道家
Taoism
Taoism · conceptTaoism/Daoism refers to a diverse Chinese philosophical and religious tradition associated with texts such as the Daodejing and Zhuangzi and with later organized religious movements.
Context and Boundaries
Taoism is a broad label for philosophical texts, religious traditions, practices, and later developments. The received Daodejing is conventionally divided into 81 sections, and daojia and daojiao are useful orientation terms for different strands of the tradition without reducing Taoism to a single form.
What this does not establish: Wu wei is not simply laziness, and ziran is not a guarantee that desired results arrive without effort. The Zhuangzi is a separate early text associated with Zhuang Zhou in the received tradition; it should not be collapsed into the Daodejing or treated as one author's complete system.
A restrained present-day reading: Oriens interpretation: Taoist language about non-contention can prompt a reader to notice timing, resistance, and unnecessary forcing before choosing a next step. This is a modern reading exercise, not an ancient quotation or a promise that yielding always wins.
道生一，一生二，二生三，三生万物。
— Tao Te Ching, Chapter 42 (Laozi)
What Are the Key Facts About Taoism?
- Tradition: Taoism
- Chinese: 道家
- Category: Concept
- Definition: Taoism/Daoism refers to a diverse Chinese philosophical and religious tradition associated with texts such as the Daodejing and Zhuangzi and with later organized religious movements.
What Concepts Are Related to Taoism?
Neo-Confucianism 理学Guides That Go Deeper on Taoism
What Is TaoismWhat Other Guides Cover Taoism?
Frequently Asked Questions About Taoism
What is Taoism?
Taoism/Daoism is a broad label for philosophical texts and religious traditions associated with the Dao, including the Daodejing, the Zhuangzi, and later organized movements. These strands are related but should not be collapsed into one uniform doctrine.
How are philosophical and religious Taoism related?
Daojia is commonly used for philosophical teachings, while Daojiao names organized religious traditions and practices. The labels overlap historically, but they identify different kinds of tradition and should not be treated as a single undifferentiated system.
What are the Daodejing and Zhuangzi?
The Daodejing and Zhuangzi are major early texts associated with philosophical Taoism. Their arguments, images, and styles differ, so ideas such as wu wei or naturalness should be read in their textual contexts rather than reduced to a modern collage.
Where to Read Next
- What Is Taoism?The longer definition and tradition overview.
- TaoThe Tao/Dao concept entrance.
- LaoziThe traditional figure associated with the Daodejing.
- ZhuangziThe separate text and figure family.
- Wu WeiA related concept with its own source owner.
- ZiranNatural spontaneity as a distinct concept entrance.
- What Is Stoicism?A distinct tradition in the registered cross-tradition relationship.
Sources and Limits
- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy — DaoismDaoist philosophical and religious traditions
- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy — ZhuangziThe Zhuangzi and early Daoist thought
- Chinese Text Project — Dao De JingReceived text