Taoism, which takes the Tao of Laozi as its highest principle,
is an indigenous traditional Chinese religion whose fundamental
purpose is to help seekers attain transcendence. Taoism originates
from ancestor worship, belief in ghosts and gods, Taoist
philosophy, as well as mystical practices.
It is generally believed that Taoist organizations were formally
established 1,900 years ago by Celestial Master Zhang Daoling
during the reign (AD 126-144) of Emperor Shundi of the Eastern Han
Dynasty. However, the original sources of Taoist doctrines can be
traced back to the Pre-Qin period (4000-221BC). Thus there is the
common reference to the "Three Ancestors" that alludes to the
Yellow Emperor, Laozi, and Celestial Master Zhang.
The ideological system of Taoism covers a wide range of content.
Generally speaking, it evolved into a religious culture by basing
itself on ancient religious beliefs in China around the worship of
heaven and ancestors, as well as Taoist theories and beliefs
regarding immortality arising during the Spring and Autumn Period
and the Warring States Period. It has also absorbed ethical ideas
from Confucianism and folk religious customs.
Taoism takes the Daodejing by Laozi as its primary
scripture, respects the Tao, cherishes virtues, attaches great
importance to life and harmony, embraces simplicity and truth,
discards all worries and desires, values frugality and devalues
extravagance, cultivates moral character, believes that good and
evil must have their reward, that cultivation can lead to
transcendence, and that good deeds lead to divinity. According to
Taoism, the invisible Tao gives rise to the Universe and all things
in it. Immortals and deities are both incarnations of the Tao and
exemplars of the Tao. So Taoists believe both in the Tao and in
worshipping deities.
During its long history, Taoism was studied and taught in many
schools. Later, there emerged two main schools of Taoism. One is
Zhengyi (Orthodox oneness) Taoism, founded by Zhang Daoling, and
the other is Quanzhen (Complete Perfection) Taoism founded by Wang
Chongyang. All Taoists today belong to either of these schools.
At present, there are more than 50,000 Zhengyi priests and
Quanzhen cenobites on the Chinese mainland, and more than 5,000
Taoist temples and monasteries have been officially opened to the
public, among which 21 are designated as "Protected Key Taoist
monasteries."
Impact of the Daodejing on Chinese
Culture
As the founding text of Taoism, the Daodejing is a
monument in the history of Chinese culture. The Tao expounded in
the Daodejing has become the most sublime idea in the minds
of the Chinese people. Over the past millennia, this text has been
commented upon by countless people, including emperors, well-known
writers, and Buddhists as well as Taoists. People ranging from
pre-Qin philosophers to the great Neo-Confucians of the Song and
Ming dynasties were all inspired by the philosophical thoughts of
the Daodejing. This same text was also important for
generations of military thinkers, strategists and commanders. In
addition, it was by following the call for calmness and non-action,
as expounded in the Daodejing, that the Han Dynasty had its
Golden Age during the reign of Emperor Wen and Jing(179BC-141BC)
and the Tang Dynasty had its Golden Age of Zhenguan (627-649), both
highly praised by historians. The Daodejing greatly
influenced the politics, philosophy, military affairs, literature,
and art of ancient China, and even deeply affected the national
character and spirit of the Chinese people.
Impact of the Daodejing on World
Civilization
Since modern times, with increased international exchanges, the
Daodejing has spread widely in the world and has become part
of the shared spiritual wealth of all mankind. It has stimulated
the interest of and inspired many foreign philosophers, scientists,
statesmen, and entrepreneurs. Renowned thinkers, including Bertrand
Russell, Martin Heidegger, Leo Tolstoy, Albert Einstein, and Joseph
Needham, praised the Daodejing. Former US President Ronald
Reagan quoted from the Daodejing in his State of the Union
Address: "To govern a great nation requires the same care as to fry
a small fish." Because of its abundant ideas for nourishing life,
the Daodejing has drawn increasing global attention, and
under its guidance, many countries have established organizations
to promote these universal values that are so vital in contemporary
times.
Editions and Versions of the
Daodejing
The earliest edition of the Daodejing that is held today
is the Warring States bamboo text, which was unearthed from a tomb
of the State of Chu in Guodian, Jingmen, Hubei Province. The next
earliest is the silk text of the Western Han Dynasty, which was
excavated from a tomb at Mawangdui, Changsha, Hunan Province. The
most popular editions are those with comments by Heshanggong of the
Han Dynasty and by Wang Bi of the Wei Kingdom during the Three
Kingdoms period. Other significant editions include one with
comments by Yan Zun of the Western Han Dynasty, an ancient copy
proofread by Fu Yi of the Tang Dynasty, and a stone inscription of
the Tang Dynasty.
As early as the Tang Dynasty, the Daodejing was
translated into Sanskrit, and in modern times it was introduced to
the West. The earliest version known in the West is a Latin one
translated by a Jesuit at the end of the 18th century. In the 19th
century, various French, German and English versions were produced.
There have been nearly 300 versions of the Daodejing,
including dozens of foreign ones.
(China.org.cn April 19, 2007)