Taoism (sometimes written as Daoism) is the English name for (a) the Chinese folk religion; (b) a family of organized Chinese religious movements such as the Zhengyi ("Orthodox One") or Quanzhen ("Complete Reality") sects, which collectively trace back to Zhang Daoling in the late Han dynasty; and/or (c) academic philosophies or belles lettres based on the texts Daodejing (a ...

Including:

• Taoism - History
• Taoism - Warring States Period 403-222 BCE
• Taoism - Han Dynasty 206 BCE - 220
• Taoism - Three Kingdoms Period 220-265
• Taoism - Six Dynasties 316-589
• Taoism - Tang Dynasty 618-907
• Taoism - Song Dynasty 960-1279
• Taoism - Yuan Dynasty 1279-1367
• Taoism - Nationalist Period 1912-1949
• Taoism - People's Republic of China 1949-present
• Taoism - Adherents
• Taoism - Beliefs
• Taoism - Religious Taoism
• Taoism - Philosophical Taoism
• Taoism - Deities
• Taoism - Religious Taoism
• Taoism - Philosophical Taoism
• Taoism - Practices
• Taoism - Religious Taoism
• Taoism - Philosophical Taoism
• Taoism - Scriptures
• Taoism - Religious Taoism
• Taoism - Philosophical Taoism
• Taoism - Symbols
• Taoism - Relations With Other Religions and Philosophies

Read more here: » Taoism: Encyclopedia - Taoism

Depending on how it is defined, Taoism's origins may be traced to the prehistoric Chinese religion; to the composition of the Daodejing (third or fourth century BCE); or to the activity of Zhang Daoling (second century CE). Alternatively, one could argue that "Taoism" as a religious identity only arose later, by way of contrast with the newly-arrived religion of Buddhism, or with the fourth-century codification of the Shangching and Lingbao texts. Taoism - Warring ...

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Taoism, Taoism - History, Taoism - Warring States Period 403-222 BCE, Taoism - Han Dynasty 206 BCE - 220 CE, Taoism - Three Kingdoms Period 220-265, Taoism - Six Dynasties 316-589, Taoism - Tang Dynasty 618-907, Taoism - Song Dynasty 960-1279, Taoism - Yuan Dynasty 1279-1367, Taoism - Nationalist Period 1912-1949, Taoism - People's Republic of China 1949-present, Taoism - Adherents, Taoism - Beliefs, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Deities, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Practices, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Scriptures, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Symbols, Taoism - Relations With Other Religions and Philosophies

Read more here: » Taoism: Encyclopedia II - Taoism - History

Taoism - Religious Taoism. Taoism is not a belief-centered religion, and there are no known Taoist creeds. At the same time, certain characteristic beliefs or assumptions can be identified. One of these is the existence of several classes of supernatural beings, who may enter into relations with human beings. These include gods, ghosts, and ancestral spirits. Gods are--if not invariably benevolent, generally on the side of righteousness. Ghosts are dangerous spirits of the departed who must be appeased thr ...

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Taoism, Taoism - History, Taoism - Warring States Period 403-222 BCE, Taoism - Han Dynasty 206 BCE - 220 CE, Taoism - Three Kingdoms Period 220-265, Taoism - Six Dynasties 316-589, Taoism - Tang Dynasty 618-907, Taoism - Song Dynasty 960-1279, Taoism - Yuan Dynasty 1279-1367, Taoism - Nationalist Period 1912-1949, Taoism - People's Republic of China 1949-present, Taoism - Adherents, Taoism - Beliefs, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Deities, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Practices, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Scriptures, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Symbols, Taoism - Relations With Other Religions and Philosophies

Read more here: » Taoism: Encyclopedia II - Taoism - Beliefs

The number of "Taoists" is difficult to estimate, partly for definitional reasons (who counts as a Taoist?), and partly for practical ones (it is illegal for private parties to conduct surveys in China). The number of people practicing some aspect of the Chinese folk religion might number in the hundreds of millions. (Adherents.com estimates "Traditional Chinese religion" at nearly four hundred million). The number of people patronizing Daoshi (Taoist "priests" or masters) would be smaller by several orders of magnitude, while the num ...

