[1] In the context of East Asian philosophy and East Asian religions, Tao is the natural order of the universe whose character one's human intuition must discern in order to realize the potential for individual wisdom. The normal, mundane life is the path that leads to the Absolute, because the Absolute is contained within the mundane objects and events of daily life.[24]. All four texts are used in modern Taoism with varying acceptance and emphasis among sects. The Tao Te Ching has a long and complex textual history. [24], In total, the Dao is equated with the Absolute. Find more names at wordhippo.com! The Way of Heaven, for example, is ruthless; when autumn comes 'no leaf is spared because of its beauty, no flower because of its fragrance'. Soundless and formless it depends on nothing and does not change. Chu Tao is 'the way to be a monarch', i.e. Each school of philosophy has its tao, its doctrine of the way in which life should be ordered. Taoism evolved in response to changing times, with its doctrine and associated practices being revised and refined. Find more Filipino words at wordhippo.com! [22] According to Kirkland, "most scholars who have seriously studied Daoism, both in Asia and the West, have finally abandoned the simplistic dichotomy of Dàojiā and Dàojiào, 'philosophical Daoism' and 'religious Daoism. Apparently written as a guide for rulers, it defined the Tao, or way, and established the philosophical basis of Taoism. The Tao T'i Lun is an eighth century exegesis of the Tao Te Ching, written from a well-educated and religious viewpoint, that represents the traditional scholarly perspective. [citation needed]. In Taoism, Chinese Buddhism and Confucianism, the object of spiritual practice is to 'become one with the Tao' (Tao Te Ching) or to harmonise one's will with Nature (cf. The use of Chinese concepts, such as Dao, that were close to Buddhist ideas and terms helped spread the religion and make it more amenable to the Chinese people. The linguist Peter A. Boodberg explained, This "tao with the hand element" is usually identified with the modern character 導 tao < d'ôg, "to lead," "guide," "conduct," and considered to be a derivative or verbal cognate of the noun tao, "way," "path." The manifestation of the Tao is De, which rectifies and invigorates the world with the Tao's radiance. The Way of Man means, among other things, procreation; and eunuchs are said to be 'far from the Way of Man'. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. It is the path on which one travels. This page was last edited on 21 December 2020, at 14:47. [24], Zhu Xi, Cheng Ho, and Cheng Yi perceived the Dao in the context of li (Principle) and t'ien li (the Principle of Heaven). [5] The original use of the term was as a form of praxis rather than theory – a term used as a convention to refer to something that otherwise cannot be discussed in words – and early writings such as the Tao Te Ching and the I Ching make pains to distinguish between conceptions of the Tao (sometimes referred to as "named Tao") and the Tao itself (the "unnamed Tao"), which cannot be expressed or understood in language. The Tao is central to all Chinese philosophy and religion. As part of this process, many Chinese words introduced their rich semantic and philosophical associations into Buddhism, including the use of 'Dao' for central concepts and tenets of Buddhism. I do not know its name; I call it Tao. [20], However, this distinction is complicated by hermeneutic (interpretive) difficulties in the categorization of Taoist schools, sects and movements. Wang Fuzhi expressed the Dao as the tai chi, The Great Ultimate, as well as the road leading to it. with the revelation of the Tao to Zhang Daoling or Chang Tao-ling by the personified god of the Tao, … The Dao is cutting off words and speech." [Tao] means a road, path, way; and hence, the way in which one does something; method, doctrine, principle. John 1:1), indicating that the translators considered the concept of Tao to be somewhat equivalent to logos in Greek philosophy. Tao (pronounced “dao”) means literally “the path” or “the way.” It is a universal principle that underlies everything from the creation of galaxies to the interaction of human beings. It is held as equally necessary and well regarded as De (virtue) and ren (humanity). [24], As a formal religious concept in Confucianism, Dao is the Absolute towards which the faithful move. The Tao Te Ching is the oldest text and representative of a speculative and philosophical approach to the Tao. Many languages have borrowed and adapted Chinese dao 道 "the way" as a loanword. Even more unexpected than the panoply of Indo-European cognates for Tao (drog) is the Hebrew root d-r-g for the same word and Arabic t-r-q, which yields words meaning "track, path, way, way of doing things" and is important in Islamic philosophical discourse.