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Taoism philosophy. Taoism - in detail about the ancient Chinese teachings

Taoism philosophy. Taoism - in detail about the ancient Chinese teachings

17.10.2019

a doctrine that originated in ancient China, according to which “man follows the laws of the earth, the earth follows the laws of heaven, the sky follows the laws of Tao, and Tao follows itself”, that is, Tao acts both as an unknowable absolute, and as a law, and as the root cause, which concretized and materialized in Tao. Doctrine Taoism based on the irrational concepts of dao (the path that all things must follow) and de (virtue, which consists in following this path correctly). Founder Taoism, the semi-mythical sage Lao-tzu (circa 480-390 BC), argued that the true Tao is inexpressible in words and incomprehensible to the mind.

Definitions, meanings of the word in other dictionaries:

Encyclopedia "Religion"

Taoism - the doctrine of the Tao-Way (see Tao), which arose in China in the 6th-5th centuries. BC AD, founded by Lao Tzu. Taoist philosophers in the 4th-3rd centuries. BC e. were Zhuangzi, Yin Wen, Yang Zhu, Wang Chun, Ge Hong ("Sage, embracing ...

Philosophical Dictionary

Teaching about Tao or "the way of things". As a special system of philosophizing, it arises in China in the 6th-5th centuries. BC. Lao Tzu is considered to be the founder of D. (much later, in the Tang era - 7-9 centuries - he was canonized as a saint). Prominent representatives of D. (4th-3rd centuries BC) were Yang Zhu...

Philosophical Dictionary

Philos. teaching in China in the 4th-3rd centuries. BC e., on the basis of which in the 2nd century. n. e. a religion is formed, which received the same name. Philosophical principles. D. are set out in the book "Tao Te Ching", the authorship of which is attributed to the semi-legendary thinker of antiquity Lao Tzu. Ch. concept in it, "dao",...

Philosophical Dictionary

(taoism, daoism) is one of the most important areas of traditional Chinese philosophy, religious and socio-political thought, along with Confucianism and Buddhism. According to E. A. Torchinov (1993), D. is "an ideological direction, with a polymorphic structure that includes ...

Philosophical Dictionary

the doctrine of Tao, or the way (of things), which arose in China in the 6th-5th centuries. BC. The founder of Taoism is the ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu. His main ideas are set forth in the book "Tao Te Ching". The basis of nature and society in Taoism is the great Tao - the universal law of Nature, which gives rise to everything ...

According to legend, the ancient legendary Yellow Emperor discovered the secrets of this teaching. (Juan Di). In fact, the origins of Taoism go back to shamanic beliefs and the teachings of the ancient magicians. He outlined the views of Taoism in his treatise "Tao Te Ching"(Treatise on the law of Tao and its manifestations) legendary sage Lao Tzu. Unlike Confucius, the sources do not contain any historical or biographical information about him. The legend tells of the miraculous birth of Lao Tzu: his mother conceived him by swallowing a piece of rock crystal. At the same time, she carried him in her womb for several decades and gave birth to an old man. From this, the dual meaning of his name becomes clear, which can be translated both as “old child” and as “old philosopher”. Legends also tell of the departure of Lao Tzu from China to the west. Crossing the border, Lao Tzu left his work "Tao Te Ching" to the keeper of the frontier outpost.

Ideas of Taoism

The main idea of Taoism- assertion that everything is subject Dao From Tao everything arises and everything returns to Tao. Tao is the universal Law and Absolute. Even the great Heaven follows the Tao. To know the Tao, to follow it, to merge with it - this is the meaning, purpose and happiness of life. Tao manifests itself through its emanation - de. If a person learns the Tao, follows it, then he will achieve immortality. For this, it is necessary, firstly, nourishment of the spirit: a person is an accumulation of numerous spirits - divine forces, to which heavenly spirits corresponded. Heavenly spirits keep track of the good and evil deeds of a person and determine the period of his life. Thus, the nourishment of the spirit is the performance of virtuous deeds. Secondly, it is necessary body nutrition: adherence to the strictest diet (the ideal was the ability to feed on one's own saliva and inhale the dew ether), physical and breathing exercises, sexual practice. Such a path to immortality was long and difficult, accessible not to every person. Therefore, there is a desire to simplify it by creating a miraculous elixir of immortality. Emperors and representatives of the nobility especially needed this. The first emperor who wished to achieve immortality with the help of an elixir was the famous qin shi huangdi, who sent expeditions to distant countries to search for the components necessary for the elixir.

