Taoism

alternative Daoism · alternative Tauism · alternative Taouism

1. A Chinese mystical philosophy traditionally founded by Lao-tzu in the 6th century B.C.E. that teaches conformity to the tao by wu wei, naturalness, and simplicity, long closely intertwined with Chinese folk religion and influenced by Buddhism, with which it shares five precepts.

   Taoism puts a significant emphasis on noninterference, imbuing the decision not to act with moral quality. As a result, Taoism seems like a virtue ethic, with wu-wei as its chief virtue.

   2022 Jan-Mar, Liam C. Butchart, “Taoism, bioethics, and the COVID-19 pandemic”, in Tzu Chi Medical Journal, volume 34, number 1, →DOI, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 15 Jun 2022

   2 more examples

   The Chinese New Year holiday period, being disrupted this year by the outbreak of a viral illness, has evolved over more than 3,000 years to become the most important of China’s traditional festivals. As celebrated in China and in many other places where its known as the Lunar New Year, it is largely a secular holiday, yet it includes rituals and traditions that derive from Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, as well as from ancient myths and folk religions.

   2020 January 23, David Crary, “Chinese New Year secular now but kept religious underpinning”, in AP News, archived from the original on 15 Jun 2022

   The philosophical Taoism of the “Tao Te Ching” seeks to remain connected to this “mother of the world,” the formless Tao (meaning “Way” or “Course”), that is seemingly the opposite of all we value, but is actually the source of all we value, as manure is to flowers, as the emptiness of a womb is to the fullness of life.

   2020 September 16, George Yancy, quoting Brook Ziporyn, “How to Die (Without Really Trying)”, in New York Times, archived from the original on 16 Sep 2020

2. SingaporeTraditional Chinese folk religion.

   Buddhism is the most followed religion in Singapore, with over 40 percent of the population declaring themselves believers, according to the latest census. Most of these practice a form of the religion that incorporates elements of Taoism and traditional Chinese faiths.

   2010 May 17, Edgar Su, “Lasers, iPods, for a Singapore funeral of a lifetime”, in Miral Fahmy, editor, Reuters, archived from the original on 15 Jun 2022, Lifestyle