TAO I S M
Content Standard
The learner demonstrates understanding
of the elements of Taoism:
a. Founder: Lao Tzu (604 B.C - ?)
b. Sacred Texts: Tao Te Ching, Book
of Chang
c. Doctrines: Wu-Wei, Law of
Reversion, Following nature
d. Tao as the Origin of all Beings,
unnameable and eternal
e. Issues: Inaction, Superstitious
practice, Environmentalism
Learning Objective
The learners shall be able to identify
the things she/he can do without
making an inventory of personal
belongings (e.g. things in the
bedroom) and write a reflection on
Taoism based on the result of the
inventory.
Learning Competencies
13.3. Explain the core teaching of
Taoism is becoming one with the
“Tao”.
Code: HUMSS_WRB12-II/IVf-g-
13.3
13.4. Identify the things that he/she
can do without by making an
inventory of personal belongings
and write a reflection on Taoism
based on the result of the inventory.
Code: HUMSS_WRB12-II/IVf-g-
13.4
LET’S HAVE A REVIEW

• The author of Tao-te ching, which

Taoism bases its philosophy
• LAO TZU or LAOZI
LET’S HAVE A REVIEW

• The foundational or sacred text of

Taoism which means the Scripture of
the Way and its Virtue.
• “Dao de Jing”,
LET’S HAVE A REVIEW

The origin of all beings whose essence is

nothing.
• TAO or DAO
SYMBOL(S) OF TAOISM
Taoism had many different symbols, both derived
from everyday items surrounding them and also
other new formed symbols that originated based
on their ideals.

•The Yin-Yang is the infamous symbol of the

Taoists that represents the main ideals of their
philosophy involving balance of weakness (yin)
and strength (yang).
• Mountains are another important symbol of the
Taoists, depicted in their art forms, that
represents the land of the immortals and retreat
from the negative.
• Another sacred symbol of the Taoists was the
tortoise which represented immorality in their
philosophy.
•The Yang, strength, is not only represented by
the Yin-Yang symbol but also a dragon.
 NUMBER OF FOLLOWERS
• While it is difficult to get an exact number of followers
modern day, reliable data bases point towards
approximately 20 million modern day followers spread
throughout the globe.

• Of the approximately 20 million followers, about 30,000

of them are believed to life in the US, predominantly in
the western half of the country.
NUMBER OF FOLLOWERS
 HOW AND WHY THE PHILOSOPHY SPREAD

• Taoism spread successfully and swiftly

from its roots in ancient China.

• Taoism was a religion appreciated by

the upper class and high level society,
leading it to gain the respect of
imperial governments and spread rather
quickly.
 HOLY BOOKS AND IMPORTANT TEXTS
• Tao te Ching- “Morality Scripture” a collection of stories and poems written by Lao Tze.
The book explains the way of the Tao, and how to properly live.
• Chuan Tzu- written by Chuang Tzu or Zhang zi (same person) is a collection of primary
Taoist doctrines. It includes the Wu-wei which talks about how to be in harmony with the
Tao.
• Lie Zi- written by Lie Yukou who was believed to be a hundred schools of thought
philosopher.
 THE PHILOSOPHY OF TAO
• Tao is both the ultimate source and principle of order in the
universe.
• Tao has two components, yin and yang.
• Taoism regards moral values as relative and avoids absolute
moral judgments.
• Taoism literature says nothing about the afterlife and depicts
death as one of nature’s transformations from one state to
another.
• Humans are part of the grand harmony of nature and to live in
accord with the Tao is the only way to thrive.
 MAJOR BELIEFS
End Times Story
• The Taoists did not actually believe in the end of time, they
did agree with the fact of death as a natural part of life (did
not have significance on their way of living)
• They did not believe in an afterlife, but instead that death
was the “ultimate end”.
 MAJOR BELIEFS
Purpose of Life

