What kind of religion is Taoism?

In the eyes of Taoist believers, Taoism is Taoism, which seems self-evident. However, it is not a simple matter to truly understand "what is Taoism". Scholars studying Taoism at home and abroad have different opinions on "what is Taoism". Indeed, it is undoubtedly difficult to give a precise and convincing definition of Taoism. In the Song Dynasty, Ma Duanlin thought Taoism was "miscellaneous and multifaceted" in the general examination of literature. Taoism is actually illusory and has the comprehensiveness of various schools. Its huge and profound belief and cultural system, as well as its inseparable connection with thousands of years of social life in China, make it difficult to accurately and comprehensively grasp its connotation. Believers in Taoism have their own advantages in understanding Taoism, so they should have a deep understanding of the Taoism they believe in.

Taoism is a religion. In the development of history, the word "religion" has been given many meanings. Indian Buddhism regards what the Buddha said as a doctrine, what the disciples of the Buddha said as a sect, and sects as the distribution of doctrines, collectively referred to as religion, which means the teachings of Buddhism. In the west, the word "religion" is religare in Latin, which means contact or reunion, that is, "the reunion of man and god"; One is a Latin religion, which means to worship God. In the etymology of Chinese characters, "zong" is from "e" to "reality", which means that "the gods of the universe (ancient gods) live in" reality ". Zong also means "offering sacrifices to ancestors" or "offering sacrifices to the sun, moon, stars, rivers and seas". "Teach" and "Seven Signs of Yun Qi" say "teach, tell", which means "teach" and "educate". In ancient China, belief in ghosts and gods was regarded as the ultimate principle of educating people. The Book of Changes says that "saints are taught by Shinto, but the world is obedient. "In ancient China, religion was a religion that worshipped gods and ancestors, and the teaching of Shinto became the highest meaning of religion. What we call "religion" here inherits the meaning of ancient religions in China and takes the meaning of "teaching for teaching".

Taoism is called "Tao" because it believes in the "Tao" of Huang Lao. "Tao" is the most fundamental, highest and core belief of Taoism. Laozi's Tao Te Ching preaches that the way of nature, the way of governing the country, and the way of self-cultivation are summarized into a natural law that is the same as * * *. In addition to Taoism, Tao Te Ching also talks about "morality", and both are equally important. "Virtue is the nature of all kinds", "Virtue in me", and "Virtue" means "Tao" is the virtue embodied in life, society and nature. The moral connotation of Taoism is different from that of Confucianism, and it pays more attention to nature, which should be distinguished.

Belief in immortals is a distinctive feature that distinguishes Taoism from other religions, and the pursuit of immortals can be said to be one of the core teachings of the whole Taoism. Taoism's huge immortal system can be roughly divided into "immortals" and "immortals". "God" has the difference between the beginning god and the end god; Pre-gods are called "gods in the events of Yin and Yang", which are the personification of natural objects and phenomena such as the sun, the moon, mountains and rivers, flying plants, and so on, such as the gods and the five sacred mountains and four blasphemies. Post-gods are called "gods with wisdom and virtue", and Taoism has a sacrificial principle: "Those who have contributed to the people are worshipped", and those who have contributed to the people are regarded as "gods", such as the ancestors of China, sages and sages, the ancestors of all walks of life, the land of the city god and so on. Immortals can also be divided into "immortals" and "real people", both of which are the ways of human cultivation. The difference is that the immortal's body is immortal, but the real spirit is immortal. Taoism believes that immortals are real and can be learned, forming a complete set of cultivation theories and methods.

The aim of Taoism, in a word, can be said to be "moral immortality". Taoism's "superscript Lao Zi, the following immortal, attacking Zhang Ling" mainly includes three parts: Taoist philosophy, immortal theory and health preservation, and Zuo Fuyi.

Taoism regards "Tao" as "teaching", and its political education is reflected in its goal of saving the world and educating people. For thousands of years, Taoism has developed along a main line of pursuing "peace" and "immortality". Although due to historical social and climate differences, different stages of development have their own emphasis, but they have not deviated from this main vein. The pursuit of national peace and security, people living and working in peace and contentment, and world peace complement each other with the pursuit of self-cultivation and immortality. Taoism's political thought of governing by doing nothing and its lifelong fidelity are the most prominent among Taoist Quanzhen School. Quanzhen Daoism requires true work, that is, the physical and mental cultivation of double cultivation in life and the social practice of benefiting the world and the people.

