Comparison Of Taoism In The Ten Ox Herding Songs

1789 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Buddhism and Taoism comparison

While “The Ten Ox Herding Songs” is a collection of Buddhist poems it can still be analysed from the viewpoint of Taoism. The collection as the name suggests, contains ten different poems, each one continuing an overarching story that spans all ten poems. The titles of each poem addresses its main theme; the titles are: The Search for the Bull, Discovering the Footprints, Perceiving the Bull, Catching the Bull, Taming the Bull, Riding the Bull Home, The Bull Transcended, Both the Bull and Self Transcended, Reaching the Source, and lastly In the World. The first poem is titled The Search for the Bull. This poem includes five major themes; the pasture of the world, the tall grasses, the bull, the nameless rivers, and the interpenetrating paths of distant mountains. The first line of the poem The first line of the poem “The Dawn has come” is highly metaphorical and symbolic. Dawn is also known as a sign of new beginnings and the turning of a new leaf. This could represent the author’s decision in poem five to “turn over a new leaf” and stop fighting against Tao. The second line also deals with the author’s decision to follow Tao and everything it has set out for her. “Within my thatched dwelling I have abandoned the whip and ropes.” While at first this line may seem to just be a literal acceptance of their surroundings and how content they are with the ox’s pacification this can also be taken metaphorically with their willingness to as the first line represents “turn over a new leaf”. The whips and ropes represent the hardship and unhappiness that they went through while fighting against Tao, but now that they no longer wish to feel the bite of the whip and ropes so they have abandoned them in favor of the comfort and happiness that can be found in their thatched

Show More
Related

  • the Tao Of Pooh Book Review

    2327 Words  | 5 Pages

    The first main principle of Taoism that is presented in this novel is the idea that things in their original simplicity contain their own natural power, power that is easily contaminated and lost when that simplicity is altered. This principle is also known as the Uncarved Block. Winnie-the-Pooh is very significant in this principle of the Uncarved Block, because he illustrates the perfect example of an individual that follows this principle. Pooh always exists in his "natural state", he is...

    Read More

  • Egyptian And Chinese Poem Analysis

    956 Words  | 2 Pages

    Literature shows us the changes of our society from time to time. It also gives us an idea about people, culture, politics, gender traditions, as well as an overall view of previous civilizations. As a part of literature, poetry introduces us to different cultures with different perspectives. Ancient Egypt and ancient China may differ in terms of culture, politics, economic stability, tradition, or even in religious belief. However, in poetry, especially in love lyrics both Egyptian and Chinese poems portray common area of describing women, social attitudes toward love, sexuality and the existence of romance or selfishness in relationships. . If we look at the Egyptian poem “My god, my Lotus” and the Chinese poem “Fishhawk”, we will see both poems have similarities in describing relationships. Also, they have the similarity of imagining the lovers and their expression of love toward each other. However, both poems have some significant differences in terms of representing female sexuality, gender disparity and the display of love.

    Read More

  • Tales of Ise and The Tosa Diary

    1768 Words  | 4 Pages

    Looking back at the narratives and the significance of the poems in them is that many of the poems are inspired by nature around the authors. Also, the poems provide more of the voice of the authors instead of just the voice of the narrator and helps present the emotional tones of the characters in the narratives to the reader so that there can be more of a connection to it when it is being read. The poems make for a simple addition to the narrative and allows for a much more meaningful experience for a reader and makes for a much more engrossing story, thus adding to the to experience as a whole.

    Read More

  • Taoism’s Historical Origins and Leaders

    1754 Words  | 4 Pages

    “Taoism: What Is the Tao?” BBC: Religions. BBC. n. pag. 12 Nov. 2009. Web. 9 Nov. 2013.