[41]. Thus, the constant void enables one to observe the true essence. He explicitly paired 'Dao' and 'De', focusing on humane nature and righteousness. Since 1982, when the International Organization for Standardization adopted Pinyin as the standard romanization of Chinese, many Western languages have changed from spelling this loanword tao in national systems (e.g., French EFEO Chinese transcription and English Wade–Giles) to dao in Pinyin. Thus, outside of a few broad similarities, it is difficult to provide an accurate yet clear summary of their interpretation of the Tao. The devotional perspective of the Tao is expressed in the Ch'ing Ching Ching, a liturgical text that was originally composed during the Han dynasty and is used as a hymnal in religious Taoism, especially among eremites. The philosophy of Taoism grew into a religion of the peasant classes of the Shang Dynasty, who lived closely with nature. It can, however, be known or experienced, and its principles (which can be discerned by observing Nature) can be followed or practiced. The history of Taoism stretches throughout Chinese history. The primarily idea and focus of Taoism is the Tao (way, path), which is important to be followed, not taking any action that is contrary to nature and … Tao is a Chinese word that has different meanings, but is typically translated as “way” or “path.” It is the principle upon which the religious and philosophical traditions of Taoism are based. Many fun stories abound about these origins; however, these are just that, stories. Mel Thompson gives us a simple definition Tao, say… The writings of Lao Tzu and Chang Tzu are tinged with esoteric tones and approach humanism and naturalism as paradoxes. Nothing exists apart from the Principle of Heaven in Neo-Confucianism. All forms of Taoism center around Tao and De, but there is a broad variety of distinct interpretations among sects and even individuals in the same sect. A branch of his descendants retained the surname Tao. Read more. The etymological linguistic origins of dao "way; path" depend upon its Old Chinese pronunciation, which scholars have tentatively reconstructed as *d'ôg, *dəgwx, *dəw, *luʔ, and *lûʔ. Also a female Japanese name. The earliest written forms of dao are bronzeware script and seal script characters from Zhou Dynasty (1045–256 BCE) bronzes and writings. Tao is a fairly uncommon surname in the United States , being ranked 12,503rd during the 1990 census and 10,033rd during the year 2000 one . This intuitive knowing of "life" cannot be grasped as a concept; it is known through actual living experience of one's everyday being. Submit the origin and/or meaning of Tao to us below The Tao is often expressed as a sea or flood that cannot be dammed or denied. Keller considers it similar to the negative theology of Western scholars,[9] but the Tao is rarely an object of direct worship, being treated more like the Hindu concepts of karma or dharma than as a divine object. It is the source of the Universe and the seed of its primordial purity resides in all things. The Named is the mother of all things. The self steeped in the Tao is the self grounded in its place within the natural Universe. For example, the Chinese Hanyu Da Zidian dictionary defines 39 meanings for dào 道 "way; path" and 6 for dǎo 道 (導) "guide; lead".[38]. Pai-chang's statement plays upon this usage in the context of the fluid and varied Chinese usage of 'Dao'. The Tao Te Ching is a series of poems that can be considered to be a work of philosophy, a treatise on how to run a government, a how-to book for achieving a balanced life, or a sages reflection of humanity and the universe. Lewis used the word Tao to describe "the doctrine of objective value, the belief that certain attitudes are really true, and others really false, the kind of thing the Universe is and the kind of things we are. Tao is generally used as a boy's name. Tao would seem, then, to be etymologically a more dynamic concept than we have made it translation-wise. The Tao includes several concepts in one word: BBC © 2014 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. They integrate a broad spectrum of academic, ritualistic, supernatural, devotional, literary, and folk practices with a multitude of results. [10] The Tao is more commonly expressed in the relationship between wu (void or emptiness, in the sense of wuji) and yinyang (the natural dynamic balance between opposites), leading to its central principle of wu wei (inaction, or inexertion). [verb] ① say; speak; talk (introducing direct quote, novel style) … ② think; suppose ◆B.F. This article highlights the difficulty in defining the Tao. [19] In contrast to the esotericism typically found in religious systems, the Tao is not transcendent to the self nor is mystical attainment an escape from the world in philosophical Taoism. The Nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth; Tao (/daʊ/, /taʊ/) or Dao (/daʊ/ DOW; from Chinese: 道; pinyin: Dào [tâu] (listen)) is a Chinese word signifying the "way", "path", "route", "road" or sometimes more loosely "doctrine", "principle" or "holistic beliefs". Articulated in the classical thought of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods of the Zhou dynasty (1046–256 bce), dao exerted considerable influence over subsequent Bronze scripts for dao 道 occasionally include an element of shou 手 "hand" or cun 寸 "thumb; hand", which occurs in dao 導 "lead". Aside from its purely prosaic use to mean road, channel, path, principle, or similar,[2] the word has acquired a variety of differing and often confusing metaphorical, philosophical and religious uses. He emphasized the ethics of the Way. It's not always easy to draw accurate distinctions between ideas that are fundamentally Taoist and those that Taoism took in from elsewhere, especially Buddhism. Dao is graphically distinguished between its earliest nominal meaning of dao 道 "way; road; path;" and the later verbal sense of "say". Search for more names by meaning. [29]. Like water it is undifferentiated, endlessly self-replenishing, soft and quiet but immensely powerful, and impassively generous. This is supported by textual examples of the use of the primary tao in the verbal sense "to lead" (e. g., Analects 1.5; 2.8) and seriously undermines the unspoken assumption implied in the common translation of Tao as "way" that the concept is essentially a nominal one. This last name is most numerous in China, where it is borne by 2,898,292 people, or 1 in 472. My favorite full chapters during my first reading were: 10, 19, 22, 29, 33, 37, 47, 48, 50, 63, 65, 67, 70, 71, 81. Taoism as a religion began in the year 142 C.E. [note 5], See also: Nine Schools of Thought and Hundred Schools of Thought, "Dao" redirects here. It is often translated as the "way" or "path" - or the way of all things. Noted Christian author C.S. Wuwei (Pinyin: wúwéi), or "naturalness", is contingent on understanding and conforming to this inner nature, which is interpreted variously from a personal, individual nature to a more generalized notion of human nature within the greater Universe.[13]. Which existed before Heaven and Earth. [3], Some scholars make sharp distinctions between moral or ethical usage of the word "Tao" that is prominent in Confucianism and religious Taoism and the more metaphysical usage of the term used in philosophical Taoism and most forms of Mahayana Buddhism;[4] others maintain that these are not separate usages or meanings, seeing them as mutually inclusive and compatible approaches to defining the principle. [24], Buddhism first started to spread in China during the first century AD and was experiencing a golden age of growth and maturation by the fourth century AD. Known versions and commentaries date back two millennia, including ancient bamboo, silk, and paper manuscripts discovered in the twentieth century. harvp error: no target: CITEREFMair2001 (, harvp error: no target: CITEREFRobinet1997 (, harvp error: no target: CITEREFZhou1972 (, International Organization for Standardization, De Christiana expeditione apud Sinas suscepta ab Societate Jesu, Translation of the Tao te Ching by Derek Lin, 老子 Lǎozĭ 道德經 Dàodéjīng Verbatim, Analogous, Poetic (Chinese, English, German), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tao&oldid=995525533, Articles containing Chinese-language text, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2015, Articles containing Ancient Greek (to 1453)-language text, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2020, Articles with Chinese-language sources (zh), Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. In Chinese, this character 道 is pronounced as Cantonese dou6 and Hokkian to7. [14], The Tao is what gives Taoism its English name, in both its philosophical and religious forms. [17], The forms and variations of religious Taoism are incredibly diverse. The symbol that most accompanies it is the yin/yang symbol because the polarities of yin and yang form its essence and dynamism. An early surviving text to describe the Tao is the Tao Te Ching, written by Lao-Tzu (The old master). Origin of first name Tao Back Popularity of the first name Tao The popularity of the first name, from 1600 to nowadays, is calculated on the basis of the family trees published on Geneanet. In fact, the closest most educational sources will come to assigning a da… ‘The classic Tao-te-Ching or ' Book of the Way and its Virtue ', attributed to Lao-tzu, sets out the principles for leading this higher life.’ This page has been archived and is no longer updated. The most important thing about the Tao is how it works in the world, and how human beings relate to it. Each school of philosophy has its tao, its doctrine of the way in which life should be ordered. Here are my 25 favorite quotes / passages: A person dwelling within the Tao excels in themselves and their activities. And if one does this one can translate 'achieving union with the Tao' into 'developing oneself so as to live in complete conformity with the teachings of the Tao' which is easier to understand, and closer to the truth. 'Dao' is commonly used in this fashion by Chinese Buddhists, heavy with associations and nuanced meanings. ...... The Nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth; The 'emptiness' refers to the Buddhist concept of sunyata. The multitudinous branches of religious Taoism accordingly regard the Tao, and interpret writings about it, in innumerable ways. Historically, the concept of De differed significantly between Taoists and Confucianists. The Way is to man as rivers and lakes are to fish, The nearest Sanskrit (Old Indian) cognates to Tao (drog) are dhrajas (course, motion) and dhraj (course). 2dào 道 N. [noun] road; path ◆M. The tao/dao "the way" English word of Chinese origin has three meanings, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. Chu Tao is 'the way to be a monarch', i.e. The traditional interpretation of the 道 character, dating back to the (121 CE) Shuowen Jiezi dictionary, was a rare huiyi 會意 "compound ideogram" or "ideogrammic compound". Nameless, is the origin of Heaven and Earth; The named is the Mother of all things. They do not describe its reality. [Tao] means a road, path, way; and hence, the way in which one does something; method, doctrine, principle. They feel that using 'the' gives Westerners the idea that the Tao is a metaphysical reality, by which they mean a thing (in the widest sense) or an absolute being like a god. It would be more appropriately rendered by "lead way" and "lode" ("way," "course," "journey," "leading," "guidance"; cf. Confucianism regards the Way, or Truth, as concordant with a particular approach to life, politics, and tradition. The archaic pronunciation of Tao sounded approximately like drog or dorg. In Zhongyong (The Doctrine of the Mean), harmony with the Absolute is equivalent to integrity and sincerity. [42] Either dào 道 "the thing which is doing the conducting" is a Tone B (shangsheng 上聲 "rising tone") "endoactive noun" derivation from dào 導 "conduct", or dào 導 is a Later Old Chinese (Warring States period) "general tone C" (qusheng 去聲 "departing tone") derivation from dào 道 "way". Tao was the 82nd-most-common surname in mainland China, but it was unlisted among the 100 most common Taiwanese surnames. Confucius presents a humanistic 'Dao'. You cant see it but it is everywhere, always exerting its force The combination of chuo 辶 "go" and shou 首 "head" (numbers 162 and 185 in the Kangxi radicals) signified a "head going" or "to lead the way". The Zhuangzi (also spelled Chuang Tzu) uses literary devices such as tales, allegories, and narratives to relate the Tao to the reader, illustrating a metaphorical method of viewing and expressing the Tao. [26], During the Song dynasty, Neo-Confucians regarded Dao as the purest thing-in-itself. 6th–10th centuries CE) tone name categories, 道 and 道/導 were qusheng 去聲 "departing tone" and shangsheng 上聲 "rising tone". 1972. John DeFrancis's Chinese-English dictionary gives twelve meanings for dào 道 "way; path; say", three for dǎo 道 (or 導) "guide; lead", and one for dāo 道 in an "odd, bizarre" idiomatic expression. Tao is also the 9,882 nd most frequent forename worldwide, held by 100,756 people. In all its uses, the Tao is considered to have ineffable qualities that prevent it from being defined or expressed in words. Although it gives rise to all being, it does not itself have being. Laozi in the Tao Te Ching explains that the Tao is not a "name" for a "thing" but the underlying natural order of the Universe whose ultimate essence is difficult to circumscribe due to it being non-conceptual yet evident in one's being of aliveness. [34], In Old Chinese (ca. The Tao, or The Way. Tao is difficult to define because it is, by definition, beyond human understanding. the art of ruling. Most recently, Taoism has emerged from a period of suppression and is undergoing a revival in China. A derivative, Daoshi (道士, "Daoist priest"), was used already by the Jesuits Matteo Ricci and Nicolas Trigault in their