Fundamental Principles Taoism

History 8 China Review 100 Schools of Thought

The fundamental principles of Taoism are clearly stated in the Tao Te Ching written by Lao Tzu. The first principle is oneness meaning that every being in the universe is a manifestation of the Tao. The Tao births every being, sustains them, defends them, cares for them, eases them, and in end takes all beings back to itself. Following oneness is the dynamic balance. Dynamic balance is the equality of the two distinctions in nature represented by yin and yang. Ying is the dark side and considered the power that fashioned the earth, while yang is the light side and created the heavens. This pair symbolizes opposite forces such as the sun and the moon, heaven and earth, light and dark, and chaos and order; one of the purposes of Taoism is to find harmony between these polar opposites. Subsequently, there is the principle of cyclical growth which is when yin and yang compliment each other in phases such as when the sun replaces the moon and the moon replaces the sun, when spring replaces winter which is then replaced by summer, and when light replaces dark and darkness devours light. Everywhere in nature these cycles can be seen. Last of all is harmonious action. Taoism says that polarities can actually produce one another. For example this can be observed with a bamboo stick. It bends with the wind, but it overcomes the wind by yielding to it. If the bamboo stick were to remain stiff and try to fight against the wind, it would break, but because it does not remain stiff, it does not break and overcomes power of the wind. Weakness was produced from strength, and strength created weakness. The fundamental principles of Taoism govern the ways to live and view life.

Sources

http://www.taoism.net/articles/mason/principl.htm

CF Manual Page 183

http://www.seedboxpress.com/tao-te-ching/

Justin Kao