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Daoism

Daoism originated in ancient China and takes its name from the Dao De Jing or Tao Te Ching, attributed to the philosopher Laozi. It focuses on living in harmony with the Dao, the natural order of the universe represented by the balance of yin and yang. The Dao De Jing teaches that happiness is found by living simply, following nature, and letting things be rather than acting forcibly. Daoism's basic principles are living naturally and non-forcefully, achieving emptiness of mind, and avoiding departing from the simple, natural way.

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May Rodeo
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264 views26 pages

Daoism

Daoism originated in ancient China and takes its name from the Dao De Jing or Tao Te Ching, attributed to the philosopher Laozi. It focuses on living in harmony with the Dao, the natural order of the universe represented by the balance of yin and yang. The Dao De Jing teaches that happiness is found by living simply, following nature, and letting things be rather than acting forcibly. Daoism's basic principles are living naturally and non-forcefully, achieving emptiness of mind, and avoiding departing from the simple, natural way.

Uploaded by

May Rodeo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS

DAOISMEASTERN RELIGIONS
ORIGIN OF DAOISM

DAOISM
ORIGIN OF DAOISM
The roots of Daoism are lost in the mists
of Chinese antiquity and very little know
of its founder.

DAOISM
ORIGIN OF DAOISM
It takes its name from the book
Dàodéjĩng or Tao Te Ching
[“Classic of the Way of
Virtue”], a work attributed to
the Chinese philosopher-poet
called Lăozĩ [“Old Master”]
DAOISM
ORIGIN OF DAOISM
By the fourth century CE, Mahayana
Buddhism had become prevalent in
China, initially coexisting peacefully with
Daoism.

DAOISM
ORIGIN OF DAOISM
However, fierce struggles to
gain influence with various
rulers and control in the
provinces of China arose
between Daoists and Buddhists,
leading to mutual hostility and
even persecution.
DAOISM
“To attain knowledge,
add things everyday. To
attain Wisdom, remove
things everyday.”
-Dàodéjĩng
DAOISM
The Dàodéjĩng

DAOISM
The Dàodéjĩng
It is the most influential piece of
Chinese literature. Its main declaration
is that all human achievements are
foolishness; it consists of slightly more
than five thousand words contained in
81 chapters and usually translated to
poetic form.
DAOISM
The Dàodéjĩng
The Daodejing focuses on the harmony
of opposites within the peaceful flow of
the Dao. It also adds the concept of the
individual’s relationship to nature and
society, insisting that it is best to let
things take their natural course.
DAOISM
“Dao is the origin of
all beings whose
essence is nothing.”
-Dàodéjĩng
DAOISM
The Dào

DAOISM
The Yin and Yang
The universe operated as a balance
between the yin and yang.

DAOISM
The Yin and Yang
Yang is the positive force in nature
manifested in light, warmth, dryness,
and maleness.

DAOISM
The Yin and Yang
Yin is seen in darkness, cold, dampness,
and femaleness.

DAOISM
The Dào
Intrinsically related to the concepts yan
and ying is a mysterious and indefinable
force called the Dao [path, way, road],
which is a harmonious union of these
opposites.

DAOISM
The Dào
The Dao, as the ultimate source of all
being, lies behind the basic unity
underlying the universe.

DAOISM
THE BASIC
DOCTRINES OF
DAOISM
DAOISM
THE MEANING AND VALUE OF LIFE
Life alone is the greatest of
all possessions and must be
preserved and enjoyed. Life is
to be live simply and as quietly
as possible, the ideal state
characterized by childlike
innocence.
DAOISM
THE WAY TO ACHIEVE
PERSONAL HAPPINNESS AND
FULFILLMENT
The Dao is the one true source of
harmony and peace. Happiness is
attained by discovering the Dao and
living in harmony with it, through
following the ways of nature and simply
letting things be.
DAOISM
4 BASIC PRINCIPLES
OF DAOISM

DAOISM
DAOISM PRINCIPLES
1. Daoism teaches that the best
human being is one who lives in
harmony with nature and with
Dao, by being their natural,
undistorted selves.

DAOISM
DAOISM PRINCIPLES
2. The formula for good life is wuwei or
“nonaction”, which also means to live
and to let live.

DAOISM
DAOISM PRINCIPLES
3. When the mind is clear or empty or has
achieved “nothingness”, one develops
greater sensitivity to what is happening
around him.

DAOISM
DAOISM PRINCIPLES
4. The problem for humans is when they
depart from the simple, natural way of
the universe, which alienates them from
the Dao and from other beings, living
and non-living, human and nonhuman.

DAOISM
THANK YOU!

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