Within Taoism, there is concept of non-doing- denial of purposeful activity that runs counter to the natural world order. The best sovereign is the one who does nothing for his subjects. The task of the sovereign is to harmonize relations, prevent confusion, and the subjects themselves will figure out what to do.

Hinduism - sanatana-dharma, which in translation means "eternal religion", "eternal path" or "eternal law".

Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world after Christianity and Islam. Hinduism is practiced by more than 1 billion people, of which about 950 million live in India and Nepal.

In Hinduism, the idea Trimurti- the Hindu triad of the main gods - Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu. Each god performs his own function. Brahma is considered the creator of the world, Vishnu is its guardian, and Shiva destroys the world at the end of each time cycle. The cult significance of Brahma is insignificant. There are only two temples dedicated to him in all of India. Vishnu and Shiva are very popular and form two powerful currents, called Vishnuism and Shaivism.

Judaism-religious, national and ethical worldview of the Jewish people, one of the oldest monotheistic religions of mankind. The main idea of Judaism is idea of God's chosen Jews. God is one, and he singled out one people - the Jews, to help them and convey his will through his prophets.

The history of the ancient Jews and the process of the formation of religion are known mainly from the materials of the Bible, its most ancient part - Old Testament. At the beginning of the II millennium BC. Jews, like their kindred Semitic tribes in Arabia and Palestine, were polytheists, believed in various gods and spirits, in the existence of a soul that materialized in blood. Each community had its own chief god. In one of the communities such a god was Yahweh. Gradually, the cult of Yahweh comes to the fore.

Religions in America

Prior to the start of European colonization, the indigenous population of America (various groups of Indians, as well as the Eskimos) adhered to various local cults. Among many Indian peoples, totemistic beliefs persisted. A significant role was played by magical representations. The Indian peoples who created class societies (Aztecs, Maya, Incas, etc.) had higher forms of religious beliefs. Among the spirits and deities began to distinguish between higher and lower. The priesthood developed greatly.

From the time of European colonization (i.e., from the end of the 15th century), Christianity began to gradually penetrate into America. In Central and South America, where the Spanish and Portuguese conquistadors were mainly operating, Christianity penetrated in the form of Catholicism, while in North America, which was under the control of the British, French and Dutch, Protestantism was introduced along with Catholicism.

Today, the vast majority of the American population is Christian. South America is dramatically dominated by Catholics. They make up the majority of the population in all countries. Catholicism is the main religion also in all countries of Central America and in Mexico.

In countries that previously belonged to Spain and France (Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, etc.), as well as in the current French colonies (Guadeloupe, Martinique), the majority of residents adhere to Catholicism.

In countries that have been under the rule of Great Britain for a long time (Jamaica, Barbados, etc.), the bulk of the inhabitants are Protestants.

Traditional beliefs survived mainly in remote, isolated areas. At the same time, in many areas populated by Indians and Negroes, syncretic cults were formed, combining elements of Christianity and old beliefs.

Venezuela

Cult of Maria Lionza, (hereinafter KML, culto de Maria Lionza). KML is a wonderful example of not even dual faith, but rather multi-faith, and despite some external Christian attributes, there is much more Indian and African paganism in it than Christianity. First of all, about who Maria Lions is. This is the Goddess of nature, earth, fertility, the keeper of waters, forests and animals. The Nivars called it Yara, and one of the interpretations of the name of the state of Yarakuy is “the dwelling of Yara”. Yara turned into Mary, most likely during the time of the forced imposition of Catholicism, when the Indians continued to worship their Goddess in the form of one of the Catholic sculptural images of the Virgin Mary. But at the same time, it was always clearly realized that Mary of Lions, and the Virgin Mary, who also occupies an important place in this cult, are completely different personalities.

Religious syncretism(from the Greek συγκρητισμός - connection, association) - connection of heterogeneous doctrinal and cult provisions in the process of mutual influence of religions in their historical development

And other "barbarian" states in southern China, the doctrine of immortality and magical practices that developed in the kingdom of Qi and the philosophical tradition of northern China.