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Taoism, Taoism - History, Taoism - Warring States Period 403-222 BCE, Taoism - Han Dynasty 206 BCE - 220 CE, Taoism - Three Kingdoms Period 220-265, Taoism - Six Dynasties 316-589, Taoism - Tang Dynasty 618-907, Taoism - Song Dynasty 960-1279, Taoism - Yuan Dynasty 1279-1367, Taoism - Nationalist Period 1912-1949, Taoism - People's Republic of China 1949-present, Taoism - Adherents, Taoism - Beliefs, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Deities, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Practices, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Scriptures, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Symbols, Taoism - Relations With Other Religions and Philosophies

Read more here: » Taoism: Encyclopedia II - Taoism - Adherents

Taoism - Religious Taoism. Traditional Chinese religion is determinedly polytheistic. Its deities arranged into a heavenly civil service that mirrors the bureaucracy of imperial China. Deities may be promoted or demoted. Many are said to have once been virtuous humans. The particular deities worshipped vary somewhat according to geography, and much more according to historical period (though the general pat ...

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Taoism, Taoism - History, Taoism - Warring States Period 403-222 BCE, Taoism - Han Dynasty 206 BCE - 220 CE, Taoism - Three Kingdoms Period 220-265, Taoism - Six Dynasties 316-589, Taoism - Tang Dynasty 618-907, Taoism - Song Dynasty 960-1279, Taoism - Yuan Dynasty 1279-1367, Taoism - Nationalist Period 1912-1949, Taoism - People's Republic of China 1949-present, Taoism - Adherents, Taoism - Beliefs, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Deities, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Practices, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Scriptures, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Symbols, Taoism - Relations With Other Religions and Philosophies

Read more here: » Taoism: Encyclopedia II - Taoism - Deities

Taoism - Religious Taoism. The Daozang(道藏)(Treasury of Tao) is sometimes referred to as the "Taoist canon." It was compiled during the Jin, Tang, Song, and Ming dynasties, and includes almost 1500 texts. Following the example of the Buddhist Tripitaka, it is divided into three dong 洞 ("caves," often translated "grottoes"), arranged here from highest to lowest: (1) The Zhen ("real") grotto. Includes the Shangching texts. (2) The Yuan ("primordial") grotto. Includes the Lingbao scriptures. (3) The Shen ("divine") grotto. Includes texts pred ...

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Taoism, Taoism - History, Taoism - Warring States Period 403-222 BCE, Taoism - Han Dynasty 206 BCE - 220 CE, Taoism - Three Kingdoms Period 220-265, Taoism - Six Dynasties 316-589, Taoism - Tang Dynasty 618-907, Taoism - Song Dynasty 960-1279, Taoism - Yuan Dynasty 1279-1367, Taoism - Nationalist Period 1912-1949, Taoism - People's Republic of China 1949-present, Taoism - Adherents, Taoism - Beliefs, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Deities, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Practices, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Scriptures, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Symbols, Taoism - Relations With Other Religions and Philosophies

Read more here: » Taoism: Encyclopedia II - Taoism - Scriptures

The origins of Taoism and Confucianism are intimately related. The authorship of the Daodejing is traditionally assigned to Laozi, a teacher of Confucius, yet appears to be reacting against Confucian doctrine (suggesting a younger date). The term Dao is by no means exclusively Taoist, but was used in several schools of ancient Chinese philosophy--including Confucianism--to indicate their views on the proper conduct of individuals, the nature of h ...