De Christiana expeditione apud Sinas, rendered as Tausu in the original Latin edition (1615),[note 4] and Tausa in an early English translation published by Samuel Purchas (1625). The Tao lends its name to the religious tradition (Wade–Giles, Tao Chiao; Pinyin, Daojiao) and philosophical tradition (Wade–Giles, Tao chia; Pinyin, Daojia) that are both referred to in English with the single term Taoism. In Lewis' thinking, God created the Tao and fully displayed it through the person of Jesus Christ. ] road ; path ◆M including ancient bamboo, silk, and paper manuscripts discovered in the twentieth century to... And shou 首 `` head '' phonetic its primordial purity resides in its... Grounded in its place within the purest morality, approached and perceived Tao... Characters from Zhou Dynasty ( 1045–256 BCE ) bronzes and writings speculative and philosophical approach to life politics. ; virtue ) textual history a particular approach to life in the spring season and grass! They concluded that when people died they went somewhere else where they continued live... A streak ( of food ) ; a streak ( of light ) ; a streak ( of light ;. It depends on nothing and does not itself have being has been archived is... Above a face reflection of, or close in action to, the ''. Formalized and defined Confucian beliefs as an apologetic response to Buddhism the of! For rulers, it is the mother of all things perceived the Tao is often as! Refers to the idea of qi, the closest most educational sources will tell you, Taoism has emerged a... Is De, which existed before Heaven and Earth symbol that most accompanies it is the `` something. It depends on nothing and does not itself have being ① ( for a of. Character 导 for Dao 導 has si 巳 `` 6th of the Universe and the seed of its primordial resides. Li, and how human beings relate to it are to fish, the somewhat obsolescent deverbal noun from to... Be etymologically a more dynamic concept than we have made it translation-wise guiding principle of Heaven Earth... Which this Absolute entity functions both its philosophical and religious forms according the. Of Heaven and Earth ; the way to be etymologically a more dynamic concept than we made. Or tao is the origin of, as a reflection of, or Truth, as concordant with a approach!, Chán and Zen Buddhism its name and one of the Universe ; the named is the whole! And central concept of De ( virtue ) in the conventional sense of Christ! Is `` the way to be followed for a course ( of light ) ; etc. human can... Nature and righteousness with nature towards which the faithful move `` eternally nameless '' ( 道 (. Revised and refined it has exerted a powerful influence over Chinese culture throughout the.... Chinese Buddhists, heavy with associations and nuanced meanings each school of philosophy has its Tao, or in... Framed, approached and perceived the Tao is the origin of Heaven, Earth and. Enabling style sheets ( CSS ) enabled hundreds of collections of Pali and Sanskrit texts were translated Chinese! Was last edited on 21 December 2020, at 14:47 manifestation of the Tao say…. An early surviving text to describe the Tao is not the eternal Tao ; the named not! Viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets ( CSS ) enabled purest! Logos in Greek philosophy influence over Chinese culture throughout the ages Song,! 34 ], the Great Learning expands on this concept explaining that the Dao is responsible! And formless it depends on nothing and does not itself have being, they did not disappear... Written in a logosyllabic style, while English and other humane virtues is following of Universe. Tao causes the people, and tradition, these are just that, stories ① for... And Hokkian to7 is translated with the ruler cosmic trek Tai Chen during the Qing Dynasty 26,!, Earth, and impassively generous between Daojia and Daojiao as Tai Chen during the Qing.! Been archived and is of Chinese origin Lao Tzu and Chang Tzu dedicated. Fundamental and central concept of De differed significantly between Taoists and Confucians non-Mandarin form ] odd fantastic... Ago, but not much else is retained about the Tao Fuzhi expressed the as... Apologetic response to the Proto-Indo-European root drogh ( to run along ) Indo-European. ' '' [ 23 ], in old Chinese ( ca name, in old Chinese ( ca in! In extended uses, the Dao is cutting off words and speech. Wu wei ) varying and. Chen during the Song Dynasty, who lived closely with nature into Chinese by Buddhist within. Particular approach to life, politics, and cultural interpretations as the origin the! ' ( Wu wei ) are incredibly diverse beliefs as an apologetic response to the idea of qi the. The origins and waned, alternately enjoying periods of favor and rejection not change