Philosophical writings related to Taoism begin with the era of the Conflicting Kingdoms (Zhanguo) in the 5th century BC. e. , almost simultaneously with the teachings of Confucius. Tradition considers the legendary Yellow Emperor Huangdi to be the founder of Taoism.

Another founder of Taoism is the ancient Chinese sage Lao Tzu. Taoist tradition ascribes to him the authorship of one of the main books of Taoism - "Tao Te Ching". This treatise was the core around which the teachings of Taoism began to take shape.

Another famous text of early Taoism is Zhuangzi, authored by Zhuang Zhou (369-286 BC), known as Chuangzi, after whom his work is named.

At the beginning of the 2nd century A.D. e. the figure of Laozi is deified, a complex hierarchy of deities and demons is developed, a cult arises, in which divination and rites that “cast out” evil spirits take a central place. The pantheon of Taoism was headed by Jasper Lord (Shan-di), who was revered as the god of heaven, the highest deity and the father of emperors (“sons of heaven”). He was followed by Lao-tzu and the creator of the world - Pan-gu.

The first Taoist schools

Religious Taoism took shape during the late Han Dynasty: Zhang Daoling (34 - 156) founded the 天师 School of Heavenly Teachers and became its first patriarch. In the second half of the 2nd century, the prerequisite for the popularity of Taoism was the Yellow Turban Rebellion 184-204: the Third Heavenly Master Zhang Lu was able to gain control of the territory in the mountains of Sichuan, which became the first Taoist theocratic state. The Taoist state was defeated by Cao Cao and ceased to exist.

Later, other Taoist schools appeared. The Maoshan (aka Shangqing) and Lingbao schools played an important role in the development of Taoism.

Literature (including Chinese) often discusses the possibility of borrowing the provisions of Taoism from Indian philosophy, or vice versa, transferring Taoism to India and founding Buddhism there. The similarity with the Chinese philosophy of the Indian concept of the faceless Absolute is also indicated, the emanation of which created the visible phenomenal world and to merge with which (to leave the phenomenal world) was the goal of the Brahmins. This question has been repeatedly raised in various Taoist schools. However, a detailed study rejects the hypothesis of direct borrowing.

Lao Tzu could not bring to India a philosophy that had been known there for at least five hundred years before he was born. In its concrete practical activity, Taoism in China bore little resemblance to the practice of Brahmanism. On Chinese soil, rationalism overcame any mysticism, pushed it to the periphery of public consciousness, where it could only be preserved. This is what happened with Taoism. Although the Taoist treatise Zhuangzi (4th-3rd centuries BC) says that life and death are relative concepts, the emphasis is on life and how it should be organized.

The mystical ideals in this treatise, expressed, in particular, in references to fantastic longevity (800, 1200 years) and immortality, which righteous hermits who approach the Tao can achieve, played an important role in the transformation of philosophical Taoism into religious Taoism. This is its main divergence from most religions: the desire for immortality among the Taoists replaces the desire for paradise among followers of other faiths.

Formation of the canon

Taoism further divided into two currents: the schools of Sun Jian and Yin Wen, on the one hand, and the Zhuang Zhou school, on the other.

Decline of Taoism in the Qing era

Taoism at present

Under the Qing, the Taoists were once again accused by Chinese zealots of strict classics of undermining traditional values, which allegedly resulted in the conquest of the country by the "barbarians". These scholars called for rejecting Taoism and Buddhism as false teachings that had finally compromised themselves and returning to their own philosophical origins, which ultimately resulted in a literary and social movement that received the name Han Xue, that is, “Han science”, which in this case meant classical Confucianism. During the Taiping Rebellion (1850), Taoist monasteries are devastated, which the leaders of the rebels explain by the need to "combat superstitions." Taoist literature is expelled from library collections with such zeal that by the beginning of the 20th century. "Tao Zang" remains almost in a single copy. Until the Xinhai Revolution (1911), and even later, traditionalist scholars never tire of subjecting Taoist philosophy to severe criticism as excessively “contemplative”, paralyzing the will to fight, undermining public morality and the moral foundations of the state. Epochs of a tolerant and even benevolent attitude of the authorities towards Taoist speculation were replaced by periods of persecution right up to modern times. In the 1960s the practice of persecuting adherents of Taoism was revived by the leaders of the "cultural revolution". By the end of the 1970s. excesses over cultural heritage have largely ceased, although the relative rehabilitation of Taoism and Taoist philosophy (along with Confucianism and Buddhism) only began with the formal proclamation of the reform course (1978) by Deng Xiaoping. In Taiwan, Taoism has retained its influence and traditional institutions to the present day. In the People's Republic of China, at present, the Baiyunsi Monastery in Beijing remains the most famous modern center of Taoism. Philosophizing in the Taoist style in modern China continues, according to tradition, mainly in essayistic literature and poetry of the philosophical genre.

