One of the two native religions of China, Taoism is rooted, as Confucianism, in the religious beliefs and practices of ancient China.

Tao (pronounced "Dow") can be roughly translated into English as path, or the way. It 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. The Tao regulates natural processes and nourishes balance in the Universe. It embodies the harmony of opposites (i.e. there would be no love without hate, no light without dark, no male without female.)"

The founder of Taoism is believed by many to be Lao-Tse (604-531 BCE), a contemporary of Confucius. (Alternate spellings: Lao Tze, Lao Tsu, Lao Tzu, Laozi, Laotze, etc.). He was searching for a way that would avoid the constant feudal warfare and other conflicts that disrupted society during his lifetime. The result was his book: Tao-te-Ching (a.k.a. Daodejing). Others believe that he is a mythical character.

Taoism started as a combination of psychology and philosophy but evolved into a religious faith in 440 CE when it was adopted as a state religion. At that time Lao-Tse became popularly venerated as a deity. Taoism, along with Buddhism and Confucianism, became one of the three great religions of China. With the end of the Ch'ing Dynasty in 1911, state support for Taoism ended. Much of the Taoist heritage was destroyed during the next period of warlordism. After the Communist victory in 1949, religious freedom was severely restricted. "The new government put monks to manual labor, confiscated temples, and plundered treasures. Several million monks were reduced to fewer than 50,000" by 1960. During the Cultural Revolution in China from 1966 to 1976, much of the remaining Taoist heritage was destroyed. Some religious tolerance has been restored under Deng Xiao-ping from 1982 to the present time.

Taoism currently has about 20 million followers, and is primarily centered in Taiwan. About 30,000 Taoists live in North America; 1,720 in Canada (1991 census). Taoism has had a significant impact on North American culture in areas of "acupuncture, herbalism, holistic medicine, meditation and martial arts..."

Beliefs of Ancient China The ancient Chinese believed that their country was centrally located under the bowl of Heaven and that it stood to benefit most from harmony between Heaven and Earth. All things and all natural processes were thought to be the result of the interaction between a masculine, positive energy mode, the yang, and a feminine, passive mode, the yin. The day, the air, the sun, the good spirits (shen) including ancestors, are full of yang; on the other hand, night, water, soil, evil spirits (kwei) are full of yin. Many objects exhibit yin when at rest, yang when active. Yin and yang alternate as dominant energies in events and persons, as when night alternates with day. This occurs naturally in response to a principle of order and law called the Tao ("way" or “proper course"). Each separate thing has its Tao and Earth and Heaven as totalities obey an all-encompassing Tao. When any animate thing conforms to its Tao, it becomes perfect in its kind. If all things in Heaven and on Earth would follow the Tao, harmony and order would be seen everywhere. In other words, when men and animals behave naturally, according to their true nature, they enjoy health and the blessing of Heaven. But, of course, evil spirits and reckless men act contrary to the Tao, and so there are droughts, floods, famines, wars, pestilence. There is great evil in the world and it is the world and it is due to the rebelliousness of multitudes and demons, devils, and dangerous spirits.

Taoism as a Philosophy The legendary Lao-tzu is usually credited with founding Taoism in the sixth century B.C. and writing the famous Tao-Te-Ching ("Treatise on the Tao and its Powers"). It seems certain, however, that this work composed in the fourth rather than the sixth century B.C. According to it, the term Tao is a convenient name for a reality that has brought the universe into being out of non-being. All things come out of the non-being into being and return to non-being. The way of the Tao is the natural way. Men should not oppose their own will to it. They should let nature take its course and not interfere. They should practice wu-wei or non-meddlesomeness, and behave with instinctive spontaneity. When they do, they find themselves getting along with their neighbours ana in harmony with heaven and earth; love, sincerity, and goodness will arise, and men will enjoy health and long life; wars will cease and there will be no travelling where one has no business to be and no desire to dominate others. If governments would practice non-interference, the people would spontaneously right themselves. As for the sages, they know that all things come from and blend into One and that they are themselves one with all things in the One.

