Daoism

What Is Daoism? Daoism is the oldest indigenous philosophic–spiritual tradition of China and one of the most ancient of the world’s spiritual structures. The name ‘Daoism’ comes from the term dao, which is often used for a ‘way’ or a ‘road’ through the field or to one’s village. It is also used as the ‘way’ to do something, such as the way a master craftsman carves a candlestick, makes a bell or even butchers an ox. Dao is used as the energizing process that permeates and animates all of reality to move in its ongoing process. However, as we shall see time and again in our study, dao itself cannot be described in words. Dao is not the supreme being of Daoism. Daoism has no supreme being, even if there is an extensive grammar about numinal self-conscious entities and powers for which the Chinese use the word shen. For example, the highest numinal powers of Daoism are called the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning (Yuanshi tianzun) or the Jade Emperor (Yuhuang Shangdi), or the Perfected Warrior (Zhenwu). But these are expressions of dao in specific shen, they are not identical with dao. Daoism is the spiritual tradition at the root of Chinese civilization. It defies characterization as either a philosophy or a religion. In fact, while these terms have been used by Western and Chinese scholars alike to understand Daoism, such categorization has regrettably only distorted the tradition, twisted it and perverted it by making it fit into conceptual modes to which it can conform only at the cost of its own destruction. Admittedly, until very recently it was common to speak of ‘philosophical Daoism’ (daojia) and ‘religious Daoism’ (daojiao), suggesting that the former was transformed into the latter or replaced by it. Western scholars did not begin this distinction, but the simple fact that Chinese commentators used it does not make it an accurate or productive way of approaching Daoism. Scholars today know thin...

...gs about Daoism and its origin that even the great Chinese thinkers of the past did not know. Some Chinese thinkers even had an interest in altering or reconstructing the Daoist tradition that they received. For example, Guo Xiang, the (Location 217)

Note: Omg i had a sense this book was shit from this opening set of paragraphs What the fuck way is this to get someone interested And the rest of the book drones on about useless facts As if recanting the steps that led to the movement was enough to inspire the next one Of course not, you have to start with the instpiration Not gonna find it here but glad i confirmed and bought this book