Taoists believed that if human nature was aligned

perfectly with the rest of nature, the result would
be both harmony and order. When people deviate
from the natural order, they are only bringing
destruction upon themselves. The only way to
encourage natural behavior is by using a model
leader. A model emperor once said, “He who
governs his body, governs the country”
(Patheos.com). Basically you exist to become one
with nature.
 MAJOR BELIEFS
IMPORTANT COMMANDS AND LAWS
 

1) Law of the Yin Yang-there must always be a balance

of yin and yang, existing in every part of life 
2) Law of Mutual Immanence-yin yang is mutually
immiscible
3) Law of Dynamics -existence itself is dynamic

  The Taoists basically wanted all of their people to

focus more on internal balance with nature instead of
the world and technology around them. Anyone that did
not follow the laws of the universe and life depicted
above were not only denying all that is right but also
causing personal disorder. This relates to how Taoists
believe that advancements in empires will actually
bring their downfall and also the fact that simplicity is
best.
YIN AND YANG
 TRAITS OF YIN AND YANG
Yin Yang
 Negative • Positive
 Passive • Active
 Feminine • Masculine
 Earthly • Heavenly
 VIRTUES IN TAOISM
• Wu-Wei = primary virtue and means “non-
action.” To practice wu-wei is to be so
perfectly in harmony with nature that its
energy infuses and empowers the individual.
• Humility and noncompetition
• Naturalness and naturalism
• Nonaggression and passive rule
 THREE TREASURES OF TAOISM
 Arthur Waley describes these Three Treasures
as, "The three rules that formed the practical,
political side of the author's teaching
• (1) abstention from aggressive war and capital
punishment,
• (2) absolute simplicity of living,
• (3) refusal to assert active authority."
 THREE TREASURES OF TAOISM
Chinese terminology
 The first of the Three Treasures is ci (Chinese:  慈; pinyin
: cí; Wade–Giles: tz'u; literally: "compassion, tenderness,
love, mercy, kindness, gentleness, benevolence"), which is
also a Classical Chinese term for "mother" (with "tender
love, nurturing " semantic associations). Tao Te
Ching chapters 18 and 19 parallel ci ("parental love")
with xiao ( 孝 "filial love; filial piety"). 
 Wing-tsit Chan (1963:219) believes "the first is the most
important" of the Three Treasures, and compares ci with 
Confucianist ren( 仁 "humaneness; benevolence").
 THREE TREASURES OF TAOISM
Chinese terminology
 The second is jian (Chinese:  儉; pinyin: jiǎn; Wade–Giles
: chien; literally: "frugality, moderation, economy, restraint, be
sparing"), a practice that the Tao Te Ching (e.g., chapter 59)
praises.
o Ellen M. Chen (1989:209) believes jian is "organically
connected" with the Taoist metaphor pu ( 樸 "uncarved wood;
simplicity"), and "stands for the economy of nature that does
not waste anything. When applied to the moral life it stands
for the simplicity of desire."
 THREE TREASURES OF TAOISM

Chinese terminology
• The third treasure, daring not be at the world's front, is the
Taoist way to avoid premature death.
• To be at the world's front is to expose oneself, to render
oneself vulnerable to the world's destructive forces, while to
remain behind and to be humble is to allow oneself time to
fully ripen and bear fruit.
• This is a treasure whose secret spring is the fear of losing
one's life before one's time. This fear of death, out of a love
for life, is indeed the key to Taoist wisdom. (1989:209)
 EXERCISES

Get to know yourself by identifying the

things you can do without by making an
inventory of your personal belongings.

Make a reflection showing the Three

Treasures of Taoism? Explain your answer.
 EVALUATION/ASSESSMENT
Identification.
1. Who is the founder of Taoism?
2. What is the sacred text of Taoism?
3. A Taoist doctrine or virtue which means “no action”?
4. Tao means _________.
5. Yin represents earthly and yang represents ______.
ASSIGNMENT
“When there is this
abstinence from
action, good order
is universal.”
THANK
YOU
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