Taoism
Taoism is one of the two greatest religions that originated in China. This religion started as a way of thinking between 500 and 400 B.C. About thirty million people around the world follow this religion that was created by the Chinese sage, Lao Tzu. The central core of Taoism is found in the book he wrote, the "Lao Tzu". Taoism has had a strong influence on Chinese literature and art. On the island of Taiwan live about three million Taoists. Taoism is understood to mean the way of nature. Taoists believe that universal force causes the constant change of nature. "For some, Tao is the Ultimate Reality, a presence that existed before the universe was formed and continues to guide the Mother, or the source of all things"(Hartz 8). The Taoists have more than one master, their masters are men who have taught or wrote about Tao. Laozi and Zhuangzi were two great Taoists leaders and "Huang Di was a great and wise ruler, also known as the Yellow Emperor"(Hartz 16). "Taoism provides guidance for living a moral life and attemp
s to explain the place of human beings in the natural universe"(Hartz 15). The Shang Dynasty was the first ruling dynasty, or family, which began around 1700. After Shang rule, came the Zhou dynasty. This dynasty remained for about eight hundred years. One of the practices that the Taoists are expected to follow is meditation. They think that it is the center of all their practices and life. Meditation is used as a way to cleanse their minds. They think that meditation prolongs life. Believers sit down in complete silence, concentrate and repeat a breathing pattern. This calms them and hopefully helps them forget whatever was on their minds. In 471 C.E., the first Tao Ts'ang (Daocang), or Taoist canon was put together by the Taoist monks. It includes all of the main beliefs and traditions of the Taoist religion. It contained twelve hundred scrolls, and had writings on alchemy and immortality, the lives of immortals and heroes, and good works and longevity. It also had essays, folktales, magic words, meditation, rit
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 698
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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