Daoism

Initially founded in China during the Han Dynasty, Daoism was once adopted as the state religion in 440 CE. Using the philosophical book called the Daodejing, Lao Tzu, the founder, spread his teachings throughout the Huanghe or Yellow River civilization to end warfare and create peace. Daoism, or the "way," is the idea of becoming "one" with Dao. Only humans do not act instinctively in accord with it; its more popular mystical and political interpretation is to find harmony as well as using suppleness and flexibility, not power, as fundamentals to achieve victory. Allow opponents to over-play position and over-extend resources, then attack using flexibility. With the rivalry of Confucianism, Daoism did not become as powerful or influential, but its followers currently exceed 20 million people. Daoism also stresses the belief that everything has an opposite, or a ying and a yang. At first, this religion appealed to the scholar-gentry and upper class imperials, but later appealed to the illiterate lower class. Daoism is still one of the three main religious philosophies in China today.

http://www.iep.utm.edu/d/daoism.htm#H9

http://www.religioustolerance.org/taoism.htm

Created by Christina Oelsner 9-21-08 Edited by Becca Ellison 9-22-08 And by Clare Wolf 9/23/08