1、 Taoism China roots deep in Taoism. If one China roots deep in Taoism. If one wants to comprehend Chinese history wants to comprehend Chinese history and culture, one must comprehend and culture, one must comprehend Taoism first.Taoism first.life symbolslife symbolsthey arethey are not in opposition
2、 not in opposition to one to one another.another.whenever one whenever one quality reaches its peak, it will naturally quality reaches its peak, it will naturally begin to transform into the opposite begin to transform into the opposite qualityqualitymen and women together create new men and women t
3、ogether create new generationsgenerationsnspeaks of a permanent Tao in the way that some Western religions speak of God. nThe Tao is considered unnamed and unknowable, the essential unifying element of all that is. nBy shunning every earthly distraction, the Taoist is able to concentrate on life its
4、elf. Eventually the hope is to become immortal. Wu-weiWu-weinWu-weiWu-wei literally means “ literally means “non-actionnon-action,” but ,” but it doesnt mean dont ever move. it doesnt mean dont ever move. nIt means to always act in accordance It means to always act in accordance with the with the Da
5、oDao, and not to do things that , and not to do things that dont “go with the flow.” Water does not dont “go with the flow.” Water does not flow uphilldoes it? No, it always flows flow uphilldoes it? No, it always flows downhillit always finds the path of least downhillit always finds the path of le
6、ast resistance, as does a good Daoistresistance, as does a good Daoistn 上善若水。水善利万物而不争The softest substance of the worldGoes through the hardest.n天下莫柔弱于水，而攻坚强者莫之能胜，天下莫柔弱于水，而攻坚强者莫之能胜，以其无以易之。弱之胜强，柔之胜刚，天以其无以易之。弱之胜强，柔之胜刚，天下莫不知，莫能行。下莫不知，莫能行。 There is nothing weaker than waterThere is nothing weaker than w
7、aterBut none is superior to it in overcoming But none is superior to it in overcoming the hard,the hard,For which there is no substitute.For which there is no substitute.That weakness overcomes strengthAnd gentleness overcomes rigidity,No one does not know;No one can put into practice.n大成若缺，其用不弊。大盈若
8、冲，其用不穷。大成若缺，其用不弊。大盈若冲，其用不穷。 大直若屈，大巧若拙，大辩若讷。躁胜寒，静胜热，大直若屈，大巧若拙，大辩若讷。躁胜寒，静胜热，清静为天下正。清静为天下正。n祸兮，福之所倚，福兮，祸之所伏祸兮，福之所倚，福兮，祸之所伏。 孰知其极？其无正。正复为奇，善复为妖。孰知其极？其无正。正复为奇，善复为妖。 n将欲歙之，必故张之；将欲弱之，必故强之；将欲废将欲歙之，必故张之；将欲弱之，必故强之；将欲废之，必故兴之；将欲取之，必故与之。是谓微明。之，必故兴之；将欲取之，必故与之。是谓微明。He who is to be weakened Must first be made strong- This is the Subtle Light.- This is the Subtle Light.道，可道，非恒道。名，可名，非恒名。道，可道，非恒道。名，可名，非恒名。无名，天地之始；有名，万物之母。无名，天地之始；有名，万物之母。