In the fourth century B.C. the philosopher Chuang-Tzu exponded and illustrated this point of view in a series of brilliant and witty essays that still make good reading. “In the days when natural instincts prevailed,” he said, “men moved quietly and gazed steadily? Their virtue could not go astray.”

Taoism as Magic Both the Tao-Te-Ching and Chuang-tzu said that the Taoist sage possessed the secret of long life. In later times Taoism turned into a search for the mans to prolong life magically. Pills of immortality were diligently compounded. Taoists used the alchemy furnace in order to make gold eatable, so that it might confer immortality on those who would eat it. Much speculation was spent on multiplied about the Eight Immortals, humans who by eating the right substances had conferred immortality on themselves. Secret societies were formed to obtain immortality by meditative practices and the swallowing of potions. Some of these societies acquire great if temporary political power. To the populace, Taoist priests were diviners and doctors of thaumaturgy who were to be consulted at many critical junctures in family life.

Taoism as Religion By the second century A.D. official sacrifices were being offered to Lao-tzu in temples built in his honour. By the seventh century he was surrounded with Taoist gods and spirits gathered into a pantheon in imitation of Buddhist models. Among the were Chinese deities long known to people, like the god of the heart, guardians of the door, and the city god. Heaven and hell were added to the theological scheme. Lao-tzu was elevated to a position in the Three Purities, a trinity serving the supreme deity, the Jade Emperor. But this religion, largely a patchwork, lacked real vitality and ceased to function as a living faith by the beginning of the 20th century.

Taoist Beliefs and Practices:
- Taoism has provided an alternative to the Confucian tradition in China. The two traditions have coexisted in the country, region and generally within the same individual.

- Tao is the first-cause of the universe. It is a force that flows through all life.

- Each believer’s goal is to become one with the Tao.

- The priesthood views the many gods as manifestations of the one Dao, “which could not be represented as an image or a particular thing.” The concept of a personified deity is foreign to them, as is the concept of the creation of the universe. Thus, they do not pray as Christians do; there is no God to hear the prayers or to act upon them. They seek answers to life’s problems through inner meditation and outer observation.

- In contrast with the beliefs and practices of the priesthood, most of the laity have “believed that spirits pervaded nature...The gods in heaven acted like and were treated like the officials in the world of men; worshipping the gods was a kind of rehearsal of attitudes toward secular authorities. On the other hand, the demons and ghosts of hell acted like and were treated like the bullies, outlaws, and threatening strangers in the real world; they were bribed by the people and were ritually arrested by the martial forces of the spirit officials.” 3

- Time is cyclical, not linear as in Western thinking.

- Yin (dark side) is the breath that formed the earth. Yang (light side) is the breath that formed the heavens. They symbolize pairs of opposites which are seen throughout the universe, such as good and evil, light and dark, male and female. Intervention by human civilization upsets the balances of Yin and Yang. The symbol of Taoism, seen at the top of this page, represents Yin and Yang in balance.

- “The Tao surrounds everyone and therefore everyone must listen to find enlightenment.” 4

- Taoists generally have an interest in promoting health and vitality.

- Five main organs and orifices of the body correspond to the five parts of the sky: water, fire, wood, metal and earth.

- Each person must nurture the Ch’i (air, breath) that has been given to them.

- Development of virtue is one’s chief task. The Three Jewels to be sought are compassion, moderation and humility.

- Taoists follow the art of “wu wei,” which is to let nature take its course. For example, one should allow a river to flow towards the sea unimpeded; do not erect a dam which would interfere with its natural flow.

- One should plan in advance and consider carefully each action before making it.

- A Taoists is kind to other individuals, largely because such an action tends to be reciprocated.

- Taoists believe that “people are compassionate by nature...left to their own devices [they] will show this compassion without expecting a reward.”