Tao or Dao refers to a Chinese character that was of pivotal meaning in ancient Chinese philosophy and religion. Tao is central to Taoism, but Confucianism also refers to it. Most debates between proponents of one of the Hundred Schools of Thought could be summarized in the simple question: who is closer to the Tao, or, in other words, whose "Tao" is the most powerful? As used in modern spoken and written Chinese, Tao has a wide scope of usage and meaning. Depending on context, the character 道 'Tao' may be rendered as religio ...

Including:

• Tao - Some characteristics of Tao
• Tao - Tao in the Tao Te Ching
• Tao - Examples of Tao as path

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Including:

• Laozi - His life
• Laozi - His work
• Laozi - Influences
• Laozi - Names
• Laozi - Popular culture
• Laozi - Bibliography

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The Tao is the main theme discussed in the Tao Te Ching, an ancient Chinese scripture attributed to Laozi. This book does not specifically define what the Tao is; it affirms that in the first sentence, "The Tao that can be told of is not an Unvarying Tao" (tr. Waley, modified). Instead, it points to some characteristics of what could be understood as being the Tao. Below are some excerpts from the book. Tao as the origin of things: "Tao begets one; One begets two; Two begets three; Three begets the myriad creatures." (TTC 42, tr ...

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Tao, Tao - Some characteristics of Tao, Tao - Tao in the Tao Te Ching, Tao - Examples of Tao as path

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Zhang Daoling (Chang Tao-ling), also called "Zhang Ling." Eastern Han dynasty (2nd Century CE) Taoist hermit who founded the Zhengyi Mengwei Tianshi Dao ("Tradition of the Celestial Master of the Mighty Commonwealth of Orthodox Oneness") sect of Taoism, also known as the "Tianshi Dao" ("Way of the Celestial Masters") sect or the "Wudou Mi Dao" ("Way of Five Bushels of Rice") sect. According to tradition, in 142 CE, Lao Zi (Lao Tse) himself appeared to Zhang Daoling on Mount Heming, and informed the hermit that the world was com ...

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A philosopher is a person devoted to studying and producing results in philosophy. The word, "philosopher," literally means "lover of wisdom." Greek: "φίλος + σοφία" Philosopher - Popular Western philosophers in approximate historical order. List of philosophers Philosopher - Eastern philosophers in approximate historical order:. Gautama Buddha -- Lao Zi -- Confucius -- Mozi - ...

Including:

• Philosopher - Popular Western philosophers in approximate historical order
• Philosopher - Eastern philosophers in approximate historical order:
• Philosopher - Philosophers: listed by philosophical school
• Philosopher - Nicknames of Medieval Philosophers
• Philosopher - Other uses of the term

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A world egg or cosmic egg is a mythological motif found in the creation myths of many cultures and civilizations. Typically, the world egg is a beginning of some sort, and the universe or some primordial being comes into existence by "hatching" from the egg. World egg - Chinese mythology. In the myth of Pangu, developed by Taoist monks hundreds of years after Lao Zi, the universe began as an egg. A god named Pangu, born inside the egg, broke it into two halves: the upper half became the sky, while th ...

Including:

• World egg - Chinese mythology
• World egg - Egyptian mythology
• World egg - Finnish mythology

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The name Lao Tsu is an honorific title. Lao (老) means "venerable" or "old." Tsu or Zi (子) translates literally as "boy," but it was also a term for a rank of nobleman equivalent to viscount, as well as a term of respect attached to the names of revered masters. Thus, "Lao Tsu" can be translated roughly as "the old master." Lao Tsu's personal name may have been Li Er (李耳, Lǐ Ěr or Li Ehr), his courtesy name may have been Boyang (伯陽), and his posthumous name was Dān, ...

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Laozi, Laozi - His life, Laozi - His work, Laozi - Influences, Laozi - Names, Laozi - Popular culture, Laozi - Bibliography

Read more here: » Laozi: Encyclopedia II - Laozi - Names

The oldest evidence of martial arts in China goes back to the Zhou dynasty (1111-255 BC). There are passages in the Zhuang Zi (a.k.a. Chuang Tzu) that clearly pertain to the psychology and practice of martial arts. The Dao De Jing by Lao Zi contains many principles that are applicable to martial arts, and is similar in point of view to the Sun Zi Bing Fa (Sun Zi's Art of War) which deals directly with martial arts. History says that Zhuang Zi lived during the reign of King Hui of Liang and King Xuan of Qi, which m ...

