Taoism
Way-centered belief system
Taoism is a Chinese philosophical and religious tradition emphasizing harmony with the Tao—the fundamental, ineffable force underlying all existence.
It values naturalness, simplicity, and non-interference (wu wei), letting things unfold without forcing.
The tradition traces to the ancient text *Tao Te Ching*, attributed to Laozi.
Religious Taoism developed later, incorporating deities, rituals, and practices for longevity.
She found Taoism's emphasis on balance appealing.
Chinese duality symbol
- naturalnessUnaffected, uncontrived quality
- spontaneityActing without forethought
- emptinessAbsence of substance
- simplicityLack of complexity
harmony · balance · effortlessness · detachment · paradox · relativism · mysticism · quietism
Vital life energy
- yinFeminine cosmic force
- yangBright masculine cosmic force
- taijiChinese internal martial art
- five elementsFive basic natural principles
trigrams · I Ching · creation · void · primordial · transformation · cycles · heaven
Chinese ethical philosophy
- BuddhismEnlightenment-seeking Eastern religion
- ZenMeditative Buddhist school
- Chinese medicineTraditional Asian healing system
- acupunctureTherapeutic needle insertion
feng shui · martial arts · calligraphy · landscape painting · poetry · tea ceremony · aesthetics · minimalism
Focused attention practice
- contemplationSustained reflective attention
- enlightenmentProfound spiritual awakening
- immortalityExemption from death
- cultivationFostering growth through care
qigong · tai chi · breathwork · mindfulness · stillness · serenity · awakening · liberation
yin-yang
Chinese duality symbol
- naturalnessUnaffected, uncontrived quality
- spontaneityActing without forethought
- emptinessAbsence of substance
simplicity · harmony · balance · effortlessness · detachment · paradox · relativism · mysticism · quietism · naturalism
qi
Vital life energy
five elements · trigrams · I Ching · creation · void · primordial · transformation · cycles · heaven · earth
Confucianism
Chinese ethical philosophy
- BuddhismEnlightenment-seeking Eastern religion
- ZenMeditative Buddhist school
- Chinese medicineTraditional Asian healing system
acupuncture · feng shui · martial arts · calligraphy · landscape painting · poetry · tea ceremony · aesthetics · minimalism · ecology
meditation
Focused attention practice
- contemplationSustained reflective attention
- enlightenmentProfound spiritual awakening
- immortalityExemption from death
cultivation · qigong · tai chi · breathwork · mindfulness · stillness · serenity · awakening · liberation · self-cultivation
temples
Holy places or head sides
incense · offerings · deities · Jade Emperor · pantheon · festivals · talismans · divination · exorcism · ancestor worship
- Wade-GilesPeking, Nanking, Chungking, Szechuan, Yunnan
- AsiaChina, India, Japan, Thailand, Korea
- ChinaBeijing, Shanghai, Great Wall, Yellow River, Chinese calligraphy
- Chinese cultureConfucianism, Chinese calligraphy, Beijing, Chinese New Year, Shanghai
- East AsiaChina, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Korea
- East Asian Culturechopsticks, yin and yang, tea ceremony, origami, qi
Taoismindustrialism
Factory-based economic system
technocracy · transhumanism · progressivism · capitalism · consumerism