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Taoism has been interpreted and applied in many ways over the centuries, as political philosophy, as personal philosophy, and as a set of spiritual beliefs and practices involving meditation & self-cultivation. It has also come to be a catch-all category for anything in Chinese tradition (especially religion) that is neither [[Confucianism|Confucianist]] or [[Buddhism|Buddhist]], leading many folk deities such as [[Tenpi|Mazu]] and [[Guan Yu]] to be identified as "Taoist" deities. This has begun to fall out of favor with scholars, however, who emphasize the distinction and separation between folk religion, and the specific philosophies and worldviews that come out of the teachings of Laozi and [[Zhuangzi]].
Taoism has been interpreted and applied in many ways over the centuries, as political philosophy, as personal philosophy, and as a set of spiritual beliefs and practices involving meditation & self-cultivation. It has also come to be a catch-all category for anything in Chinese tradition (especially religion) that is neither [[Confucianism|Confucianist]] or [[Buddhism|Buddhist]], leading many folk deities such as [[Tenpi|Mazu]] and [[Guan Yu]] to be identified as "Taoist" deities. This has begun to fall out of favor with scholars, however, who emphasize the distinction and separation between folk religion, and the specific philosophies and worldviews that come out of the teachings of Laozi and [[Zhuangzi]].
==Philosophical Daoism==
The text is believed to have first appeared in the 3rd century BCE, though the term "Taoism" did not become common until the 2nd century BCE. Prior to that time, Daoist beliefs were known as "the teachings of the [[Yellow Emperor]] and Lao Tzu" or as "the teachings of Lao Tzu and Zhuangzi." As the name Lao Tzu, or Laozi, is not in fact a name but simply means "the old master," it remains unclear as to whether this old master was a specific individual historical figure, or if so, who he was.
The text is believed to have first appeared in the 3rd century BCE, though the term "Taoism" did not become common until the 2nd century BCE. Prior to that time, Daoist beliefs were known as "the teachings of the [[Yellow Emperor]] and Lao Tzu" or as "the teachings of Lao Tzu and Zhuangzi." As the name Lao Tzu, or Laozi, is not in fact a name but simply means "the old master," it remains unclear as to whether this old master was a specific individual historical figure, or if so, who he was.
Taoism was the chief official political philosophy of the [[Qin Dynasty]]. It became overshadowed in later eras by [[Confucianism]], but remained quite influential, with Confucianism coming to absorb many aspects of Taoist attitudes. Furthermore, while Confucianism became dominant in official political and bureaucratic contexts, scholar-officials embraced Taoism (or at least paid lip service to the notion of such belief) in their private lives. The imagined ideal [[literati|literatus]] was in tune with nature, and with the Tao, even as he followed the teachings of Confucianism in his official duties.
Taoism was the chief official political philosophy of the [[Qin Dynasty]]. It became overshadowed in later eras by [[Confucianism]], but remained quite influential, with Confucianism coming to absorb many aspects of Taoist attitudes. Furthermore, while Confucianism became dominant in official political and bureaucratic contexts, scholar-officials embraced Taoism (or at least paid lip service to the notion of such belief) in their private lives. The imagined ideal [[literati|literatus]] was in tune with nature, and with the Tao, even as he followed the teachings of Confucianism in his official duties.
==Religious Daoism==
Daoism as a religion, drawing upon the older Daoist philosophy and upon both [[Han people|Han]] and non-Han folk religions, may have emerged out of the faith healing cult promoted by the [[Celestial Masters Rebellion]] in 2nd-3rd century [[Sichuan province]]. Emerging out of this tradition, Daoist masters used a variety of seals and spells to combat illness and promote long life, and employed a variety of methods to trace the causes of illness to a person's misdeeds, or those of his parents or ancestors, or to evil spirits or demons. Meditation, breathing, and sexual exercises, as well as alchemy, were incorporated into the tradition as well.<ref name=schiro89>Conrad Schirokauer, et al, ''A Brief History of Chinese and Japanese Civilizations'', Fourth Edition, Cengage Learning (2012), 89-90.</ref>
By the mid-5th century, Daoism was strong enough as a religion that [[Emperor Taiwu]] of the [[Northern Wei Dynasty]] could be invested as emperor through Daoist rituals of cosmic legitimacy. Drawing upon beliefs of the Celestial Masters, religious Daoism at this time purported a cosmic government and bureaucracy which mirrored that on earth. Some states of this period declared Daoism their state religion, and under some regimes, such as that of Emperor Taiwu, [[Buddhism]] was powerfully persecuted.<ref name=schiro89/>
A variety of sects appeared in the 5th to 8th centuries, some of which attempted to reconcile Buddhist practices with Daoist belief by asserting that Laozi had traveled to India and become the Buddha. Buddhism fought back by asserting that Laozi and [[Confucius]] were both disciples of the Buddha.<ref name=schiro98/> Over the centuries, Daoism continued to absorb variant sects and beliefs, accumulating saints, sages, and myths, such that today a wide range of folk deities, stories, figures, and beliefs are said to be Daoist, though more strict definitions may exclude them entirely.
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==References==
==References==
*"The Way of Laozi and Zhuangzi," ''Sources of Chinese Tradition'', 77-79.
*"The Way of Laozi and Zhuangzi," ''Sources of Chinese Tradition'', 77-79.
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[[Category:Culture]]
[[Category:Culture]]