Dao

dao (J. dō; K. to 道). A Chinese term commonly translated as “way” or “path”.

According to Ulrich Timme Kragh, the term dao literally means "a way," in the physical sense of a road, or perhaps better the natural flow of a waterway, as well as in the figurative sense of an abstract, mystical, or cosmological pattern of motion. However, the term has taken on a wide range of meanings within the major Chinese philosophical systems of ancient astronomy, Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism.

In astronomy, Daoism, and Confucianism

Ulrich Timme Kragh states:

Recent research on early Chinese sources has revealed that the term may have had its origin in the ancient Chinese astronomical cult of "the Great One" (Taiyi 太一), the deity of the pole star and the Big Dipper. The pole star was seen as the fixed pivot of the movements of all heavenly bodies, where dao then designated the set patterns of these seasonal movements of the heavens (Jia 2009). Later on, in classical Chinese thought, dao came to denote an underlying source of all things in nature along with the natural order and harmony of these things, an ideal pattern from which everything is said to spring, grow, and mature when free from human intervention. Such was the interpretation emphasized by the Daoist tradition (daojia 道家). Dao was often coupled with the term de 德, "uprightness," "virtue," and "power to rule," signifying a just and impartial mode of action, as, e.g., seen in the title of the early Daoist classic Dao de jing (道德經) by Laozi (老子).

For the Confucian tradition (rujiao 儒教), dao was not only seen as a natural order of the heavens and nature at large, but also a natural moral and social order within human society, which when respected and followed by the ruler, his subjects, and humanity at large ensured cosmic order, balance, and happiness. This is based on the early view that the ruler represents the pole star on earth and all social movements revolve around him (ibid.). As for the ideal rulerʼs uprightness (de 德), it is said to be his mandate to implement a rule of correctness and uprightness in times of peace, a strong militaristic rule in times of violence and disorder, and a soft and civil rule in times of harmony. The notion of dao thus became a key term in classical Chinese thought.

In Buddhism

In Buddhist texts, the term dao:

... is used variously as the translation for terms related to “path” (marga) and “awakening” (bodhi). For example, “cultivating the way” (xiudao) means “practicing Buddhism” and “entering the way” (rudao) comes to be used as the equivalency in Chinese Buddhist texts for the idea of attaining enlightenment.

Dao also has numerous other usages, including as a translation for:

• the Dharma as teachings (dao or daofa),
• the dharmas as factors (e.g., daopin for the bodhipākṣikadharma), and
• the realms of rebirth (e.g., edao as one of the translations of unfortunate destinies, viz., durgati or apāya).

In the premodern period, dao is also one of the closer Chinese equivalents for what in the West would simply be called “religion,” so that the compound daoren (“person of the way”) refers more generally to an accomplished adherent of a religion; in daosu, the term refers generically to a “religious” (dao) or renunciant, especially in distinction to a layperson (su), etc.

In East Asian Buddhist texts, dao only rarely refers to the religious tradition of Daoism.

English spelling

The term is also rendered in English as tao or Tao, a spelling which reflects the older Wade–Giles transcription system.

External links

• 道, Digital Dictionary of Buddhism (to sign in, see DDB sign-in)
• Tao, Wikipedia