Doaism

Religious Daoism

"The Way of the Celestial Masters". Believes many other Daoist religious sects, Laozi (personified as Dao himself) achieved divinity based on his expertise in adhering to the Way. Mythologized the zhenren to rank even above the immortal in the celestial hierarchy, like arhat in Confucianism. Sects or "lineages" recommend certain meditative practices that are formally taught in a manner unlike the more freewheeling self-discovery practices common in Philosophical Daoism.

Wan-wu:

"The ten Thousand Things" from the five elements combines in various ways. The Daoist term for all creation.

Qi

"air", "vapor", or "breath" also often translated as "energy", "life force"'. Most important Daoist cosmological and metaphysical concept, and has become important in broader Chinese physics, metaphysics, medicine, art, and architecture. Energy and matter are of one substance.

Wu-Wei

"non-action". Most central Daoist guiding principle.•Though literally suggesting no accomplishment through "going with the flow" and "action by non-action". Experts are also masters of "Soft Power"

Laozi

"old master," or "Old Boy" who was deified. Believed to have been a sage perfectly connected to nature and the natural world and the embodiment of an ideal human being. Considered the author of the earliest Daoist philosophical text, the Daodejing,

Dao

"way" or "path"; but the Tao is also understood as the central force behind the reality, and also the way that things should be. One must live simply and virtuously, in harmony with nature. Most important element and true Dao totally beyond description.

Feng Shui

"wind and water", but is most often translated as geomancy (earth magic), or left untranslated. •Feng Shui is an art that adherents believe allows one to use energy forces to harmonize individuals with their surrounding environment. It is closely linked to Daoism. Practice involves designing buildings. Facilitating flow of invisible qi in space.

acupuncture

: Traditional Chinese medical treatment using needles to facilitate, unblock, and stimulate the flow of qi in the body, which enables the body, in theory, to heal, improve, and perfect itself.

Daodejing

Central Daoist text. Earliest-known text of the Daoist tradition.•It is traditionally considered to have been authored by the legendary figure Laozi (or Lao Tzu). Short collection of "chapters".

Zhang Ling

Eastern Han Dynasty (1st and 2nd c. CE) Daoist figure credited with founding the Way of the Celestial Masters sect of Daoism. Depicted as riding on a tiger. In some Daoist sects, Zhang is considered one of four "Celestial Masters."

The Five Elements

Five constituent parts of all other physical objects according to Daoist cosmology, derived themselves from forms of Qi, Yin, and Yang. Wood, fire, earth, metal, water.

The Eight Immortals

Group of legendary, semi-historical figures important in both Religious Daoism and Chinese popular religion. Stories from folklore of them becoming gods and achieving immortality through oness with Dao

Ziran

Literally, "self-so-ing,", usually translated as: "spontaneity", "naturalness". Unconditioned and totally one/ true to oneself... Naturalness and most natural state of being.

Te

Means through which the Dao becomes manifest and actualized, and the ability to change the world that comes from the Dao. One maximizes one's De through harmony with the Dao

Zhuangzi

Next to Laozi, Zhuangzi is the most significant Daoist sage. Writings extended ideas of Daodejing. Most famous for his famous text, Zhuangzi the book, the source of many of the most famous Daoist sayings, traditions, and whimsical tales. Contains stories and anecdotes that exemplify the carefree nature of the ideal Daoist sage. Consists of a large (much longer than the Daodejing) collection of anecdotes, allegories, parables, and fables, which are often humorous or irreverent in nature. Promotes spontaneity and freedom from the human world.

Inner Alchemy

Procedure or set of practices, based on Daoist principles, designed to prolong human life, with the ultimate goal of immortality. Relied on meditation and other mental exercises to achieve the same end

Immortals

Serve as the ideals and/or exemplars of Religious Daoism, as individuals who have achieved eternal life and superhuman status through perfect realization of the Dao who dwell in heaven or mountains in magical paradises with supernatural abilities.

Outer Alchemy

The chemical production of elixirs that were meant to be swallowed. Branch of Daoist alchemy that used chemical elixirs believed to produce immortality when swallowed.

Yin and Yang

Two forms of Qi. Two opposing types of energy or contrasting forces.Both types are almost always present in one another. Yin (passive, negative, yielding, negative, dark, female). Yang (dynamic, assertive, positive, light, male).

Sunzi

Was a Chinese general, military strategist, writer, and philosopher who lived in the Eastern Zhou state of ancient China. •Sunzi is traditionally credited as the author of The Art of War, a widely influential work of military strategy that has affected both Western and East Asian philosophy and military thinking which advised the utilization of Daoist principles to become a successful general

Taiji

Ying and Yang symbol.

Zhenren

literally, "true human being". Ideal type of the Daoist (who has not achieved immortality), like Junzi in Confucianism, free from external limitations and expresses self simply and effectively

Philosophical Taoism

reflective form of Taoism in which the practitioners seek to understand the Dao to become the best version of oneself and to make more efficient use of its De. Do not necessarily believe in immortals or deities. Pluralism, relativism, skepticism, political equality and freedom, not towards any established orthodoxy. Has no one orthodoxy and there is no gatekeeper who decides what is and isn't part of the tradition,