1. Name: ____________________________________________ Date: _____________________ Pd.:_____
Daoism
Daoism (Taoism) is the ideology (belief system)based on the beliefs of Laozi (Lao
Tzu) that developed in China during the same time as Confucianism. Unlike
Confucianism, it did not focus on order but on becoming one with nature. Daoism
believed that humans and nature were similar, and by living in harmony with
nature, we will be at peace within ourselves. Daoism focuses on many principles
that lead its followers to find “the way,” or the dao of the universe.
Directions: Closely read the following quote with a partner and then answer the
questions in complete sentences.
“The Way”
“By the time it came to the edge of the Forest, the stream had grown up, so that it
was almost a river, and , being grown-up, it did not run and jump and sparkle
along as it used to do when it was younger, but moved more slowly. For it knew
now where it was going, and it said to itself, “There is no hurry. We shall get there
some day.” (From The Tao of Pooh pg. 67)
1. Who or what do you think the stream is representing in this quote? Why? ________________________
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2. What changes happened to the stream in this quote? _______________________________________
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3. What lesson can learned from this quote? ________________________________________________
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Challenge/Extension Activity:
The words yin and yang literally mean the “dark side” and the “sunny side” of a hill. In
Chinese culture, they represent the opposites of which the world is thought to be
composed: dark and light, female and male, Earth and heaven, death and birth. According
to this belief, all good things in life have some element of bad, and all bad things have
some element of good.Using this philosophy, fill in the yin yang symbol provided in class
by following the directions.
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