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Many Westerners are unaware that the yoga classes they attend, the martial arts they practice, and even the yin-yang to which they refer are derived from traditions set forth by the early Indo religion-philosophy, Daoism. Although this system has had a profound impact on Chinese culture, its impact has also transcended and established its influence internationally. Though the philosophy may seem somewhat abstract and metaphysical, this open-ended system has created a long struggle for scholars to decide on its classification. In this essay, I will first give some historical background to Daoism to better understand its origin. Once a brief timeline is established, I will then describe the principles that comprise and define Daoism and use those governing principles to argue whether this tradition would better be classified as a philosophy or a religion.
Daoism is a Chinese religious/philosophical system that dates back to the 5th century BCE and can be traditionally traced back to the mythical Laozi (Hansen). Laozi was a wise old sage who was believed to have founded Daoism and is still referenced by emperors and Chinese people to this day (Nadeau). While he is the founder, many historical scholars doubt the existence of this historical figure. Although written by his disciples and contemporaries, he is said to be the reputed author of the Tao de Ching (Hansen). This widely cited text is a short series of declarative statements and intentional contradictions. The book is the governing basis for Daoist thoughts, showing an attitude towards life that can be seen as accepting, yielding, joyful, and carefree (Strickmann). While many messages can be extracted from this text, its underlying message can be grouped into 3 main principles: The Dao, Value of Life, and Yin & Yang.
At the center of the Chinese vision of the cosmos is the Dao, which is defined as “The Way” or “The Path.” The Dao was essentially set to emphasize the vast size of nature and dim humans in comparison to it. They believe that the whole world revolves around nature and that the only human actions that matter are the ones aligned with nature. Zhuangzi believed it was important for humans to abide by the Dao rather than create their way of doing things (Daoism/Taoism). More than Lao Zi, Zhuangzi was aware that humans carried certain amounts of sentiments and subjectivity. The universe is naturally undifferentiated, therefore one is encouraged to refrain from “naming” anything as this would create distinctions. As a central force in the Chinese community, the Dao helps define the everyday actions and demeanor of the Daoists giving them one common purpose (Daoism/Taoism).
As believers in naturalism, Daoists prefer the simple and spontaneous and vow to live plainly and modestly. One of their most prized images is the reference to an uncarved block because it represents the ultimate purity, uncut, uncarved, and whole. To implement this ideology, the followers of Daoism focus on a concept called the Wu-Wei that teaches non-action and non-selfishness. Rather than contradict certain conditions predestined in life, it is most encouraged to let things run their natural course (Mark).
The third characterizing principle that many are probably familiar with the is ubiquitous yin-yang, a symbol that holds its roots in Daoism and is where the system drew its cosmological notions. The Chinese concept of the yin-yang orders nature in duality, with every force having its complement and opposing force. The world is defined in balance and Daoists consistently make sure this balance is maintained, as it is believed that this balance is what allows one to find harmony in themselves and others. One who understands the essence of these patterns in themselves allows their lives to become a lot more steady (Mark).
Although Daoism claims to be considered both a religion and philosophy, I would not go as far as to consider it a religion. To better understand whether or not it should be classified as a religion, it is important to first bear any bias and assume a definition of religion for this argument. According to the American Heritage Dictionary, “Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power recognized as the creator and governor of the universe; A particular integrated system of this expression; The spiritual or emotional attitude of one who recognizes the existence of a superhuman power or powers.’ Although several definitions were discussed in class and religion is a topic that deserves an essay in and of itself, I feel that this one specifically encompasses several of the aspects I feel should characterize a religion. The definition recognizes three aspects that I feel holistically encompass the definition of religion: a supernatural creator, an explanation of the aspects that go beyond what is seen, and the attitude of one who is deemed a believer. To argue between religion and philosophy, I must also state the definition of philosophy to contrast. Cambridge Dictionary’s definition of philosophy states that it is “the study of the nature of reality and existence, of what it is possible to know, and of right and wrong behavior, or a particular set of beliefs of this type.”
Now that we have established the assumed definition of religion, we are now able to go through the definition progressively to see if Daoism suitably conforms. The first critical part of this definition implies that religion must have a creator. When I think of the three Abrahamic religions, they all share a commonality in claiming some God, some figure that is all-knowing, all-encompassing. In our definition, a religion must have a leader or creator, a mastermind behind all things. Although Daoism refers to the Dao or “The Way” as their governing force, it does not list a concrete figure behind nature or creations. Even Lao, who is a tremendous figure that is said to support all these concepts is not sure to have existed. From an outside perspective, it becomes difficult to find credibility in a system that seems to have no owner. Moreover, a religion must be able to explain the inexplicable and give context for why life exists. While Daoism is successful in giving wisdom to its followers, its advice and outlook on life are too abstract to be undermined. For example, Daoism emphasizes the yin-yang concept urging humans to live in balance. Although this is said to be the yin-yang, it can be taken as “well-roundedness” and “wholeness” in more common terms. This is a concept that can transcend beyond Daoism into any other culture. The very abstract concepts presented by this system give little room for anyone to disagree. The concept of living a life being non-materialistic is not seen as complex, it is seen more as wisdom that anyone can acquire. Lastly, a religion must explain concepts beyond life itself. What is the point of this life? What happens after? Someone said we must not focus on life after, we should put our energy into life right now. Since Daoism focuses more on explaining the world we live in and does not allude to the afterlife, it does not give grounds to be considered a religion and better fits a philosophy.
All in all, there is no question that Daoism is a very influential system that has drastically impacted Asian culture and several others. However, Daoism lacks the structural requirements to be considered a religion; rather, its lack of a well-defined deity, metaphysical qualities, and short-visioned principles cause it to be better characterized as a philosophy.
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