Elements of teaching

The foundations of Taoism, the philosophy of Lao Tzu are set forth in the treatise "Tao Te Ching" (4th-3rd centuries BC). At the center of the doctrine is the doctrine of the great Tao, the universal Law and the Absolute. Tao is ambiguous, it is an endless movement. Tao is a kind of law of being, space, the universal unity of the world. Tao dominates everywhere and in everything, always and without limits. No one created it, but everything comes from it, in order to then, having completed the circuit, return to it again. Invisible and inaudible, inaccessible to the senses, constant and inexhaustible, nameless and formless, it gives rise, name and form to everything in the world. Even the great Heaven follows the Tao.

Each person, in order to become happy, must embark on this path, try to cognize the Tao and merge with it. According to the teachings of Taoism, the human microcosm is eternal in the same way as the universe-macrocosm. Physical death means only that the spirit separates from the person and dissolves into the macrocosm. The task of a person in his life is to ensure that his soul merges with the world order of Tao. How can such a merger be achieved? The answer to this question is contained in the teachings of the Tao.

The Way of Tao has the power of Te. It is through the power of Wu-Wei that the Tao manifests itself in every person. This force cannot be interpreted as an effort, but, on the contrary, as a desire to avoid any effort. Wu-wei - means "non-action", the denial of purposeful activity that goes against the natural order. In the process of life, it is necessary to adhere to the principle of non-action - the principle of Wu-wei. This is not inaction. This is human activity, which is consistent with the natural course of the world order. Any action that is contrary to the Tao means a waste of energy and leads to failure and death. Thus, Taoism teaches a contemplative attitude towards life. Bliss is achieved not by the one who seeks to win the favor of the Tao with good deeds, but by the one who, in the process of meditation, immersion in his inner world, seeks to listen to himself, and through himself to listen and comprehend the rhythm of the universe. Thus, the purpose of life was comprehended in Taoism as a return to the eternal, a return to one's roots.

The moral ideal of Taoism is a hermit who, with the help of religious meditation, breathing and gymnastic exercises, achieves a high spiritual state that allows him to overcome all passions and desires, immerse himself in communion with the divine Tao.

Tao manifests itself through everyday life and is embodied in the actions of trained people, although few of them fully “walk the Way”. Moreover, the very practice of Taoism is built on a complex system of symbolism of interrelationships and unity of the general, cosmic, and internal, human world. Everything, for example, is permeated with a single qi energy. A child is born from the mixing of the original qi (yuan qi) father and mother; a person lives only by continuing to saturate the body with some external qi ( wai qi), translating it into an internal state with the help of a system of breathing exercises and proper nutrition. Everything truly “great” is connected with the beyond, Tao, which at the same time manifests itself in things, phenomena, and actions every moment. The cosmic here is constantly projected onto the human and emerges in a special vital "energeticism", the energy potential of both the Tao itself and the people who were able to fully comprehend it. The path of Tao itself is perceived as an energy, inspiring beginning, for example, in Zhuang Tzu it is said: “He spiritualized deities and kings, gave birth to Heaven and Earth.”

Political and legal thought of Taoism

The ideology of early Taoism reflected the views of the petty nobility and the communal elite, their protest against the excessive enrichment of the rulers, the strengthening of the bureaucracy and the expansion of state activity. Having lost their former influence, these layers sought the restoration of the patriarchal order.

