Taoism

Tao Te Ching/Dao De Jing

the most important and most well known book throughout Taoism. It is a relatively short work organized into two books, the Tao Ching and the Te Ching, with a total of 81 chapters. The Tao Ching and Te Ching were called this because each is the first word in its particular section of the book. (The section names do not reveal subject areas for each section.) The work was originally called the Laozi, or the book of Laozi, because Laozi is credited with writing it, but by the second century CE it was also called the Tao Te Ching. The Tao Te Ching, or "Classic of the Way of Power", is an anthology, or a collection assembled from various sources and by different individuals, but is united by the relevance of Taoism in each of the passages. The book rejects the idea of behavioral conduct imposed on oneself that comes from Confucianism, because it asserts that Tao should be the main guide and focus in life. Tao Ching discusses the "way" and Te Ching discusses the "power of the way", and it mentions Tao's nature as being beyond words and virtually indescribable. The Tao Te Ching uses many different symbols and images to express the indescribable nature of Tao which never acts, but is also the "mother of all things".

Taixi

the art of embryonic breathing, or holding ones breath in contemplation. Allows taoists to enter a deep reflective thought that allows them to experience the light and divinities of the human origin.

I Ching/Yijing

An ancient Chinese book that consists of 64 hexagons and commentaries about Confucius. It is also called the Book of Change and was finalized by Confucius about Chiang2,500 years ago. The Chinese people view this book as doctrine that understands laws of the human relations and the laws of the physical world.

Lao Tzu/Laozi

An ancient Chinese philosopher accredited for creating the sacred text of Daoism, the Tao Te Ching. Not much information is confirmed about Lao-Tzu, but many myths and speculations surround his life. Much like myths concerning the Buddha's life, many stories of Lao-Tzu's life somewhat outline Daoist principles. It is said that Lao-Tzu spent an a lengthy amount of time in his mother's womb and was born as an old man. After working for much of his life, he headed west, aiming to leave China. Some myths say that he travelled to India and became a Buddhist teacher, and that he lived to be 160 years old.

Kung Fu Tsu

Another name for Confucius. He became, long after his death, the dominant Chinese philosopher both morally and politically . He was the second person to formally lay the foundations of Taoism."The Confucian traditio n became so broad that ,'Scholar' or 'Literatus' became all but synonymous with "Confucian'."

Tao

It is, in Chinese philosophy, the absolute principle underlying the universe, combining within itself the principles of yin and yang and signifying the way, or code of behavior, that is in harmony with the universe's natural order. Tao is "the way of nature" that is independent and unchanging, but it can also be described as the experienced consciousness of life.

Zaoshen

Literally "God of the hearth." The Kitchen God who is believed to report to celestial gods on family conduct with the power to bestow riches onto individual families. He is also the protector of the home from evil spirits. It is believed that once a month Zaoshen departs from above the kitchen stove to to tell the celestial Gods what he had seen. Honey is smeared on the lips of the God's paper image so he only speaks sweet words.

Wuwei

Literally means "non-doing." It means natural action or action that is done without struggle or excessive effort. It is the cultivation of a state of being in which our actions are effortlessly in alignment with the flow of elemental cycles in the natural world. Without even trying, one is able to respond to the situations that arise. It is one of Taoism's most important concepts

Fu

The idea and belief that one returns to his or her roots. You can find this is in the Futeachings of Taoism in par. 16: 2:"All things come into beingAnd I see thereby their return (fu)". The idea is that one returns to the beginning of start of things and this is one of the many modes of acting of the Tao and it is a model of conduct.

The Three Purities

The three highest gods in the religion. The three purities can be compared to the Trinity in Christianity and they are described as the pure manifestation of the Tao and are the origin of all living things. The three purities include Jade the Pure One, The Supreme Pure One, and the Grand Pure One. The Jade Pure One or Yuanshi tianzun is the central god and is said to have appeared first in the beginning of time and also created the writing systems and the other dieties. The Supreme Pure One or Lingbao Tianzun showed the Taoist scriptures to humans and the lesser dieties. The Grand Pure One or Daode Tianzun is the one most present on earth. Each diety represents both a god and governs a heaven

Five Elements

They consist of wood, metal, fire, water, and earth. They all influence each other in the balance of nature. Wood is shaped by metal, metal is melted by fire, fire is extinguished by water, water is channeled by earth, earth is broken by wood, which is shaped by metal and the cycle continues forever. The number five is important in Chinese view of the universe. These elements are used to determine how things should work out in harmony.

The Three Treasures

They including Jing, Qi, and Shen are the basic virtues or essence of Taoism. Jing is an energy associated with the human body and is the center of our vitality. Jing is lost through too much stress and anxiety. Lack of Jing can cause various health problems in men and women and can be restored with vitamin supplements. Qi is an energy associated with the life force and is associated with liver and spleen organs. Qi is also the movement of our blood and breath through our various organ systems. Shen is an energy associated with our mind and spirit or soul. It the largest energy and associated with the heart. It can be seen when someone's eyes shine with compassion, or love. All of these thing in balance created a healthy and happy person.