    Read More

  • Analytic Analysis Of Buddhism And Taoism

    728 Words  | 2 Pages

    Over the course of history, individuals have questioned the universe in which we live in and searched for a purpose of our existence. The belief in a higher presence, other than our own, has existed since man can remember. From this belief, religion was established and can survive and flourish. Buddhism and Taoism are two great religious and philosophical traditions in Chinese history. For hundreds of years, these two have shaped Chinese lifestyle and thought. Readings from the Tao Te Ching, Buddhists scriptures, and Herman Hesse’s Siddharta explain the various aspects of Buddhism and Taoism, but in the end there is only one common belief, and that is the existence of a Supreme Being.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of To Be Of Use By Marge Piercy

    800 Words  | 2 Pages

    With this image, the speaker expresses that she wants the readers to experience the literary work. The narrator wants the readers to imagine a water buffalo working hard, then imagining people who work just as hard as the water buffalo. The poet uses this stanza to conveys her messages, ideas and thoughts through. Next, the speaker uses a rhetorical device, metaphor, which is found in stanza two line one: “I love people who harness themselves, an ox to a heavy cart,” (8). The speaker uses metaphor describing people who work hard, to an ox working hard. With this metaphor, it enhances images described by the speaker by making them more creative and interesting. It also makes the story sounds poetic without writing the story in verses. The last r...

    Read More

  • Taoisism And Confucianism Research Paper

    685 Words  | 2 Pages

    Taoism and Confucianism are two major Chinese philosophies. I say that they are philosophies because religions tend to worship deities and Taoism and Confucianism don’t seems to worshiping anything. To some they appear to be different, even clashing but to me, they seem very much alike but they come at it from different points of view. Both philosophies strive to reach harmony but in to very different ways. I do believe the reason they can co-exist is because they see Tao from two different ways.

    Read More

  • Nature in the Poems: The Fish by Elizabeth Bishop and The Meadow Mouse by Theodore Roethke

    518 Words  | 2 Pages

    Each poem describes a scene where a man learns from his experience and interaction with nature. In “The Meadow Mouse” the man instantly finds himself a father-figure to the mouse that he finds. When the mouse leaves, he thinks of the dangers of nature such as, “the turtle gasping in the dusty rubble of the highway.” From his instant love and pain of losing the mouse, he learns how he truly feels about nature. Set in a different scene, the fisherman in “The Fish,...

    Read More

  • Different Practices of Taoism

    925 Words  | 2 Pages

    Taoism applied to everyday life "Practice not-doing and everything will fall into place" (Chapter 3). In Taoism this is the concept known as "wu wei". Wei wu wei is the practice of doing and not-doing. This concept comes from the theory of the Yin and Yang. The Yang, along with wei, is the practice of doing. The Yin, along with wu wei, is the practice of not-doing. One compliments the other, and each cannot exist alone. The Tao tells people to practice not-doing because it will bring happiness in their life. By not-doing, the Tao means not performing actions, which are unnecessary and uncalled for. People should just take things as they come in life and they will live a life full of happiness and pleasure. If you don't interfere with the Tao and let things take their natural course, everything will work out in your life (Chapter 10). "If powerful men and women could remain centered in the Tao…all people would be at peace…" (Chapter 32). If you work against your Tao, you will never find happiness. The Sage practices wu wei. He teaches without words and performs without actions (Chapter 43). He knows and therefore does not speak (Chapter 56). Many people mistake conceptual knowledge for the map to the territory. The Sage is our map to the Tao. He points his finger to show us the way, but does not really tell us what to do and how to practice Taoism. Lao Tzu's concepts of the Tao can be a guide to rational living. If one follows these beliefs he is guaranteed happiness in his life. However, it is very difficult to follow the Tao, even though the teachings are said to be easily understood and easily put into practice (Chapter 70). The reason the Tao is so difficult to grasp is because you cannot kno...