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Taoism, Taoism - History, Taoism - Warring States Period 403-222 BCE, Taoism - Han Dynasty 206 BCE - 220 CE, Taoism - Three Kingdoms Period 220-265, Taoism - Six Dynasties 316-589, Taoism - Tang Dynasty 618-907, Taoism - Song Dynasty 960-1279, Taoism - Yuan Dynasty 1279-1367, Taoism - Nationalist Period 1912-1949, Taoism - People's Republic of China 1949-present, Taoism - Adherents, Taoism - Beliefs, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Deities, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Practices, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Scriptures, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Symbols, Taoism - Relations With Other Religions and Philosophies

Read more here: » Taoism: Encyclopedia II - Taoism - Relations With Other Religions and Philosophies

Many people assume the Taijitu symbol--perhaps together with the Bagua 八卦 ("Eight Trigrams")--to be Taoist symbols. While many Taoist organizations do make use of it, one could with equal justice call it Confucian, Neo-Confucian or pan-Chinese. The yin and yang border should make a backwards "S" shape, with yang (white or red) on top. One is likely to see this symbol as decorations on Taoist organization flags and logos, temple floors ...

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Taoism, Taoism - History, Taoism - Warring States Period 403-222 BCE, Taoism - Han Dynasty 206 BCE - 220 CE, Taoism - Three Kingdoms Period 220-265, Taoism - Six Dynasties 316-589, Taoism - Tang Dynasty 618-907, Taoism - Song Dynasty 960-1279, Taoism - Yuan Dynasty 1279-1367, Taoism - Nationalist Period 1912-1949, Taoism - People's Republic of China 1949-present, Taoism - Adherents, Taoism - Beliefs, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Deities, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Practices, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Scriptures, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Symbols, Taoism - Relations With Other Religions and Philosophies

Read more here: » Taoism: Encyclopedia II - Taoism - Symbols

Taoism - Religious Taoism. All forms of Chinese traditional religion involve baibai--bowing towards an altar, with a stick of incense in one's hand. This may be done at home, or in a temple, or outdoors; by an ordinary person, or a professional (such as a Daoshi); and the altar may feature any number of deities or ancestral tablets. Baibai is usually done in accordance with certain dates of the lunar/so ...

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Taoism, Taoism - History, Taoism - Warring States Period 403-222 BCE, Taoism - Han Dynasty 206 BCE - 220 CE, Taoism - Three Kingdoms Period 220-265, Taoism - Six Dynasties 316-589, Taoism - Tang Dynasty 618-907, Taoism - Song Dynasty 960-1279, Taoism - Yuan Dynasty 1279-1367, Taoism - Nationalist Period 1912-1949, Taoism - People's Republic of China 1949-present, Taoism - Adherents, Taoism - Beliefs, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Deities, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Practices, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Scriptures, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Symbols, Taoism - Relations With Other Religions and Philosophies

Read more here: » Taoism: Encyclopedia II - Taoism - Practices

There are many Symbols and Images that are associated with Taoism. Like in Christianity "Jesus" and the "cross", and in Buddhism the "wheel", Taoism has Lao Tzu, actual Chinese characters, and many other symbols that are often represent or are associated with it. Many people assume the Taijitu symbol--perhaps together with the Bagua 八卦 ("Eight Trigrams")--to be Taoist symbols. While many Taoist organizations do make use of it, one could with equal justice call it Confucian, Neo-Confucian or pan-Chinese. The yin and y ...

See also:

Taoism, Taoism - History, Taoism - Warring States Period 403-222 BCE, Taoism - Han Dynasty 206 BCE - 220 CE, Taoism - Three Kingdoms Period 220-265, Taoism - Six Dynasties 316-589, Taoism - Tang Dynasty 618-907, Taoism - Song Dynasty 960-1279, Taoism - Yuan Dynasty 1279-1367, Taoism - Nationalist Period 1912-1949, Taoism - People's Republic of China 1949-present, Taoism - Adherents, Taoism - Beliefs, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Deities, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Practices, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Scriptures, Taoism - Religious Taoism, Taoism - Philosophical Taoism, Taoism - Taoist Symbols and Images, Taoism - Relations With Other Religions and Philosophies

Read more here: » Taoism: Encyclopedia II - Taoism - Taoist Symbols and Images