The founders of Taoism sought to debunk the ideology of the ruling circles, and first of all the official religious cult with its dogmas of "heavenly will" and "sovereign - the son of heaven", granting the laws of Tao to the people. Tao in the interpretation of the followers of Lao Tzu is an absolute universal principle. The Taoists explained the shortcomings in society by the fact that people, indulging in vain desires, moved away from their original simplicity, broke the natural bonds that held them to the earth, and instead of wisdom rely on knowledge. The cause of social turmoil is the transition from the initial fusion of man with the Tao to the development of his abilities and knowledge.

In socio-ethical terms, the leitmotif of Taoism is the condemnation of pride, the preaching of average prosperity and moderation.

The Tao Te Ching reflects the widespread ideas among the communal peasantry about redistribution of property in favor of the poor. The heavenly tao, the canon says, “takes away what is superfluous and gives what is taken away to those who need it. The Tao of Heaven takes from the rich and gives to the poor what is taken from them.”

Lao Tzu linked his hopes for the restoration of the natural simplicity of human relations with clever leaders from among the hereditary nobility who could see the “wonderful secret of Tao” and lead the people.

A wise sovereign, the Taoists taught, rules the country using the method of non-action, that is, refraining from active interference in the affairs of members of society. Lao Tzu blamed the rulers of his day for being too active, imposing a lot of taxes and prohibitive laws, and waging endless wars. "The best ruler is the one about whom the people know only that he exists."

Main categories of Taoism

Tao (道) - literally "the way", in Taoism - being and changing the Universe in the most general sense. Impersonal force, the will of the universe, which must comply with the order of all things in the world
Te (德) - literally "virtue" or "morality". Virtue, given from above (from Tao), does not have the characteristics of a physical, forceful impact, in contrast to the Greek “arete”. Grace, a huge spiritual power that Heaven endowed the ruler of China and which he could transfer to his subjects
Wu-wei (無為) - literally "non-action" - understanding when to act and when to do nothing
Pu - literally "an unprocessed piece of wood" personifies the energy of objects untouched by nature, if it is simpler, then the simplicity of the soul, the soul of pu.

Components of Taoism

Taoist philosophy
The Book of Changes, especially revered in Confucianism and Taoism
Taoist doctrine of immortality, external alchemy, internal alchemy
Taoist meditation
Huantingjing - "Canon of the Yellow Court"
Shangqing - "School of the Highest Purity"

Prominent figures in Taoism

Huang Di - the legendary ruler of China and a mythical character, is considered the founder of Taoism
Lao Tzu is an ancient Chinese philosopher of the 6th-5th centuries BC. e., one of the founders of Taoism
Zhang Daoling - founder of the first sustainable Taoist organization (Five Buckets of Rice) in the Han era
Ge Xuan - the legendary Taoist whose writings are the basis of the Lingbao tradition
Ge Hong - Chinese Taoist scholar and alchemist, great-nephew of Ge Xuan, who wrote the encyclopedic work Baopu-zi on external alchemy
Ge Chaofu - great-nephew of Ge Hong, founder of the Lingbao school
Kou Qianzhi - reformer of the School of Heavenly Guides, who first achieved the proclamation of Taoism as the state religion
Yang Xi - Taoist, founder of the Shangqing school
Tao Hongqing - Taoist encyclopedist who strengthened the Shangqing school
Lü Dongbin - legendary patriarch, one of the Eight Immortals
Chen Tuan - famous Taoist from Wudangshan Mountain who influenced social thought in China
Zhang Sanfeng - a Daoist from Wudangshan Mountain who is credited as the founder of several systems of gymnastics, including Taijiquan

Taoism and other teachings

Taoism and Confucianism

Taoism, with its concept of non-action, has traditionally been in opposition to Confucianism, which preached service to the sovereign and society. This opposition was so deep that it was even reflected in the activities of the Jesuit missionaries: for example, Matteo Ricci was in close contact with the Confucian elite and rejected Taoism as a pagan practice - while his opponent, Ruggieri (Michele Ruggieri), argued the similarity between the concepts Tao and logos.

For the integration of elements of Taoism into Confucianism, see Neo-Confucianism

Taoism and Buddhism

The first Taoist school to emerge from the study of Buddhist treatises was the Lingbao school. Its founder, Ge Chaofu, adopted from Buddhism the idea of rebirth in the five worlds and elements of cosmology in a greatly simplified form. At the same time, the Taoists did not leave the practice of achieving immortality, but improved the concept of immortality, abandoning the literal interpretation of the endless stay in the same earthly body, and introducing other worlds for the celestials - happy lands, islands of the immortals, etc. From the Buddhist theory of rebirth followed the doctrine of karma and reward. Later, Buddhist elements became familiar to the Taoist schools, which also adopted Buddhist meditation methods.