    Read More

  • Essay On Taoism

    1613 Words  | 4 Pages

    Daoism, also known as Taoism, is one of the major religions of China. The main belief is the learning and practice of "The Way" (Dao), which is the ultimate truth of the universe.The Dao has several meanings. It is the basis of all living things, it governs nature, and is a method that people want to live by. The Dao is everlasting, without beginning or end. Since it has no beginning, it is therefore the oldest thing in the universe. The Dao is neither good nor bad, and is the source of all things.The Dao has no desires, and creates the universe, but does not dominate or regulate it. This idea of no manipulation by the Dao is an example of wu-wei. Wu-wei is one of the central tenets of Taoism and literally means the act of non-being / not action.This does not mean that people are lazy and passive as people might think. This means acting on instinct, and to go with your gut and to not over-think someone's actions and words, basically it means to just go with the flow. To act through wu-wei you shouldn’t think about what actions you are going to take and the consequences and outcome of those actions, you just let your actions control you, you don’t control your actions. The most useful action is one that is not conscious. De is the Taoist concept of virtue. It can be described as a way to live in unity with the Dao and it emerges from one's own inner nature. All things acquire De and it is De that guide the productions of the Dao. Our De appears as we follow the path of the Dao. Daoists see no greatness in violence because of their high respect for peace and their value of all human beings, even those who are their adversaries. Daoists believe that we need to fight only when absolutely necessary, and even then with a heavy heart. ...

    Read More

  • Taoism in the Modern World

    1203 Words  | 3 Pages

    Ever since I began reading about Taoism I have change my point of view about life. “Not seeing desirable things prevents confusion of the heart”(Tao). This line in itself has taught me to not look at life as objects but to look at it as a gift. People today have lost touch with what is really important about living. No one goes around smiling anymore. I can remember as a child seeing people smile all the time, maybe that was because I was young and did not see a lot of people. I believe that if people would start to read Taoism and try to understand it than people maybe happy to be alive. This paper is going to focus mainly on ways that the average person can use Taoism to better his or her life.

    Read More

  • The Bull Calf

    584 Words  | 2 Pages

    "The thing could barely stand." ("The Bull Calf" line 1). The calf is referred to as a thing not an animal or creature. This is the way the author blocks emotion. The first line in the first stanza is a contradiction from the rest of the stanza because the rest of it has a positive attitude and the first sentence shows that the animal is weak. The third and the fourth line show the glory of the animal by hinting to royalty. The last line in the first stanza helps to back this information up by pointing to Richard the second. In the fifth line the narrator uses thee word us this connects him to the event. "The fierce sunlight tugging the maize from the ground" ("The Bull Calf" line 6). This is imagery, the sunlight showing promise and hope, maize is yellow this refers us back to the sun through the similar color. The last line refers to Richard the second this makes the poem flow better into the next stanza, Richard the second was lowered from his rank much like the calf is going to be.

    Read More

  • Li Bai's Influence

    889 Words  | 2 Pages

    describes the emptiness of the scenery; “this mountain and I gaze at each other, it alone remaining.” (Hinton, David. Selected Poems Li Po”). As a seasoned traveler, his poems traveled with him throughout many lands. In addition, word of his talent spre...

    Read More

  • Taoism in Chinese Culture

    1009 Words  | 3 Pages

    Taoism, known as “The Way,” can be categorized as both a Chinese philosophy and a religion. Taoists believe in accepting and yielding to the ways of life, complementing nature and being by internalizing their goals rather than worshipping a god externally. Taoism, in its metaphysical and philosophical nature, is much like Confucianism, but the ideal interests of the two religions are contrasting. Confucianism was formulated during a time of war and relies heavily upon a moral and political system that fashioned society and the Chinese empire, while Taoism correlates to a time of peace and honors spiritual and metaphysical preoccupation (Taoism 2).

    Read More

  • Comparison Of Taoism: The Judaism, And The Judaism

    168 Words  | 1 Pages

    The term torah means instruction and offers a way of life for those who follow it.The Judaism celebrate the life, they help repair the world. The Jews love God with all their heart.The holidays of the Judaism are Rosh hasharan that consist in no work on this day. The Judaismbelieve only in one God, they await his coming.Taoism is an ancient tradition of philosophy, ethical and religious belief that is deeply rooted inChinese customs and worldview. The Taoism has 20 million followers. The founder of Taoism isLao Tzu the most important thing about the Tao is how it works in the world, and how humanbeings relate to it. Taoism is about the Tao, the Tao is the ultimate creative principle of theuniverse. All things are unified and connected in the

    Read More

More about Comparison Of Taoism In The Ten Ox Herding Songs

Open Document