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Chinese martial arts, Chinese martial arts - History of Chinese martial arts, Chinese martial arts - To be merged, Chinese martial arts - Styles of Chinese martial arts, Chinese martial arts - Styles of Wushu to be merged, Chinese martial arts - External or hard styles 外家拳 wàijiāquán, Chinese martial arts - Internal or soft styles 內家拳 nèijiāquán, Chinese martial arts - Northern styles, Chinese martial arts - Southern styles, Chinese martial arts - Buddhist styles, Chinese martial arts - Daoist styles, Chinese martial arts - Muslim styles, Chinese martial arts - Training in Chinese martial arts, Chinese martial arts - Basics 基本功, Chinese martial arts - Forms 套路, Chinese martial arts - Application, Chinese martial arts - Weapons training, Chinese martial arts - Use of qi in Chinese martial arts, Chinese martial arts - Chinese martial arts in movies

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Several chapters of the most important Taoist scripture, the Tao Te Ching, attributed to Lao Zi, allude to 'diminishing doing', or 'diminishing will', as the key aspect of the sage's success. Taoist philosophy recognizes that the universe already works harmoniously according to its own laws; as man exerts his will against the world he disrupts the harmony that already exists. This is not to say that man should not exert will. Rather, it is how he acts in relation to the natural proce ...

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Wu wei, Wu wei - Origins, Wu wei - Philosophy, Wu wei - Practice, Wu wei - The ultimate: harmony with the Tao

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It was common in China, Vietnam and Korea for persons of note to be given posthumous names even when those persons lacked any relation to royalty: Confucius Lao Zi Yi Sun-sin (posthumous name "Chungmu") Often immediate ancestors of the first emperor of a dynasty were typically given posthumous names even though they themselves were not royalty. For example: Sima Zhao, the Prince of Jin and effective ruler in Wei in the Three Kingdoms period, who was the father of the eventual first em ...

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Posthumous name, Posthumous name - History, Posthumous name - Chinese emperors, Posthumous name - Japanese emperors, Posthumous name - Korean emperors and kings, Posthumous name - Non-royal posthumous names, Posthumous name - Miscellaneous, Posthumous name - External link

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In Chinese society, collectivism has a long tradition based on Confucianism, where being a 'community man' (qúntǐ de fènzǐ) (群体的分子) or someone with a 'social personality' (shèhuì de réngé) (社会的人格) is valued. Additionally, there is the shìgu (世故) personality type, who is worldly and committed to family. Individualist thinking in China was formed by Lao Zi and Taoism. He taught that individual happiness is the basis of a good society and saw the state, with its "laws and regulations more numerous than th ...

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Collectivist and individualist cultures, Collectivist and individualist cultures - Examples of Countries with Generally Collectivistic Cultures, Collectivist and individualist cultures - Examples of Countries with Generally Individualistic Cultures, Collectivist and individualist cultures - Personality Types, Collectivist and individualist cultures - Collectivism and individualism in Chinese culture

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There are more polysyllabic words in Mandarin than in other varieties of Chinese. This is partly because Mandarin has undergone many more sound changes than have southern varieties of Chinese, and has needed to deal with many more homophones — usually by forming new words via compounding, or by adding affixes such as lao-, -zi, -(e)r, and -tou. There are also a small number of words that have been polysyllabic s ...

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Mandarin linguistics, Mandarin linguistics - History, Mandarin linguistics - Name and classification, Mandarin linguistics - Standard Mandarin, Mandarin linguistics - Dialects, Mandarin linguistics - Phonology, Mandarin linguistics - Vocabulary

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There are more polysyllabic words in Mandarin than in other varieties of Chinese. This is partly because Mandarin has undergone many more sound changes than have southern varieties of Chinese, and has needed to deal with many more homophones — usually by forming new words via compounding, or by adding affixes such as lao-, -zi, -(e)r, and -tou. There are also a small number of words that have been polysyllabic s ...

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Mandarin linguistics, Mandarin linguistics - History, Mandarin linguistics - Name and classification, Mandarin linguistics - Standardized Mandarin, Mandarin linguistics - Variations, Mandarin linguistics - Phonology, Mandarin linguistics - Vocabulary

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Main article: Taoism Taoism is the organized, indigenous religion of China and is traditionally dated to 142 C.E. with the founding of the Way of the Celestial Masters by Zhang Daoling. Taoist religion builds on earlier concepts found in classic wisdom text known as the Way and Its Power or Dao De Jing. This work is attributed to Lao Zi, a mythological person who subsequently came to be venerated as a god. The philosophy of Taoism is centered on 'the way', an understanding of which can be likened to recognising the true nature of the universe. Taoism is ...

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Religion in China, Religion in China - Buddhism, Religion in China - Taoism, Religion in China - Islam, Religion in China - Christianity, Religion in China - Judaism, Religion in China - Recent sects, Religion in China - Falun Gong, Religion in China - Way of Former Heaven, Religion in China - Mainland China, Religion in China - External link

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The earliest settlement was probably founded in the first millennium BC. By 202 BC it was already a fortified city. During the Han Dynasty it was also the capital of Changsha kingdom. The celebrated Ma-Wang-Dui (馬王堆) Tombs of the Han Dynasty were constructed between 186 and 165 BC. The earliest tomb (no. 2), when excavated in the 1970s, had preserved the corpse of Lady Xin-Zhui in a surprisingly good condition. Also found in the tomb were the earliest versions of Dao-De-Jing written by Lao Zi, and many other historical documents. During the ...

