All about Taoism: The concept, principles and influence of the Chinese religion

Increasingly popular in the West, Taoism is one of the key philosophical traditions of Chinese civilisation. It is widely represented in the arts and techniques of the Far East, especially in the martial arts. However, Taoism is often misunderstood as it exists in two forms - philosophical and religious.

One of the three teachings of China

Taoism is a religion native to China and is believed to have its roots in the spirit of the sage Lao Tzu, the tradition of Huang Lao and a fusion of many ancient Chinese spirits. It is one of the three great Chinese religions (or three teachings), along with Confucianism and Buddhism, and is believed to have around 20 million followers.

Unlike the other two major movements, Taoism is almost impossible to pinpoint both the main founding figure and the exact date of origin. It is believed to be the fruit of a slow maturation process, born from a mixture of ancient Chinese currents, making it the most popular of the three teachings in China. It is Lao Tzu who is considered the father of this philosophy (which would later become a religion), having introduced the idea of the path (the Tao).

Between philosophy and religion

According to the official definition, Taoism is a mixture of nature spirit and ancestor worship, the ideas of Lao Tzu and many other ancient Chinese beliefs. It has undergone significant changes over time, and it is now customary to divide it into philosophy (Daojia) and religion (Daojiao). In its original form, particularly that supposedly left by Lao Tzu, it was a way of thinking, a form of knowledge and an absolute ideal: the search for the Way. It was only later that a religious form emerged under the influence of Zhang Tao Ling, probably to counter the religion that had come from India, Buddhism.

The era of Huang-di, or the Yellow Emperor, is sometimes described as a golden age for Taoist philosophy. The sovereign is believed to have passed on knowledge to his people, who lived in harmony with nature, respecting its rhythms and needs. According to the Yellow Emperor, the guardians of Taoism were none other than Lao Tzu, Ti Chi and Zhuangzi, whose writings contained the most authentic messages of knowledge of the Way.

Religious Taoism today

Emerging in the form of sects, the religious version of Taoism differs from the original philosophical form. According to this belief, the gods rule and control everything in the universe, and great importance is placed on the quest for immortality. It is to achieve this state that many Taoist monks practice ascescesis. Most temples are built in the mountains (such as Mount Wudang), because that is where the celestial beings reside.

Today, the Taoist religion is less widespread in China than its philosophical form, which is deeply rooted in the customs of the population. Nevertheless, there are more than 1,600 temples and more than 25,000 priests and nuns in China, although Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution particularly weakened the movement.

The indefinable, universal, and infinite Way

Tao means the Way, but what does it mean? To even attempt to define the Tao would be a mistake because it would limit what it really is. At its core, the Way is undefinable because it is infinite, universal, and is within each of us. The Tao is the ideal to which people should aspire for self-realisation. It is the essence and origin of all things, the source that precedes the creative act. It is expressed in the simplest of terms: being. It encompasses the key principles of the universe and implies the absence of judgement, the emptiness of mind, and even the absence of action.

The ultimate goal, if we were to define it, would be to achieve harmony: both personal and with the world around us and, more universally, with nature. To achieve this, one must learn to see the true nature of things, overcoming the illusions of judgement, civilisation and culture that influence one's view of the world. The Tao is not definable. Each person must seek it through his own efforts, through the labours left behind by the ancient masters, but also through past experiences and mistakes.

The influence of Taoism on Chinese culture

Being primarily a philosophy and body of knowledge, Taoism has had a tremendous influence on Chinese civilisation and, as a consequence, on the whole of East Asia. Today, Taoist ideas are widely represented in traditional Chinese medicine (zhongyi) as well as in acupuncture, which utilises the concepts of yin and yang, meridians and the circulation of vital qi energy.

Taoism has also been the inspiration for many martial arts, not just Chinese martial arts, which focus on developing and strengthening qi rather than muscle mass. Tai Chi Quan is the most compelling example, and according to the most common historical version, it was created in the Taoist mountain of Wudang by a monk named Zhang Sanfeng.

Fengshui or meditation techniques can also be added to this incomplete list, the former being a means of allowing qi to circulate freely in the home and the latter a means of advancing the Tao through physical and mental relaxation and visualisation. Ultimately, Taoism is part of China's common heritage and is expressed both in the arts (music, poetry, etc.) and in a wide variety of techniques (alchemy, medicine, strategy, etc.).

Conclusion

Taoism continues to influence culture and thought not only in China, but around the world. Its ideas permeate various areas of life, from medicine and martial arts to architecture and philosophy. It is a teaching that, despite its apparent complexity, offers each person a unique path to self-discovery and harmony with the world around them. In our time, when the quest for inner peace and balance is becoming increasingly urgent, Taoism continues to inspire and guide those seeking a deeper understanding of life and their place in it.