Art and the Ordered Universe:
Asian Views of Nature: China
Table of contents:
Introduction to Taoism by Dr. Deborah Vess
Taoism in Poetry and Art by Dr. Roxanne Farrar
Taoism
by Dr. Deborah Vess
Taoism can be traced to Lao Tsu, who according to legend lived in the sixth century B.C.E. Lao Tsu may or may not have been a historic figure and many legends surround his life, but he is said to have given the Chinese the classic text the Tao De Ching. The language of the Tao de Ching dates from the Han period, and the text cannot, therefore, have been composed in its present form before then. Confucius was said to have met Lao Tsu, and was so impressed with his wisdom that he called him the "wise dragon."
Taoism has always been an important strain of Chinese thought, but it has never been as widely practiced in popular culture as Confucianism. While Taoism is a mystical way of life and approach to the universe, Confucianism is very practical in its emphasis on the rites and rituals that govern proper social behavior. Taoism, on the other hand, does not define a set of morally proper actions or attitudes, but rather focuses on the essence of reality, the Tao or "way" which underlies all being. The Tao is not something that can be named, as to name something is to delimit it and set it apart from other things. For example if one calls something a "cat" then that thing has to have certain properties, and cannot have the characteristics of a whale, for example. In the same way, the Tao de Ching tells us that the path than can be trodden is not the enduring and unchanging path, or the Tao. If one delineates a specific path to a certain point, then other paths are not taken, and perhaps other points are not reached. The Tao cannot be so limited; it encompasses all things. Taoism rejects even such moralistic philosophies as Confucianism, as Confucians attempt to delineate the proper path to virtue and also to define what virtue is. Once a certain path or set of precepts are defined as "virtue," then all other paths are excluded. Taoism is based on a belief in the all-encompassing nature of the Tao and, for the Taoist, Confucianism captures only an aspect of the Tao.
Taoists reject the sectionalism of the various schools of thought, and focus instead on the Tao that encompasses all paths, all realities. The Taoist sage must be like the uncarved block of marble, as that block has the potential to become anything in any situation. Similarly, people need to have the ability to adapt to whatever situation arises, just as a stream flows around a bolder in its path without interruption. After years of wear and tear, the bolder may be eroded by the flow of the water. A Taoist sage attempts to work with difficult situations by adapting himself or herself to them, and attempts to change them by working with them, flowing around them, bending to their needs, rather than by acting against them. The Taoist sage is able to see the world from many perspectives, as he or she is attuned to the Tao rather than to a specific school of thought. Taoists work with the nature of things rather than by inflicting their own desires or preconceptions on trying to make situations and things bend to their demands. Taoist rulers allow the Tao in their subjects to dictate social norms, rather than imposing a set of laws which would create discord and dissent by regulating behavior and defining evil as opposed to good. The model of the flowing stream suggests that the Taoist may accomplish much by working with the nature of things, as opposed to fighting against it.
To further explore Taosim, please read Dr. Vess's interactive version of the Tao de Ching. Clicking on the link will take you to a general introduction to Chinese philosophy; please select the unit on Taoism. You will need a 3 1/2 inch disk to complete the module, and you will need to set your browser to the trusting mode in order to record your answer. You will also need to have Shockwave (Authorware Webplayer) on your computer; if you are usinng the college lab in A&S 2-71, the Webplayer is already installed. Simpliy click on the link above to start the module and wait for it to load. If you are using your own computer, you you can download the Authorware Webplayer free from Macromedia by clicking on the button below:
When you are finished exploring the text, please complete the quiz on Taoism and submit your disc to Dr. Vess in class.
When you are finished with this module, please continue on to Dr. Farrar's discussion of Chinese Landscape Art and Taoist poetry. In addition, you may want to further explore Taoism and Confucianism through the following links:
Taoism
Confucianism
Confucianism and Taoism Digital Textual Resources
Dr. Vess's Interactive Chinese Philosophy Unit
Interactive primary source texts, glossaries, quizzes, and other materials. Includes a unit on Confucianism. Requires Shockwave plug-in.
copyright © Dr. Deborah Vess 1998-2001, Georgia College & State University and the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. All rights reserved. Rights to chapters authored by contributing faculty members reserved to Georgia College & State University, to the Interdisciplinary Studies Program at GC&SU, and to the individual faculty authors.