‌ in‌‌the‌‌argumentation.‌ ‌ excellent.‌ ‌

The‌‌answer‌‌does‌‌not‌‌ The‌‌answer‌‌flows‌‌ The‌‌answer‌‌flows‌‌

Organization‌ ‌ ‌
flow‌‌logically,‌‌and‌‌its‌‌ logically,‌‌but‌‌its‌‌parts‌‌ logically,‌‌and‌‌its‌‌
×‌‌2‌ ‌
parts‌‌are‌‌not‌‌clearly‌‌ are‌‌not‌‌clearly‌‌ parts‌‌are‌‌clearly‌‌
structured.‌‌ ‌ structured.‌‌ ‌ structured.‌ ‌

There‌‌are‌‌many‌‌major‌‌ There‌‌are‌‌minor‌‌ There‌‌are‌‌virtually‌‌

Mechanics/‌ ‌ ‌
errors‌‌in‌‌sentence‌‌ errors‌‌in‌‌sentence‌‌ no‌‌errors‌‌in‌‌
Language‌‌Use‌ ‌
construction,‌‌ construction,‌‌ sentence‌‌
×‌‌1‌ ‌
grammar,‌‌or‌‌spelling.‌‌ ‌ grammar,‌‌or‌‌spelling.‌‌ ‌ construction,‌‌
grammar,‌‌or‌‌
spelling.‌‌ ‌

Total‌‌Possible‌‌Score‌ ‌ 18‌ ‌ ‌

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Reflect‌‌on‌‌This‌ ‌
Answer‌‌the‌‌following‌‌question‌‌briefly.‌ ‌
‌
What’s‌‌the‌‌importance‌‌of‌‌the‌‌Taoist‌‌belief‌‌in‌‌achieving‌‌world‌‌peace‌‌in‌‌today's‌‌society?‌ ‌
‌
_______________________________________________________________________________________________‌

_______________________________________________________________________________________________‌

_______________________________________________________________________________________________‌

_______________________________________________________________________________________________‌

_______________________________________________________________________________________________‌

_______________________________________________________________________________________________‌

_______________________________________________________________________________________________‌

_______________________________________________________________________________________________‌

_______________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌

_______________________________________________________________________________________________‌

_______________________________________________________________________________________________‌

_______________________________________________________________________________________________‌ ‌

‌
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Photo‌‌Credits‌ ‌
Main‌‌hall‌‌of‌‌the‌‌Wun‌‌Chuen‌‌Sin‌‌Koon,‌‌a‌‌Taoist‌‌temple‌‌in‌‌Hong‌‌Kong‌‌by‌‌‌Chong‌‌Fat‌‌is‌‌licensed‌‌
under‌C
‌ C‌‌BY-SA‌‌3.0‌‌‌via‌W
‌ ikimedia‌‌Commons‌.‌‌ ‌
‌
Taoist‌ ‌Temple,‌ ‌Cebu‌ ‌by‌ ‌Neigo‌ ‌Genetiano‌ ‌is‌ ‌licensed‌ ‌under‌ ‌CC‌ ‌BY-SA‌ ‌4.0‌ ‌via‌ ‌Wikimedia‌‌
Commons‌.‌‌ ‌
‌
‌
‌

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Bibliography‌ ‌
Coutinho,‌‌Steve.‌‌“Zhuangzi‌‌(Chuang-Tzu,‌‌369—298‌‌B.C.E.).”‌‌In‌T‌ he‌‌Internet‌‌Encyclopedia‌‌of‌‌
Philosophy‌,‌‌2021.‌‌https://iep.utm.edu/zhuangzi/.‌ ‌

Hansen,‌‌Chad.‌‌“Zhuangzi.”‌‌In‌S
‌ tanford‌‌Encyclopedia‌‌of‌‌Philosophy‌,‌‌2017.‌‌
https://plato.stanford.edu/cgi-bin/encyclopedia/archinfo.cgi?entry=zhuangzi.‌ ‌

Kaltenmark‌‌,‌‌Max.‌‌“Laozi.”‌‌In‌B
‌ ritannica‌,‌‌2021.‌‌https://www.britannica.com/biography/Laozi.‌ ‌

Mark,‌‌Joshua‌‌J.‌‌“Lao-Tzu.”‌‌In‌A
‌ ncient‌‌History‌‌Encyclopedia‌,‌‌July‌‌9,‌‌2020.‌‌
https://www.ancient.eu/Lao-Tzu/.‌ ‌

“Daoism.”‌‌In‌S
‌ tanford‌‌Encyclopedia‌‌of‌‌Philosophy‌,‌‌2020.‌‌
https://plato.stanford.edu/cgi-bin/encyclopedia/archinfo.cgi?entry=daoism.‌‌ ‌

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