Tai Chi Vs. Taoism

365 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: History of Tai Chi

Tai Chi versus Taoism
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation Tai Chi versus Taoism When discussing the difference between Taoism and Tai Chi, one should highlight the first notion due to its spiritual primacy. Taoism, according to Smith (2007), wraps around the key notion of Tao, which has three meanings – one of the path of final actuality, of the world and humans (pp. 97-97). Further, Taoism has three fields of existence. There are philosophical, religious and additional, meditative, Taoist practices (Smith, 2007, pp. 98-103). The key notion of the philosophical school of Tao, according to Smith (2007), is wu wei, which explains a human should not be effortless, but stop his excessive actions and start living without the loss of efforts (pp. 106-107); the practitioners of the mentioned beliefs find the closest comparison with water (p. 108). Skillful followers, as Smith (2007) states are restrained, not bellicose (p.111), does not possess a heavy …show more content…

Moreover, it is, according to Smith (2007) a meditative form of Taoism, which evolved itself into the martial art of using chi through dancing, meditation, exercises and philosophy of yin and yang (p. 100). Frantzis (n.d.) argues Tai Chi is a philosophical term, which belongs to Taoism and means the changing state of indivisible yin and yang substances, while Tai Chi itself position its meaning as the craft of using chi for health and internal energy (p. 6). This school of chi practice follows eight principles, which regulate the energy of the body (Frantzis, n.d., p. 11) which a certain practitioner uses to exercise the movements of the martial art of Tai Chi. Therefore, Tai Chi is a fighting and spiritual practice, which evolved from Taoism and does not stand in opposition to the latter one. While Taoism focuses mainly on the right treatment of life, both self and the surrounding world, Tai Chi follows the notion of chi, or energy, for health and defense

Show More
Related

  • microtheme

    540 Words  | 2 Pages

    After watching the documentary The Long Search: Taoism: A Question of Balance—China, I am totally surprised by the details in the video, which explain every single aspect of people’s daily life in Taiwan as religious, especially Taoist. Since China does not consider itself as a nation of religious beliefs and practices, I do not actually think of what Chinese people do everyday as religious. However, after studying Religions in China for a semester, I finally realize that all the Chinese traditions and beliefs have evolved as a mixture of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. As a result, it all makes sense to see in the video that Taoism is a dominant religion that has deeply influenced individuals’ life in Taiwan.

    Read More

  • the Tao Of Pooh Book Review

    2327 Words  | 5 Pages

    Philosophy is a complicated subject. Since the beginning of human existence, many tried to come up with theories about life, happiness, reality and knowledge. From philosophical ideas different beliefs sprung, and existence of different religions followed. Every theory raised by a philosopher attracted different followers. In today's modern society aside from major religions, there are thousands of others that suggest that their explanations to universal questions are the only accurate ones, and all of these religions seek to gain more followers to join their "way". One of these religions is the religion/philosophy of Taoism. Taoism has it roots in China, where the founder of Taoism Lao-Tse was searching for a way that would avoid the constant feudal warfare and other conflicts that disrupted his society during his lifetime. The result was his book: Tao-te-Ching. Lao-Tse described Taoism as a path or a way which one must follow in order to reach inner serenity and peace. In order to reach these inner goals one must live in harmony with nature and natural process that creates the balance in the universe.

    Read More

  • Perfection in Ursula LeGuin's The Lathe of Heaven

    1932 Words  | 4 Pages

    "Main Concepts of Taoism: Yin and Yang." Taoism and the Taoist Arts. April 2002. http://www.taoistarts.net/main.html#yin LeGuin, Ursula K. The Lathe of Heaven. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers Inc., 2000.

    Read More

  • Confucianism In The Book Of Chuang Tzu

    1533 Words  | 4 Pages

    As one of the greatest founding novels of Taoism, Book of Chuang Tzu serves to strengthen Lao Tzu 's arguments in Tao Te Ching and lays the foundation for Taoism 's place in Chinese philosophy. Because Confucianism and Taoism are two competing philosophy schools that share more outstanding differences than similarities, the followers of both schools often refute and evaluate the ideals of the opposite school. However, the constant appearance of Confucius as the main character in more than twenty chapters in Book of Chuang Tzu not only surprises the readers, but also calls for deep analysis of the roles played Confucius in order to understand the true meaning of this ancient literature. While Chuang Tzu criticizes many of the Confucian ideas

    Read More

  • Taoism: Potential Within Passivity

    1456 Words  | 3 Pages

    Taoism follows a much different idea of the "chain of being," than that of the other major religions (i.e. Hinduism, Judeo-Christian, Islam), which is very important in consideration of the ecological sensibility which stems from it. As opposed to a God-over-man-over-nature view of the world, Taoism states:

    Read More

  • Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism in the Film Kung Fu Panda

    523 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them - that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like” (Lau Tzu). Born into a life of noodles and relaxation Po, a chubby panda, always wanted to be a Kung Fu master. Out of nowhere an opportunity arises to have his dream become reality. Po, like any normal panda snatches up this once in a lifetime opportunity and runs with it. But when the going gets tough, he doesn’t know if this is the life he was meant to live. While the film was meant for enjoyment, DreamWorks has incorporated clear examples of the three major Chinese Schools of Thought: Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism.

    Read More

  • What Is Religion?

    1612 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...ccording to it. It is the level of understanding and respect a Taoist has with nature, everyone around them, and everything. This mystery is the last feature that is important to defining a religion.