Taoism is a traditional religion born and raised in China. The tradition of Taoism is reflected in its long history and far-reaching influence on China society. There are five major religions in China: Taoism, Buddhism, Islam, Catholicism and Christianity, among which only Taoism is an inherent religion in China. According to the Seven Signs of Yun Qi, "there was no religion in ancient times, but there has been religion since the Three Emperors and Five Emperors." Taoism originated from the Yellow Emperor and has a history of nearly 4700 years. From the Yellow Emperor to Kongtong, he asked Guang to open the road to rule the world forever. Since then, the Yellow Emperor successfully became a monk and ascended to heaven in Lapras, Dinghu, and was honored as the ancestor of Taoism. Later, the sacrificial ceremonies and political ceremonies in Tang Yu, Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties all originated from Taoism. In the Spring and Autumn Period, Lao Zi expounded the essence of Tao in Tao Te Ching. During the Warring States Period, Liezi, Zhuangzi, Wen Zi, Sun Tzu, Guan Yin-zi and Guan Zi all lived in the way of Huang Lao and preached his theory, which became Taoism. As a result, the Yin and Yang schools, military strategists, Mohist schools and sage schools, as well as the schools of astronomy, five elements, mathematics, tortoise, Ji Fang, Zhong Fang and immortals, gradually joined the Tao. By the Eastern Han Dynasty, Taoism had been formed in Zhang Daoling, which was very popular and its followers were all over China. During the Song and Jin Dynasties, Wang Zhongyang continued Quanzhen Daoism, saved the people from fire and water in the Jin and Yuan Dynasties, and taught the people with truth, which has been spread all over the world and continues to this day.

Taoism is the root of China culture and the confluence of a hundred schools of thought. For thousands of years, it has been closely related to the social change and historical development in China, and has exerted a wide and extensive influence on politics, military affairs, philosophy, ethics, medicine, health preservation, metallurgy, astronomical calendar, skills, symbols, literature, art, architecture, ecological environment, social psychology and ethnic relations in ancient society. Compared with Christianity, Islam and Buddhism, Taoism has distinct national cultural characteristics. Taoism is different from the three major religions in the world. It was founded by a certain leader in a short time, but it has a long-term gestation process in the soil of traditional culture.

Taoism is an inseparable part of China's traditional culture, and its cultural connotation beyond the world after entering WTO has become an important spiritual pillar of China's traditional society. Different from monotheism such as Christianity and Islam, Taoism belongs to polytheism. The gods in Taoism are not exclusive, not only the gods in Taoism are complementary, but also the gods in paganism are complementary. Judging from Taoist teachings, he pursues "peace" and "seeking immortality" and attaches importance to secular interests. This is quite different from the characteristics of the three major religions in the world, which pursue soul liberation and attach importance to the interests of the afterlife. Judging from the style of Taoism, he is good at practicing techniques. Unlike other religions, it does not take a submissive, humble and praying attitude towards mysterious forces and sacred objects. Instead, I think that "my life lies in my absence", try my best to control and dominate it in some way, and use supernatural power on me. Judging from the structure of Taoist content, it has more folk beliefs and ideological materials than the three major religions in the world, and its content is eclectic, complicated and structured. Taoism is generally divided into two levels: the upper immortal Taoism and the lower folk Taoism. These characteristics of Taoism are in line with China's national conditions and people's feelings.

Taoism is not only the religious belief of the Han nationality, but also the religious belief of many ethnic minorities. Among the 55 ethnic minorities in China, there are 20 ethnic minorities who believe in Taoism, including Yao, Zhuang, Bai, Miao, Dong, Jing, Qiang, Li, Tu, Shui, Yi, Maonan, Mulao, Achang, Tujia, Buyi, Naxi, Mongolian, Korean and Daur. Among them, Yao, Zhuang, Jing, Bai, Maonan and Mulao mainly believe in Taoism and other religions; Miao, Dong, Li, Yi, Qiang, Tu, Shui, Achang, Tujia, Buyi, Naxi, Korean, Daur and other ethnic groups, some people mainly believe in Taoism, at the same time believe in other religions, or mainly believe in other religions and believe in Taoism. Of course, it should also be pointed out that in different historical periods, the teachings, rituals and organizations of Taoism have developed and changed. Even in the same period, there are regional differences in the same Sect. Moreover, Taoism was introduced to ethnic minorities in different periods, so the beliefs of ethnic minorities in Taoism vary with the introduction time. Even the same ethnic group, due to different regions, has certain differences in their belief in Taoism.

Taoism is not only a traditional national religion in China, but also has the factors to develop into a world religion. Since 1970s and 1980s, with the upsurge of research on Taoist culture in the world, not only some countries with China cultural background and overseas Chinese associations have become more and more Taoist, but also a "Taoist generation" has emerged in western society, and Taoist organizations such as the British Taoist Association and the Italian Taoist Association have been established. Judging from the profound connotation, illusory character and development status of Taoism and Taoist culture, it is entirely possible for Taoism to develop into a world religion. We are full of confidence in the bright future of Taoism and Taoist culture.