Daoism

Daoism (C. Daojiao 道教). The name for the native Chinese philosophical/religious system primarily based on the teachings of the Chinese philosophers Laozi and Zhuangzi, which emphasized naturalness (ziran) and unattached activity (wuwei) in personal behavior. The tradition also features a strong critique of the ontological status of language, not so different from that seen in Buddhism.

Charles Muller states:

[Daoism] served as a philosophical option to the Confucian tradition that heavily influenced Chinese thought. Over the centuries Daoism brought influence into a broad range of areas beside just philosophy, informing yoga/alchemical practices aimed at attaining longevity and immortality.

Many aspects of the thought of Laozi and Zhuangzi resonated with Buddhist notions, such as that of naturalness (ziran 自然), unattached activity (wuwei 無爲), and even that of dao itself, comparable to the Indian notion of marga. Thus, Daoist concepts were used extensively in the early translations of Indian Buddhist texts into Chinese. Later on, the influence of Daoism on the formation of Chan is pronounced, especially in the affinities seen with the Daoist critique of language. Also see 老莊思想. [Charles Muller; source(s): JEBD]

The main principles of Daoism are set forth in the Daode jing, attributed to Laozi.

Along with Buddhism and Confucianism, Daoism is one of the "three teachings" (sanjiao 三教) in East Asian traditional thought.

External links

• Taoism, Wikipedia