    Read More

  • Comparison Of Buddhism And Taoism

    542 Words  | 2 Pages

    In its second sense, Tao means "the way of the universe." Tao is something that goes through all beings, all of the earth. It is everywhere, all the time. It is something that flows through everything. This flowing idea links with the idea in Buddhism that Nirvana can be reached by anyone, as long as one is devoted enough and has lost all attachments.Thirdly, one life must be a certain way to work with the Tao: Tao also refers to "the way of human life" as it "meshes" with the universal Tao in its second sense.

    Read More

  • Difference Between Confucianism And Taoism

    1048 Words  | 3 Pages

    Even though Taoism and many other folk religions have shaped the Chinese mind, Confucianism remains, by any historical measure, its chief mentor” (Novak 113). Therefore, since the two religions grew up together, there are similarities, such as their views on humans, attempting to find harmony in life and in nature, and serve as guides for their followers through self-cultivation and improvement techniques. Confucianism believes that their congregation should have human conduct over the idea of God in their lives, whereas Taoism is formed on the belief that its congregation should create a relationship with nature. This is pointed out by Smith in Experiencing the World’s Religions, “Confucius represents the classical, Lao Tzu the romantic; Confucius stresses social responsibility, Lao Tzu praises spontaneity and naturalness; Confucius focus is on the human, Lao Tzu’s on what transcends the human” (Smith 218).

    Read More

  • Similarities Between Lao Tzu And Tao Te Ching

    1118 Words  | 3 Pages

    Unlike Rumi, Tao Te Ching isn’t self-centralized and instead broadens the view for everyone. Pojman gives an example in Philosophy of Religion where if you hear something and nobody else does, it causes confusion (pg. 52). When you speak of religion in one light and one lesson, it’s confusing in a sense that it isn’t relatable. Lao Tzu handles this by making his text a somewhat universal truth. Lao Tzu also has this showing as more of a life guide, on how to find peace within your religion and with your God, but also within yourself. He poses many questions (“Do you have the patience to wait until your mud settles and the water is clear?”, “When we don't see the self as self, what do we have to fear?”, “My teachings are older than the world. How can you grasp their meaning?”) to make his audience question themselves and who they are. This insinuates that Taoism means finding a peace, or harmony, with the Tao by first finding harmony within yourself. Tolstoy reiterates that within his own text called, “A Confession” by writing that he eventually cut himself off from the church and found spirituality within himself and his God. Tolstoy makes a point that the meaning of life is trusting that God has a plan and a purpose for everyone. Meanwhile, a connection can be drawn with Tao Te Ching where everything has meaning because the Tao is everything that exists and simultaneously everything that doesn’t exist, according to Lao Tzu. Tzu also writes, “If you want to know me, look inside your heart,” and “The more you travel, the less you know [of the Tao]”, providing the argument that the Tao is imbedded into every atom, every cell, every human as well, and that is why you must make

    Read More

  • Tai Chi Research Paper

    1184 Words  | 3 Pages

    According the website “taichiforhealthinstitute.org” the martial art Tai Chi is based on the ancient Chinese philosophy of Taoism which was also founded by a Taoist monk named Zhang San Feng. Tai Chi was not only just a branch of traditional Chinese martial arts but it was an art to exercise their spiritual selves. As I have mentioned early Tai Chi was based on the philosophy of Taoism and the philosophy is about keeping balance within you. Tai Chi is not only used for fighting but it “stresses the natural balance in all things and the need for living in spiritual and physical accord with the patterns of nature” (Lam). To describe what every human being has “balance”, they use the symbol Yin and Yang.

    Read More

  • Confucius And Lao Zi Research Paper

    567 Words  | 2 Pages

    The biographer Sima Qian wrote that Lao-zi cultivated the Dao and virtue (Urubshurow, 2008, p. 294). Thus, early Taoists were focused on this cultivation as their master than on classics as Confucius did. In the meantime, Lao-zi advocated wu-wei or actionless action being principle in activating the Dao. Urubshurow (2008) suggests that Daoists see a connection between sages and infants as the spontaneous acts of a baby are a reminiscent of actionless action (p. 294). Similarly, Lao-zi thrived with the cultivation of the actual cosmic power by doing nothing.

    Read More

  • Comparison Of Taoism, Confucianism And Buddhism

    1599 Words  | 4 Pages

    Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism are the three primary systems of thought that have saturated Chinese Philosophy and Asian culture and served as a tool of reform in every social life (Chen & Holt, 2002). Taoism defines life as an organic, interconnected oneness that constantly changes and is based upon the philosophies of the Tao Te Ching. The Transformation Theory of the Tao applies on a scale of the macrocosm, viewing the Tao (universe) as the root of creation where change is viewed as symphonic and holistic. The efficacy of wu wei is a basic tenet of Chinese philosophy that is emphasized in the teachings of Tao. Kardash (1998) described the wu-wei as a reference to behavior “that stems from a sense of self as connected to other individuals

    Read More

  • Influences Of Confucianism

    1115 Words  | 3 Pages

    He is credited as the founder of Taoism. Although the religion may have been developed back in 2000 BCE, is was officially expounded upon around 500 BCE. The ancient Chinese religion of Taoism is not entirely distinct from Confucianism or Chinese folk religion, for all Chinese religion and philosophy operate within the same ancient worldview. The word Tao translates into "path", ”method”, “principle” or "way." Taoist belief is based on the idea that there is central or organizing principle of the Universe, a natural order or a "way of heaven", Tao, that one can come to know by living in harmony with nature and hence with the cosmos and the Universe.

    Read More

  • Reflection On World Religion

    991 Words  | 2 Pages

    Lao-Tze founded Taoism around 550 BC. The goal in Taoism is achieve Inner harmony, pea...

    Read More

More about Tai Chi Vs. Taoism

Open Document