In Chinese philosophy, yin and yang describes how opposite or contrary forces may actually be complementary and interdependent in the natural world. Taoism originated as a religious system in China around the 4th-3rd century BCE, with Lao-tzu seen as the first Taoist philosopher. Modern Taoism falls into Southern and Northern traditions, with Southern Taoism emphasizing rituals and Northern Taoism focusing on spiritual discipline. Central Taoist concepts include the Tao, representing natural order and flow, and qi/chi representing natural energy that sustains life.

1. GOOD AFTERNOON!

2. YIN and YANG
⮚In Chinese philosophy, yin and yang is a concept
of dualism in ancient Chinese philosophy,
describing how seemingly opposite or contrary
forces may actually be complementary,
interconnected, and interdependent in the
natural world, and how they may give rise to each
other as they interrelate to one another.

4. Taoism originated
⮚Taoism formed into a religious system within the
lands of China sometime around the 4th or 3rd
century BCE. Being the first to receive the
inspiration of the Tao, some site Lao-tzu as the
first Taoist philosopher and the author of
the Taoist texts known as the Tao-te Ching

5. Subdivisions of Taoism
⮚Tiger statue at a temple Modern Taoism falls into
main categories: 'Southern' Taoism, popular in
Taiwan and South China and 'Northern' Taoism, a
tradition largely unknown to Westerners but
widely practised among modern Taoists in
mainland China.
(Tiger statue at a
temple)

6. Southern Taoism
⮚ Southern Taoism is an offshoot
of Cheng-i Taoism, the only
liturgical tradition surviving today.
The modern Cheng-i tradition
dates back to the 11th century. Its
priests still perform liturgies like
the chiao, believed to harmonise
the local community with the
cosmos. They also perform healing
rituals and exorcisms in public.

7. Northern Taoism
⮚ The outside world knew little about the
existence of Northern Taoism until the 1980s
because few foreigners were allowed to enter
mainland China under conditions that allowed
them to experience the country's religious
culture. For a time there was also a question
mark over whether Taoism had survived the
crackdown on all religions in China from 1966 to
1976.
Northern Taoism grew out of the Ch'üan-chen
tradition. It was founded in the 12th century by
Wang Chu'ung-yang. It emphasises moral and
spiritual discipline and also continues self-
preservation practices that date back to the
classical Nei-yeh.

8. Founder of Taoism
Lao-Tzu (also known as Laozi or Lao-Tze) was
a Chinese philosopher credited with founding the
philosophical system of Taoism. He is best known
as the author of the Tao-Te-Ching, the work which
exemplifies his thought.

9. TAOIST
SACRED TEXTS

10. Taoist Sacred Scriptures
Tao-Te Ching/ Dao De Jing
Like most philosophies or religions, Taoism has
its very own canon, or collection of sacred texts.
The most important text of Taoism is the Tao-te
Ching. Believed to be authored by Lao-tzu, the
first man to receive the inspiration of the Tao,
these texts have no definitive date of origin.

11. Tao te ching
⚫ That which offers no resistance, overcomes the
hardest substances. That which offers no resistance
can enter where there a no space
⚫ The Tao that can be described is not the eternal Tao.
⚫ The name that can be spoken is not the eternal
name. (chapter 1 )

12. Tao te ching
The supreme god is like water, which benefits all of
creation without trying to compete with it. It gathers
in unpopular places. Thus it is like the Tao.
Lau tzu( chapter 8 )

13. Chuang-Tzu/ Zuangzi
⮚ Chuang-tzu provides a more thorough and
detailed account of Taoist belief. Although
much of the Chuang-tzu complements and
expounds upon the Tao Te Ching, it differs in
a number of ways. For example, unlike the
Tao Te Ching, which states that individuals
can only purify themselves by isolating
themselves from other people, the Chuang-
tzu emphasizes that individuals do not need
to cut themselves off from their social lives to
pursue Taoism.

14. Zhuangzi, The Inner Chapter 3
“ I go along with the natural makeup, strike in the
big hollows, guide the knife through the big
openings, and following things as they are. So I
never touch the smallest ligament or tendon, much
less a main joint.

15. Concepts/Beliefs
⮚Daoism can be best understood by discussing its
concepts and beliefs.
⮚Dao; Wu wei or “action through inaction’ which gives
importance to humility and noncompetition,
naturaleness and naturalism; Yin yang or the balance
of nature or universe; Chi/Qi or the natural energy or
life force that sustains living beings.

16. The Dao/Tao
⮚The Dao/Tao is what gives Taoism its English name,
in both its philosophical and religious forms. The
Tao is the fundamental and central concept of these
schools of thought. Taoism perceives the Tao as a
natural order underlying the substance and activity of
the Universe.

17. Deity/God
Taoism does not have a God in the way that
the Abrahamic religions do. There is no
omnipotent being beyond the cosmos, who
created and controls the universe. In Taoism
the universe springs from the Tao, and the
Tao impersonally guides things on their way.
But the Tao itself is not God, nor is it a god,
nor is it worshipped by Taoists. This may
seem surprising as Taoists do use 'God-talk' to
refer to the Tao.

