The Religions Book

66

T

he origins of Daoism are

rooted in ancient Chinese

beliefs concerning nature

and harmony, but its first text,

attributed to the philosopher Laozi,

was written in the 6th century BCE

—an unusually active time for

ideas that also saw the emergence

of Confucianism in China, both

Jainism and Buddhism in India,

and early Greek philosophy. Laozi’s

IN CONTEXT

KEY FIGURE

Laozi

WHEN AND WHERE

6th century BCE, China

BEFORE

7th century BCE In popular

Chinese religion, people

believe their fate is controlled

by deities and practice

ancestor worship.

AFTER

6th century BCE Confucius

proposes an ethical system in

which virtue and respect lead

to a just and stable society.

3rd century CE Buddhism,

with its focus on the personal

journey to enlightenment, first

reaches China.

20th century Daoism is

banned in China by the

Communist regime; this

ban is reversed in 1978.

20th century The physical

and mental discipline of t’ai chi

attracts followers in the West.

The dao remains

unchanged, while all

else flows around it.

Through meditation and inaction

we accept the Way of the universe.

The dao sustains

all things.

We must cease actions

that interrupt this flow and

live simply, in harmony

with nature.

The dao, or Way, is the

fundamental principle

of the universe.

book, the Daode jing (The Way and

Its Power) identified the dao, or

Way, as the power or principle that

underlies and sustains all things

and is the source of order in the

universe. Following the dao, rather

than hindering or obstructing it,

not only helps to ensure cosmic

harmony, but also leads to personal

spiritual development and a virtuous,

fulfilled, and possibly longer life.

ACCEPT THE WAY

OF THE UNIVERSE

ALIGNING THE SELF WITH THE DAO