Name: Hanna Rolish J.

Digamon Section: BSA1 – 13

Teacher: Michael Laurince Acosta Subject: THEO 110 (1:30 – 3:00)

ORIGIN:
In what is now the eastern Chinese province of Henan, daoism emerged in the sixth century
BCE. It is a philosophy, a religion, and a way of life. Since then, it has had a significant impact on
the religious and cultural practices of China and other East Asian nations.
PURPOSE:
The fundamental goal of the Daoists was to help people understand that since human life is
simply a small component of a much bigger natural process, the only human behaviors that
ultimately make sense are those that are in line with the Dao or Way of Nature.
DESTINY:
Daoists believed that one's destiny was secured from birth by obligations owing to one's
parents, guilt from one's past, and the first endowment of vitality. Living meant inevitably
adding to the initial load. Accumulated liabilities represented the pain, illness, and misfortune
encountered in this world. They portended a shorter life expectancy and a bad afterlife.
Ransoming destiny meant making up for debts accumulated due to one's own fault or exposure
to harmful circumstances beyond of one's control.
SPRITIUAL PRACTICE:
The early Daoists taught the art of living and surviving by conforming with the natural way of
things; they called their approach to action wuwei (literally, "no-action"), action modeled on
nature. Their sages were wise, but not in the way the Confucian teacher was wise>—learned
anda moral paragon. Zhuangzi's sages were often artisans>—butchers or woodcarvers. The
lowly artisans understood the secret of art and the art of living. To be skillful and creative, they
had to have inner spiritual concentration and put aside concern with externals, such as
monetary rewards, fame, and praise. Art, like life, followed the creative path of nature, not the
values of human society.