Return To Balance
The Tao is the natural order of things that flows through every living and sentient object, as well as through the entire universe. Taoism is a "Way" of life. It is a river not a religion or philosophy. It means when the Tao is in balance it is possible to find perfect happiness.
In this doctrine there are Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu, two scholars who dedicated their lives two balancing their inner spirits.
The sign of Taoist theology is the circular Yin Yang figure which represents the balance of opposites in the universe. When one is outweighed by the other, there is confusion and disarray so does.
Aspects of both philosophical and religious Taoism were appropriated in East Asian cultures influenced by China, especially Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.
Traditionally, Taoism has been attributed to three sources, the oldest being the legendary 'Yellow Emperor', but the most famous is Lao Tse's Tao Teh Ching. According to tradition, Lao Tse was an older contemporary of Kung Fu Tse (Confucius). The third source is Chuang Tse's (untitled) work.
The Tao was written in a time of feudal warfare and constant conflict. Lao Tzu was reflecting on a realistic path for humanity to follow which would end the conflict.
One of the wise phrase is, "I am good to the man who is good to me, likewise, I am also good to the bad man." Literally, this sentence would read, "The good man, I good him. The bad man, I good him too."
The Taoist will takes military action when he has not seen far enough ahead to prevent the need for violence in the first place. When violence is needed, the Taoist leader will fight until he has achieved his goal, and then stop.
Taoists were supporters both of magic and of proto-science; they were the element of Chinese culture most interested in the study of and experiments with nature and interested in health.
Philosophical Taoism
As is accomplished at death, so in life must the individual return to the original purity and simplicity of the Tao. Tao is the absolute, the "Uncarved Block" experienced only in mystical ecstasy. As the Tao operates impartially in the universe, so should mankind disavow assertive, purposive action. The Taoist life is rather a life of non-purposive action (wu-wei). Thinking positively will expressing life and give the essence of spontaneity (tzu-jan, "self-so").
Religious Taoism
Taoism’s themes and texts of philosophical started established during the Warring States period (481-221 BC).
Confucius (circa 551-479 BC) was born in the village of Zou in the country of Lu. Confucius was born in a poor family in the year 551 B.C. His original name was K'ung Ch'iu. His father, commander of a district in Lu, died three years after Confucius was born, and the family living in poverty so Confucius nevertheless received a fine education. He was married at the age of 19, had one son and two daughters. He worked as a keeper of a market and a farm worker who took care of parks and farm animals. When he was 20, he worked for the governor of his district. His mother died in 527 BC, and after a period of mourning he began his career as a teacher.
Confucius is a well-known leader in philosophy and also made many wise sayings in ancient China that helped many people learn about nature, the world, the human behavior , the government and the emperor by teaching them lessons on how the emperor should rule his kingdom successfully. Philosophy is a kind of a system of ideas and thoughts that talk about the human's behavior, the rules that you should follow to make a successful life, and about the government.
When feudalism degenerated in China and intrigue and vice were rampant in the second half of the Zhou (Chou) dynasty (1027?-256 BC), Confucius deplored the contemporary disorder and lack of moral standards. He came to believe that the only remedy was to convert people once more to the principles and precepts of the sages of antiquity. He therefore lectured to his pupils on the ancient classics.
One day, he and his students passed a grave where they saw a women weeping at a gravestone. She told Confucius that her husband, her husband's father, and her son were killed by a tiger. When Confucius asked her why she didn't leave such a fated spot, she answered that in this place there was no oppressive government. He said, " An oppressive government is fiercer and more feared than a tiger." That meant that the government in the woman's province did not rule the province well. So he said that the government was more feared than a tiger. This was one of the many events he had to give a person a lesson.
He taught the great value of the power of example. In his opinion rulers can be great only if they themselves lead exemplary lives, and were they willing to be guided by moral principles, their states would inevitably become prosperous and happy.
Confucius' teachings and philosophy was so advanced, it would be the education for China for 2,000 years and is called Confucianism.
Confucianism had a simple moral and political teaching: to love others; to honor one's parents; to do what is right instead of what is of advantage; to practice "reciprocity," example, "don't do to others what you would not want yourself".
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