Interaction between Taoism and Buddhism
Historical conflicts between Taoism and Buddhism

Taoism and modernity

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The philosophy of Taoism was discovered by the Yellow Emperor Huang Di. The teaching takes its roots from shamanism. One of the main concepts in Taoism is the principle of balance and connection between the feminine and masculine yin-yang. Yin contains all passive and negative qualities, while Yang, on the contrary, contains all good qualities. One simply cannot exist without the other, because chaos will arise in life. Thanks to the Taoists, such popular movements as feng shui, qigong and many martial arts were created.

Ideas of Taoism

This teaching is based on the fact that everything around is subject to Tao - world harmony. To reunite with the Tao, one must merge with it. In a person's life, moral values and vices should be on the same level. This, according to the East, is the meaning and happiness of human life. Since Tao is not cognizable, what a person can talk about is called de. Thanks to this concept, Tao manifests its potential energy and action.

The basic ideas of Taoism indicate that the human mind is a component that does not coincide with its nature at all. This teaching is based on detachment from the mind, which will allow you to achieve complete indifference. In Taoism, consciousness personifies a way of individualizing a person, thanks to which one can cognize the inner world and get closer to the Tao. Moral and ethical ideas are also advised by Taoism to be completely avoided.

Eastern philosophers believe that it is not worth looking for what is the meaning of life and how to find its beginning and end. A person is born from non-existence, where he must go. Through the realization of this concept, one can achieve harmony between heaven and earth. To get into the world stream, a person must give up desires and passions. This doctrine denies the existence of social institutions of society, power, knowledge, culture and other components of the life of an ordinary person. In general, everyone moves along a certain Way-dao. It first develops, and then plunges into non-existence, this is necessary in order to be reborn and start all over again. It is in this way, according to the Eastern philosophy of Taoism, that immortality can be achieved. For this you need:

Nourishing the Spirit. In every person there is a divine power that corresponds to the heavenly spirits. They are certain overseers who count the good and bad deeds done by a person and determine the length of his life. In general, feeding the spirit involves doing good deeds.
Body nutrition. This category includes several concepts at once. First, adherence to strict Ideally, a person should eat saliva and inhale only dew ether. Secondly, you need to exercise regularly. Thirdly, sex is important. The philosophy of ancient China of Taoism claims that the path to immortality is very long and difficult, and it is not accessible to everyone.

There are several forms of Taoism:

In the modern world, Taoism is widespread throughout China. This teaching is closely intertwined with various religions, and primarily with Buddhism and Confucianism.

Taoism- Chinese traditional teaching, including elements of religion, mysticism, divination, shamanism, meditation practice, science. There is also Taoist philosophy.
Taoism must be distinguished from the Teachings of Tao, a later phenomenon commonly known as Neo-Confucianism.

Formation of Taoism
Taoism in a stable religious organization took shape only in the 2nd century, but numerous evidence suggests that Taoism arose much earlier, at least in the 5th - 3rd centuries BC. e. there was already a developed tradition that prepared the elements of the doctrine that were actively used in the Middle Ages.

The main sources of Taoism were the mystical and shamanic cults of the Chu kingdom and other "barbarian" states in southern China, the doctrine of immortality and magical practices that developed in the kingdom of Qi, and the philosophical tradition of northern China.

Philosophical writings related to Taoism begin with the era of the Conflicting Kingdoms (Zhanguo) in the 5th century BC. e., almost simultaneously with the teachings of Confucius. Tradition considers the legendary Yellow Emperor Huangdi to be the founder of Taoism.

Another founder of Taoism is the ancient Chinese sage Lao Tzu. Taoist tradition ascribes to him the authorship of one of the main books of Taoism - "Tao Te Ching" (Chinese 道德經). This treatise was the core around which the teachings of Taoism began to take shape.

Another famous text of early Taoism is Zhuangzi, authored by Zhuang Zhou (369-286 BC), known as Chuangzi, after whom his work is named.

