What is Taoism?
Taoism in an ancient religion and philosophy that began in China some 2,500 years ago. Tao, also transliterated ‘Dao’ in English, means literally the Way, and Taoism is simply guidelines for living a good life, in harmony with nature and the universe. Taoism is contemporary and complementary to Confucianism, although Taoism claims to precede Confucius – one can adhere simultaneously to both schools of thought and many do. Religious Taoism posits the existence of numerous supernatural entities, but one can follow the Way without necessarily attributing any belief to the literal existence of ghosts and gods. The principles of Taoism were first expressed in the Tao Te Ching, often attributed to Lao Tzu, although modern scholars believe it is the work of numerous philosophers over a long period of time. It is perhaps the oldest book in the world. In a series of enigmatic verses, the Tao Te Ching spells out the difficulty of grasping an understanding of the Way: “The way that can be walked