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Changsha, Changsha - Administration, Changsha - History, Changsha - Geography and climate, Changsha - Neighboring areas:, Changsha - Economy, Changsha - Colleges and universities, Changsha - Notable inhabitants

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In Chinese society, collectivism has a long tradition based on Confucianism, where being a 'community man' (qúntǐ de fènzǐ) (群体的分子) or someone with a 'social personality' (shèhuì de réngé) (社会的人格) is valued. Additionally, there is the shìgu (世故) personality type, who is worldly and committed to family. Individualist thinking in China was formed by Lao Zi and Taoism. He taught that individual happiness is the basis of a good society and saw the state, with its "laws and regulations more numerous than th ...

See also:

Collectivist and individualist cultures, Collectivist and individualist cultures - Identity, Collectivist and individualist cultures - Traits of Collectivism, Collectivist and individualist cultures - Traits of Individualism, Collectivist and individualist cultures - Examples of Countries with Generally Collectivistic Cultures, Collectivist and individualist cultures - Examples of Countries with Generally Individualistic Cultures, Collectivist and individualist cultures - Attribution, Collectivist and individualist cultures - Personality Types, Collectivist and individualist cultures - Collectivism and individualism in Chinese culture

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The first great author on military tactics and strategy was Sun Tzu, whose The Art of War remains on the shelves of many modern military officers (and its advice has been applied to the corporate world as well). Philosophy developed far differently in China than in Greece—rather than presenting extended dialogues, the Analects of Confucius and Lao Zi's Tao Te Ching presented sayings and proverbs more dire ...

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History of literature, History of literature - The beginnings of literature, History of literature - Early Indian literature, History of literature - Early Chinese literature, History of literature - The Greeks and the Romans, History of literature - The Greeks, History of literature - The Romans, History of literature - Persian literature, History of literature - The Medieval Period, History of literature - Later Chinese literature, History of literature - European Renaissance Literature, History of literature - The early modern period, History of literature - European literature in the 18th century, History of literature - The 19th century and onwards

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In Chinese society, collectivism has a long tradition based on Confucianism, where being a 'community man' (qúntǐ de fènzǐ) (群体的分子) or someone with a 'social personality' (shèhuì de réngé) (社会的人格) is valued. Additionally, there is the shìgu (世故) personality type, who is worldly and committed to family. Individualist thinking in China was formed by Lao Zi and Taoism. He taught that individual happiness is the basis of a good society and saw the state, with its "laws and regulations more numerous than th ...

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Chinese society, Chinese society - Demographics, Chinese society - Culture, Chinese society - Gender, Chinese society - Hong Kong, Chinese society - Socio-economic development, Chinese society - Culture, Chinese society - Individualism and collectivism, Chinese society - Social relations, Chinese society - Civil society

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Chinese astrology - Chinese calendar - Chinese classic texts - Chinese constellation - Chinese dragon - Chinese mythology - Chinese New Year - Chinese philosophy - Confucianism - Confucius - Eastern philosophy - Five elements - Futs-Lung - I Ching - Qilin - Lao Zi - Listing of noted Confucianists - Listing of noted Taoists - Lung - Lunisolar calendar - Mohism - Qi - Taoism - Yin Yang - Zhang San Feng Culture of China - Language. Ma ...

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Culture of China, Culture of China - Arts, Culture of China - Architecture, Culture of China - Cinema, Culture of China - Dance, Culture of China - Music, Culture of China - Opera, Culture of China - Visual arts and design, Culture of China - Pottery, Culture of China - Handicraft, Culture of China - Language and literature, Culture of China - Language, Culture of China - Literature, Culture of China - Clothing, Culture of China - Contemporary Culture of China, Culture of China - Cuisine, Culture of China - Society, Culture of China - Education, Culture of China - Ethnic groups and regionalisms, Culture of China - Social relations, Culture of China - Games, Culture of China - Government, Culture of China - History, Culture of China - Hobbies, Culture of China - Marriage, Culture of China - Martial Arts, Culture of China - Mass media, Culture of China - Religion, Culture of China - Science and technology, Culture of China - Tourism, Culture of China - Other to be inserted above, Culture of China - Communist culture, Culture of China - Important cities

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The name "Laozi" is an honorific. Lao (老) means "venerable" or "old". Zi or Tsu (子) translates literally as "boy", but it was also a term for a rank of nobleman equivalent to viscount, as well as a term of respect attached to the names of revered masters. Thus, "Laozi" can be translated roughly as "the old master". Laozi's personal name may have been Li Er (李耳, Lǐ Ěr or Li Ehr), his courtesy name may have been Boyang (伯陽), and his posthumous name was Dān, ...

See also:

Laozi, Laozi - His life, Laozi - Taoism, Laozi - Influences, Laozi - Names, Laozi - Popular culture, Laozi - Bibliography

Read more here: » Laozi: Encyclopedia II - Laozi - Names