Daoism originated in China as a philosophy and religion. It is based on the Daodejing, a text attributed to the philosopher Laozi. The Daodejing focuses on living in harmony with the Dao, which represents the natural order of the universe. Daoism teaches that happiness is found by following the natural flow of yin and yang and practicing wuwei, or non-action. The core principles are living simply, in harmony with nature, and letting natural processes occur without interference.

1. DAOISM
INTRODUCTION TO WORLD RELIGIONS
EASTERN RELIGIONS

2. K-W-L
What I Know …..
What I Want to Know ……
What I have Learned ……

3. GUIDE QUESTIONS
1. What is Daoism? Where did it evolve?
How it is originated?
2. Who is the Founder of Daoism?
3. What is ‘Dao’?
4. What is the ‘Yin’ and ‘Yang’?
5. What are the teachings of Daoism?

4. PRE-ASSESSMENT

5. PRE-ASSESSMENT

6. WHERE DAOISM EVOLVED?
CHINA
DAOISM
CONFUCIANISM
SHINTOISM

7. EAST ASIAN RELIGIONS
All East Asian religions are
concerned with preserving
harmony between every being in
the universe, as there is a
preordained appropriate place
and pattern of behaviour for each
one.
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8. ORIGIN OF CHINESE
PHILOSOPHY-
RELIGION
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9. ORIGIN OF CHINESE
PHILOSOPHY-RELIGION
Between the eight and third
centuries BCE, the feudal system
in China deteriorated, as rulers
failed to protect their vassals
from invaders.As a result,
warlords who could command
respect and provide protection
gained power.DAOISM

10. From this chaotic period emerge the
great Chinese philosophy-religions of
Daoism and Confucianism.
DAOISM
ORIGIN OF CHINESE PHILOSOPHY-
RELIGION

11. ORIGIN OF DAOISM
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12. ORIGIN OF DAOISM
The roots of Daoism are lost in the mists
of Chinese antiquity and very little know
of its founder.
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13. ORIGIN OF DAOISM
It takes its name from the book
Dàodéjĩng orTaoTe Ching
[“Classic of theWay of
Virtue”], a work attributed to
the Chinese philosopher-poet
called Lăozĩ [“Old Master”]
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14. ORIGIN OF DAOISM
By the fourth century CE, Mahayana
Buddhism had become prevalent in
China, initially coexisting peacefully with
Daoism.
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15. ORIGIN OF DAOISM
However, fierce struggles to
gain influence with various
rulers and control in the
provinces of China arose
between Daoists and Buddhists,
leading to mutual hostility and
even persecution.
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16. “To attain knowledge,
add things everyday. To
attain Wisdom, remove
things everyday.”
-Dàodéjĩng
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17. The Dàodéjĩng
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18. The Dàodéjĩng
It is the most influential piece of
Chinese literature. Its main declaration
is that all human achievements are
foolishness; it consists of slightly more
than five thousand words contained in
81 chapters and usually translated to
poetic form.
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19. The Dàodéjĩng
The Daodejing focuses on the harmony
of opposites within the peaceful flow of
the Dao. It also adds the concept of the
individual’s relationship to nature and
society, insisting that it is best to let
things take their natural course.
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20. “Dao is the origin of
all beings whose
essence is nothing.”
-Dàodéjĩng
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21. The Dào
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22. The Yin and Yang
The universe operated as a balance
between the yin and yang.
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23. The Yin and Yang
Yang is the positive force in nature
manifested in light, warmth, dryness,
and maleness.
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24. The Yin and Yang
Yin is seen in darkness, cold, dampness,
and femaleness.
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25. The Dào
Intrinsically related to the concepts yan
and ying is a mysterious and indefinable
force called the Dao [path, way, road],
which is a harmonious union of these
opposites.
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26. The Dào
The Dao, as the ultimate source of all
being, lies behind the basic unity
underlying the universe.
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27. THE BASIC
DOCTRINES OF
DAOISM
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28. THE MEANING AND VALUE OF LIFE
Life alone is the greatest of
all possessions and must be
preserved and enjoyed. Life is
to be live simply and as quietly
as possible, the ideal state
characterized by childlike
innocence.
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29. THE WAY TO ACHIEVE
PERSONAL HAPPINNESS AND
FULFILLMENT
The Dao is the one true source of
harmony and peace. Happiness is
attained by discovering the Dao and
living in harmony with it, through
following the ways of nature and simply
letting things be.
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30. 4 BASIC PRINCIPLES
OF DAOISM
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31. DAOISM PRINCIPLES
1. Daoism teaches that the best
human being is one who lives in
harmony with nature and with
Dao, by being their natural,
undistorted selves.
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32. DAOISM PRINCIPLES
2.The formula for good life is wuwei or
“nonaction”, which also means to live
and to let live.
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33. DAOISM PRINCIPLES
3.When the mind is clear or empty or has
achieved “nothingness”, one develops
greater sensitivity to what is happening
around him.
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34. DAOISM PRINCIPLES
4.The problem for humans is when they
depart from the simple, natural way of
the universe, which alienates them from
the Dao and from other beings, living
and non-living, human and nonhuman.
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35. THANK YOU!