DaOISM (TAOISM):

Lao Tzu: Tao teChing (Dao De Ching) - 6th Century B.C.E. ?

The Tao teChing (literally, "the classic of the way of virtue") is attributed to Lao Tzu, though scholars disagree about his actual existence. In its very poetic form it teaches that there is a dynamic, cosmic structure underlying everything that happens in the world. We humans need to discover that Way (Tao) , which is immanent in all aspects of the world, not a rule imposed from without; and we need to fit into it, letting things take their course, not exerting ourselves in opposition to it by trying to bend things to our will.

Our naming (describing) of things always falls short of the way things are, since things are not limited as our language presupposes. Even the Tao which we are trying to talk about here eludes our words. The original polarity is that of being and non-being, and it will be found to interplay throughout the world, with non-being (emptiness, what is not) having as much significance as does being (the fullness of things, what is). Thus the notion of the Tao recaptures the earlier Chinese concept of Yin and Yang, the polarities running through all things.

The Dao De Ching was written in the sixth century BCE by Lao Tzu. This period in Chinese history is known as the period of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. This was a time in which the power of the Zhou emperors was on the decline. Foreign, "barbarian" invaders began to encroach on Chinese imperial territory. Local Chinese warlords began to fight amongst themselves and to challenge the authority of the emperors. Ancient Chinese historians themselves referred to this time as The Period of the Warring States.

The Dao De Ching was written in this time of civil war and upheaval. It presents a philosophy that can be viewed as a response to the disruption of Chinese society. Significantly, the philosophy of Daoism was only one of numerous philosophical systems that developed during the period of the Warring States. Ancient Chinese historians also had another name for this time: The Period of the Hundred Flowers. What were these "Hundred Flowers"? These were the flowers of philosophy.

1. Tao
The Tao that can be known is not Tao.
The substance of the World is only a name for Tao.
Tao is all that exists and may exist… / 2. Qualities
When Beauty is recognized in the World
Ugliness has been learned;
When Good is recognized in the World
Evil has been learned…
17. Rulers
The best rulers are scarcely known by their subjects;
The next best are loved and praised;
The next are feared;
The next despised:
They have no faith in their subjects,
So their subjects become unfaithful to them.
When the best rulers achieve their purpose
Their subjects claim the achievement as their own. / 4. Properties of Tao
Tao is a depthless vessel;
Used by the Self, it is not filled by the World;
It cannot be cut, knotted, dimmed or stilled;
Its depths are hidden, ubiquitous and eternal;
I don't know where it came from;
It came before Nature.
“Knowing the male, being the female,
Being the course through which flows the World,
One embraces unfailing Love
And is again as a newborn.
Knowing the light, being the dark,
Being the World,
One becomes unerring Love
And returns to Tao.
Knowing honor, being humble,
Being the valley of the World,
Love suffices,
And one is as unshaped wood.
When wood is shaped it becomes tools.
Used by the sage, tools become powerful;
So a good carpenter wastes little.” / Practice no-action;(wu-wei)
Attend to do-nothing;
Taste the flavorless,
Examine the small,
Multiply the few,
Return love for hate.
Deal with difficulty while it is yet easy;
Deal with the great while it is yet small;
The difficult develops naturally from the easy
And the great from the small;
So the sage, by dealing with the small
Achieves the great.
He who finds it easy to promise finds it hard to deliver;
He who takes things lightly makes things hard;
The sage confronts difficulty, and so has none.

Questions for Analysis:

  1. What is the TAO (DAO)? How is it described?
  1. Identify quotes above that reflect the concept of YIN/YANG.
  1. What qualities / behaviors are greatly valued by Daoists?
  1. Why would Daoism appeal to some people in China, especially during the times of instability and disorder?