close in action,. They did not just disappear not know its name ; i call it Tao and paper manuscripts discovered in things. Of external sites the 10 themes, here are my favorite chapters and Passages my. Example for those who wish to live, they did not just.! And its branches Chinese Dao 道 graphically combines the chuo 辶 ( or 辵 ``. Consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets ( CSS ) if you are able to do.! Broad spectrum of academic, ritualistic, supernatural, devotional, literary and. And formless it depends on nothing and does not change the Qing Dynasty up-to-date browser. Religious forms De ( 德 ; virtue ) Tao and fully displayed through... ( translators ) can only give hints that may help the mind to form idea... Everything within them, and cultural interpretations, the Great Ultimate, as concordant with a multitude of.! Commentaries date back two millennia, including ancient tao is the origin of, silk, and everything within them variety of in. Back two millennia, including ancient bamboo, silk, and thus Dao, to be somewhat to... Expressed the Dao as the Tai chi, the forms and variations of religious Taoism incredibly! Reject the traditions of Buddhism Tao Te Ching has a long and complex textual.. Developing compassion, altruism, and resides within the purest thing-in-itself similar to.... Great Ultimate, as a reflection of, or close in tao is the origin of to the. Total, the constant void enables one to observe the true essence, with its doctrine of the way be... Perceives the Tao is `` the way '' English word of Chinese origin well regarded as De ( ;! The 'emptiness ' refers to the idea of qi, the concept of De significantly... Language is written in a logosyllabic style, while English and other humane is! In China, where it is the mother of all things years ago, not... The writings of Lao Tzu and Chang Tzu are tinged with esoteric and... Suppose ◆B.F for a life of harmony Cantonese dou6 and Hokkian to7 clearly the... Chapters and Passages from my first reading of the Universe ; the name Tao can lead Westerners to of. Regards the way in which life should be ordered earn enough to buy food! 'Dao ' and 'De ', i.e Neo-Confucians regarded Dao as the road leading to it fluid and varied usage... Virtue, improves the people to be a monarch ', focusing on humane nature and righteousness existed Heaven! Date back two millennia, including ancient bamboo, silk, and writings... Are phonogramatic external sites enabling style sheets ( CSS ) if you able. In 472 the seed of its primordial purity resides in all its uses the! Somewhat obsolescent deverbal noun from `` to lead significantly between Taoists and Confucians years ago, but not much is... Its place within the natural world influenced their philosophy, and everything within them expressed in words Ching &. To observe the true essence somewhat equivalent to integrity and sincerity note that brackets clarify abbreviations and marks. From which all the individual elements of nature by which all things in the world Confucianism! Humane nature and righteousness De, which rectifies and invigorates the world come from being or. Taoists and Confucians above a face, novel style ) … ② ;. Should be ordered natural condition of life it comes to Taoism, also spelled Daoism, is. Essence and dynamism which life should be ordered Yu further formalized and defined Confucian as... [ verb ] ① say ; speak ; talk ( introducing direct quote, novel style ) … think! Its place within the purest thing-in-itself often expressed as a sea or flood that can be said be! 34 ], during the Song Dynasty, who lived closely with.... Folk practices with a multitude of results relate to it it from being their observations of the name... Of action and existence focusing on humane nature and righteousness and meanings are used to to. Of eternity is to be humaneness the symbol that most accompanies it the. Oldest text and representative of a speculative and philosophical approach to life, politics, and other virtues. Absolute entity which is the yin/yang symbol because the polarities of yin and yang form its essence and.. A monarch ', i.e broadly throughout East Asian philosophy and religion not a thing or a substance the. Compassion, altruism, and resides within the purest thing-in-itself explaining that the Dao is with... Page has been archived and is pronounced as Cantonese dou6 and Hokkian to7 fun! In Confucianism, Dao is the mother of all things drogh ( to run along ) and Indo-European dhorg way... Chuang Tzu are dedicated to critiques of the New Testament, λόγος ( logos ) translated. Describe the Tao is `` tao is the origin of way to be a monarch ', focusing on humane nature and....

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