Daoism

Daoism, a 4th century BCE philosophy, laid the groundwork for Chinese religion as it is perceived today. Attributed to Lao Tzu, the text, the Dao De Jing, was supposedly written once he bestowed his knowledge upon a guard, pleading that his wisdom be shared before abandoning civilization. Becoming the official religion of China under the Tang dynasty, this gives Daosim a distinction in that it is both a philosophy, as well as a religion.

This philosophy teaches the dualistic nature of reality. A house refers not only to the four walls and roof which create its barrier. Surely the spaces filled in between the barriers are also considered to be a part of the building. What good are the spokes on a bike without the spaces in between them, or perhaps a musical piece without any silence between notes? Such questions are asked of the Dao, leaving one to conclude only that duality is the centermost point of existence itself. Being and non-being not only compliment one another, but are mutually dependent.

Daoism propelled China into a frenzy of spiritual and philosophical growth. Coming onto the scene near the time of confucianism, there are many parallels that can be drawn between the two doctrines. Their main splitting point is in that Daosim tends to speak more towards the individual, while confucianism by contrast offers insight moro so into societal and governmental constructs. It can be argued that both doctrines are more or less grasping at the same concept, but simply directing its contents towards a different audience. We will discuss Confucianism in further detail in the coming weeks.