Tai Chi

Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu) is known as a vital scholar who expanded on Dao De Jing, a book compiling the foundation of Daosim, and its teachings. He emphasized individuality, freedom from societal norms, and nature. On the side of Confucianism and extending on these beliefs, Zhangzi concluded that all things originate by Qi, natural force, and li, natural order. Taiji, or Tai Chi, stimulates natural matter to exercise Yin and Yang and produces all the elements. This Great Ultimate called Taiji that emphasizes li and Qi, working within everything, is centered in a now international martial arts. It is a fighting style based on "softness and yielding." The principles of Tai Chi "stresses the natural balance in all things and the need for living in spiritual and physical accord with the patterns of nature" (Lam and Kayne). On the Taosim side, an early master Zhang San Feng founded taijiquan, an acient Chinese excerise used to get closer to nature by controlling qi (ch'i), or breathing, stretching, bending, and flexing. It is said that Tai Chi helps find inner peace and getting in touch with Tao. The exercises follow the motions of animals, as Zhang San Feng created taijiquan by observing the movements of birds and animals.

Chuang Tzu/Zhuangzi

a Chinese thinker who is responsible for writing a collection of essays that uses puzzles that are used to teach truth, goodness, and happiness. The essays teach thatb everything in life is relative except for the Tao. His method relies on humor, stories, metaphors and allegories rather than on systematic arguments, and it is based on paradox, the realization of the unifying principle that underlies all opposites.

Three Dantains

a direct translation of "energy center". They are the three major energy centers in the human body along the Taji Pole (center channel) that store and emit energy. The three energies lead to energetically aligning yourself with the universal Qi. The three Dantains consists if the lower Dantian (Jing), the Middle Dantain (QI) and the Upper Dantain (Shen). Jing is located two inches below the navel, it is the source of energy that builds the physical body and allows us to develop and use Ql and Shen. Ql is located at the heart, it is the energy created from food and air and relates to our emotions and thoughts. The Shen is located at the center point above the eyebrows and it is related to our spirit and consciousness. These three energy's are not referred to as tangible zones but rather places where the mind can feel a clearer sense of empty space, especially during and after mediation. It is considered to be the foundation of breathing and body awareness. The three Dantains can be described as "the roots of the tree of life".

Yin

a principle of Taoism that balances out yang and represents negativity, darkness (the shady side), feminine (female), cool (winter), night, and passive. There is a light dot in yin that shows that there is some yang in yin and one cannot exist without the other.

Yang

a principle of Taosim that balances out yin and represents positivity, light (the sunny side), masculine (Male), warm (summer), day, active. There is a dark dot in yang that shows that there is some yin in yang and one cannot exist without the other.

Chi

one of the three treasures of Daoism. It energy flow or life force that is said to pervade all things and is believed to be essential to maintaining health and achieving a long life. It is the essence of life

Taoists

followers of Taoism, one of the two great philosophical and religious traditions that originated in China. Parts of Taoism traveled with the Chinese, and because of that elements of Taoism can be found throughout the religions of many of the countries that came under Chinese influence over the centuries like Korea, Vietnam, and Japan (and in the Chinese sections of Western cities in Europe, Canada, and the United States). Taoists see the importance of living in harmony with Tao or "the way", and more specifically the "way of nature". Taoists view the cycles of nature and the constant change in the natural world as earthly signs of a great and universal force (Tao). Tao is seen by some as an Ultimate Reality or a presence that existed before the universe was formed and continues to guide the world and everything in it today. However, Tao is also sometimes identified as the Mother, or the source of all things and Taoists focus on coming into harmony with Tao. Taoists see physical bodies as kinds of microcosms, or miniature models, of the universe, and they believe a healthy body is a necessary first step to achieving a "lofty spiritual state". Some Taoists can follow particular practices such as Taijiquan or meditation, or they may pursue an interest in Chinese medicine. Others may follow the religious rituals of Daoism in their homes by doing things like lighting incense to the spirits of their ancestors and the Daoist gods like the woman pictured below.

Qi/Chi

is the invisible energy that exists and flows throughout the universe. It is because of Qi the universe can have true balance. Daoism emphasizes the harmony between positive and negative Qi in nature. In China, things such as water and blood are said to channel Qi in human beings. Qi is described as having six different types: cold, heat, wind, rain, light, and darkness.

Jade Emperor

the most prominent deity in Taoist religion and is believed to be the being that presides over heaven. In Chinese culture jade is viewed as rare and beautiful and is believed to have magical healing powers. The jade emperor shares these qualities is also viewed as a symbol of purity and nature. According to to legends the heavenly court of the jade emperor was structured similarly to the Chinese imperial court and bureaucracy. The jade emperor is celebrated on the ninth day of the first month during a festival known as the "Festival of the Gathering of the 100 Gods". This festival marks the point when the lower deities meet in the court of the jade emperor to discuss the activities of human beings on earth

Ten Thousand Things

the sum of entities generated by the joining of Yin and Yang, the world of multiplicity. It is Taoism's form of saying "everything in existence." Born from yin and yang, it is also known as the Supreme Ultimate and is sometimes translated as the "myriad creatures" because it includes everything, even the inanimate objects. The word is not meant to be thought of as a physical number but instead is meant to be an indefinite large number.

JIao

translates to offering or sacrifice and refers to a ritual preformed by Taoist people in order to maintain the relationship between human beings and sacred deities. These rituals are usually lead by a priest and involve the entire community. These ceremonies can last up to a week or longer and usually mimc the atmosphere of a festival with parades and large offerings to local deities. The central part of the ceremony, the Zhengyi jiao, is preformed by a priest and group of musicians within a closed, decorated temple and can only be viewed by select members of the community.