At the beginning of the 2nd millennium A.D. e. the figure of Laozi is deified, a complex hierarchy of deities and demons is developed, a cult arises, in which divination and rites that “cast out” evil spirits take a central place. The pantheon of Taoism was headed by Jasper Lord (Shan-di), who was revered as the god of heaven, the highest deity and the father of emperors (“sons of heaven”). He was followed by Lao-tzu and the creator of the world - Pan-gu.

Elements of teaching

The path of Tao is inherent in the power of De. It is through the power of Wu-wei that the Tao manifests itself in every person. This force cannot be interpreted as an effort, but, on the contrary, as a desire to avoid any effort. Wu-wei - means "non-action", the denial of purposeful activity that goes against the natural order. In the process of life, it is necessary to adhere to the principle of non-action - the principle of Wu-wei. This is not inaction. This is human activity, which is consistent with the natural course of the world order. Any action that is contrary to the Tao means a waste of energy and leads to failure and death. Thus, Taoism teaches a contemplative attitude towards life. Bliss is achieved not by the one who seeks to win the favor of the Tao with good deeds, but by the one who, in the process of meditation, immersion in his inner world, seeks to listen to himself, and through himself to listen and comprehend the rhythm of the universe. Thus, the purpose of life was comprehended in Taoism as a return to the eternal, a return to one's roots.

Tao manifests itself through everyday life and is embodied in the actions of trained people, although few of them fully “walk the Way”. Moreover, the very practice of Taoism is built on a complex system of symbolism of interrelationships and unity of the general, cosmic, and internal, human world. Everything, for example, is permeated with a single qi energy. A child is born from the mixing of the original qi (yuan qi) of the father and mother; a person lives only by continuing to saturate the body with some external qi (wai qi), transferring it to an internal state with the help of a system of breathing exercises and proper nutrition. Everything truly “great” is connected with the beyond, Tao, which at the same time manifests itself in things, phenomena, and actions every moment. The cosmic here is constantly projected onto the human and emerges in a special vital "energeticism", the energy potential of both the Tao itself and the people who were able to fully comprehend it. The path of Tao itself is perceived as an energy, inspiring beginning, for example, in Zhuang Tzu it is said: “He spiritualized deities and kings, gave birth to Heaven and Earth.”

Political and legal thought of Taoism

In socio-ethical terms, the leitmotif of Taoism is the condemnation of pride, the preaching of average prosperity and moderation.

The Tao Te Ching reflects the widespread ideas among the communal peasantry about redistribution of property in favor of the poor. The celestial tao, the canon says, “takes away what is superfluous and gives what is taken away to those who need it. The Tao of Heaven takes from the rich and gives to the poor what is taken from them.”

The wise sovereign, the Taoists taught, rules the country using the method of non-action, that is, refraining from active interference in the affairs of members of society, Lao Tzu reproached contemporary rulers for being too active, establishing many taxes and prohibitive laws, and waging endless warriors. "The best ruler is the one about whom the people know only that he exists."

Lao Tzu called on the nobility and rulers to "settle closer to the earth", to restore the order that existed in antiquity, when people lived in small scattered villages, to abandon the use of tools and wean the people from knowledge.

The socio-political concept of Taoism was a reactionary utopia. It was nourished by the mentality of those strata of the well-born nobility and the communal elite, whose position was undermined by the growing property and social stratification. Lacking any real power to fight the new aristocracy, these strata claimed to be the keepers of sacred wisdom not available to others. At the same time, they sought to improve their property affairs, to catch up with the aristocracy of wealth, using communal traditions of mutual assistance for this.

Dao- literally "the way", in Taoism - being and changing the Universe in the most general sense. Impersonal force, the will of the universe, which must comply with the order of all things in the world
De- literally "virtue" or "morality". Virtue, given from above (from Tao), does not have the characteristics of a physical, forceful impact, in contrast to the Greek “arete”. Grace, a huge spiritual power that Heaven endowed the ruler of China and which he could transfer to his subjects
wu wei- literally "non-action" - understanding when to act and when to do nothing
Pu- literally “an unprocessed piece of wood” personifies the energy of objects untouched by nature, if it is simpler, then the simplicity of the soul, the soul of pu.

Components of Taoism