19. These are the different denominations of Taoism
⚫ Chin tan (Golden Elixir) Taoism - a tradition strong
on meditation or 'Inner Alchemy'. Much of this
practice was absorbed into the Ch'üan chen
tradition.
⚫ Ch'ing wei (Clarified Tenuity) Taoism - A complex
of ritual traditions that trace back to a young
woman, Tsu Shu.
Denomination of Taoism

20. Denomination
Taoism is not a centrally
organised and structured
religion, but consists of many
schools or sects that follow a
common theme.
Because there have been so many
different Taoist groups, no
particular doctrine should be
regarded as unarguably 'orthodox
Taoism'.

21. ⚫ Shen hsiao (Divine Empyrean) Taoism b- A liturgical
tradition established by Lin Ling-su at the court of
the Sung emperor Hui tsung (early 12th century).
⚫ T'ung-ch'u (Youthful Incipience) Taoism - An
obscure tradition of therapeutic rituals founded by a
young man in 1121, claiming continuity with the
Shang-ch'ing tradition.
⚫ T'ai i (Supreme Union) Taoism - Founded by Hsiao
Pao chen in the 12th century, it stressed ritual
healing and social responsibility.

22. ⚫ Chen ta (Perfected Greatness) or Ta-tao (Great Way)
Taoism - Founded by Liu Te-jen in the 12th- century.
It combined the basic moral teachings of Buddhism,
Confucianism and Taoism and was patronized by the
Chin government, (BBC, 2012).

23. Doctrines
⮚ The De/Te
⮚De (Chinese) De (/də/; Chinese: 德) is a key concept
in Chinese philosophy, usually translated "inherent
character; inner power; integrity" in Taoism, "moral
character; virtue; morality“.

24. Doctrines
Wu-Wei
One of Taoism’s most important concepts is Wu-
wei, which is sometimes translated as “non-
doing” or “non-action.” A better way to think of
it, however, is as a paradoxical “Action of non-
action.” Wu-wei refers to the cultivation of a state
of being in which our actions are quite
effortlessly in alignment with the ebb and flow of
the elemental cycles of the natural world.

25. • Look within and you will find everything you need
• By Letting go, you become free
• Let go of your labels if you truly want to know
yourself
• Wisdom and strength come from remaining humble
• Change is inevitable,so embrace it, even if it seems
uncomfortable
• Every change is important and every chang of itself
is meaningful
• Always go with the flow
Life lessons of Taoism

26. Five Beauties of Taoism
Kindness
Proper conduct
Propriety
Wisdom
Trustworthiness

27. Yin Yang
According to Zhuangzi Yin in its highest form is
freezing while Yang in its highest form is boiling.
The chilliness comes from heaven while the
warmness comes from the earth. Yin Yang
emphasizes the concept in Daoism which explains
Laozi’s methodology that everything contains
opposite sides, and each sides depends on the
other, which emphasizes the concept of dualism,
of two halves forming a whole.

28. Doctrines
Qi/Chi
Central to Taoist world-view and practice
is qi (chi). Literally, the word qi means "breath,"
'air" or "gas, but figuratively, qi is life-force -- that
which animates the forms of the world. It is the
vibratory nature of phenomena -- the flow and
tremoring that is happening continuously at
molecular, atomic and sub-atomic levels.

29. Origin of the universe;
Base on TAO/DAO

30. Worship and Observances
Of Taoism

31. Meditative Practice
of Taoism

32. Moral Practices of Taoism
In practice taoism recommends the
same sorts of moral behavior to its
followers as other
religions.Taoists believe such good
behaviour is an essential part not only
of self-improvement but of improving
the world as a whole. Cultivate
the Tao within oneself; and one's
virtue will be perfected

33. Morality of Taoism
Ethics and morality, as well as
the creation of community,
emerge as central in the Daoist
religion. Taoist ethics are
concerned less with doing good
acts than becoming a good
person who lives in harmony
with all things and people.

34. ⚫ In China, the feminine principle has been honoured
to a great extent the ancient philosophy-psychology
of Taoism, and a few actual have been accorded
respect ad even leadership roles in the later,
religious Taoism which was to emerge. tao is not
only the Mother of all existence, but also our Mother
and, if we realize it, we should know her other
children, ex: the rest of creation. Furthermore,
many feminine qualities such as softness, passivity
,gentleness are praised and recommended as the
marks of a sage who is one of the Tao.
Views On Women

35. Issues of Taoism
⮚Fatalism
⮚Superstition
⮚Urban development

36. PURPOSE AND DESTINY
Early Taoism focused on life instead of afterlife when
talking about salvation. This was true because they
wanted immortality so they thought that they would not
have to continue on into the afterlife. Unlike most
religions salvation is not to escape from this world but to
be aligned with the world and the cosmos. Although one
goal of Taoism is to have a long healthy existence the
ultimate goal is to be connected and aligned with Tao,
and to be harmonious with the natural way of the
universe. To do this one must reach spiritual
immortality, which allows death to have no impact on
your spirit, to do this they must change their qi (energy
that links people to the universe) into pure spirit which
is done through intense meditation, diet, and other
practices.

37. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND GOD BLESS!