For other uses of the words "tao" and "dao", see Dao (disambiguation).

Taoism (sometimes written as Daoism) is the English name for:

(a) a philosophical school based on the texts the Tao Te Ching (ascribed to Laozi and alternately spelled Dào Dé Jīng) and the Zhuangzi.

(b) a family of organized Chinese religious movements such as the Zhengyi ("Orthodoxy") or Quanzhen ("complete reality") sects, which collectively trace back to Zhang Daoling in the late Han Dynasty;

(c) a Chinese folk religion.

The English word "Taoism" is used to translate the Chinese terms Daojiao (道教) and Daojia (道家). The character Tao 道 (or Dao, depending on the Romanisation scheme one prefers) literally means "path" or "way", but in Chinese religion and philosophy has taken on more abstract meanings. The compound Daojiao refers to Daoism as a religion; Daojia refers to the activity of scholars in their studies. It must be noted that this distinction is itself controversial and fraught with hermeneutic difficulty.

Much uncertainty exists over the meaning of "Taoism". In some countries and contexts (for example, the national "Taoism" organisations of China and Taiwan), the label has come to be applied to the Chinese folk religion, which would otherwise not have a readily recognisable English name. However many, if not most, of its practitioners would not recognise "Taoism" (in any language) as the name of their religion. Moreover, the several forms of what we might call "elite" or "organised" Taoism often distinguish their ritual activities from those of the folk religion, which some professional "Taoists" (Daoshi) tend to view as debased.

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some light reading on parallels between Taoism and Christianity.
joahua (Josh Street) Mon, 07 Dec 2009 09:52:55 -0000
some light reading on parallels between Taoism and Christianity.
#Taoism debate anyone?
chimptwit (Diego Ruiz) Mon, 07 Dec 2009 09:03:39 -0000
#Taoism debate anyone?
RT @BeMoreConscious: If you define things, you limit them - Taoism #consciousness
Kay4NJ (Karen) Mon, 07 Dec 2009 05:35:38 -0000
RT @BeMoreConscious: If you define things, you limit them - Taoism #consciousness
@halfeatencookie YES! Art, Taoism, writing, etc. Have you read 'Tao Te Ching'? It's amazing. And staring at clouds/the sky is my FAVORITE.(:
_danube (danube) Mon, 07 Dec 2009 03:06:44 -0000
@halfeatencookie YES! Art, Taoism, writing, etc. Have you read 'Tao Te Ching'? It's amazing. And staring at clouds/the sky is my FAVORITE.(:
@_danube LOL This is crazayyy! :D You like art stuff too right? And Taoism? Haha jeebus it's like we're cloned XD
halfeatencookie (Katieee/katydidd182) Mon, 07 Dec 2009 03:03:19 -0000
@_danube LOL This is crazayyy! :D You like art stuff too right? And Taoism? Haha jeebus it's like we're cloned XD
Manhattan Declaration; But we cannot forget about Chinese culture & Taoism! Confucianism already has its following & done well in media!
safetybiz (safetybiz) Mon, 07 Dec 2009 02:25:28 -0000
Manhattan Declaration; But we cannot forget about Chinese culture & Taoism! Confucianism already has its following & done well in media!

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