Core beliefs, practices, and history of Taoism and Confucianism from a world religions survey course.
30 cards · basic cards · AI-written, checked twice. Edit anything.
- What is the Tao (or 'The Way') in Taoism?
- The ultimate principle underlying reality; the source of all being that cannot be named or described in words.
- What does the term 'qi' (or 'chi') refer to in Taoism?
- The vital life force or cosmic energy that flows through all living things and the universe.
- What do yin and yang represent in Taoism?
- Two complementary opposites: yin is passive, dark, and feminine; yang is active, bright, and masculine; together they balance reality.
- What is 'wu wei' in Taoism?
- Non-action or non-forcing; acting in harmony with the natural flow of things without deliberate effort or resistance.
- Who is Laozi (or Lao Tzu)?
- A legendary ancient Chinese philosopher traditionally credited with composing the Daodejing, the foundational text of Taoism.
- What is the Daodejing (or Tao Te Ching)?
- The foundational philosophical text of Taoism, traditionally attributed to Laozi, consisting of 81 short chapters of poetic teachings.
- Who is Zhuangzi (or Chuang Tzu)?
- An ancient Chinese Taoist philosopher known for witty parables and paradoxes that illustrate the limits of human knowledge and harmony with nature.
- What is Daoist alchemy primarily concerned with?
- The transmutation of base materials into gold, or more spiritually, the refinement of the body and spirit to achieve immortality and enlightenment.
- What is inner alchemy (neidan) in Taoism?
- A meditative and yogic practice of circulating and refining qi within the body to achieve spiritual transformation and immortality.
- What religious role did Daoist temples and priests historically serve?
- Performing rituals, managing talismans and sacred objects, offering protection from demons and evil spirits, and providing blessings for believers.
- Name three important Daoist spiritual practices.
- Meditation, internal alchemy, and taijiquan; also qigong, feng shui, and dietary practices are central to Taoist spirituality.
- What does taijiquan (tai chi chuan) represent in Taoism?
- A martial art and meditative movement practice that embodies Taoist principles of balance, flow, and harmony between opposing forces.
- What is the Taoist approach to immortality?
- Physical immortality is pursued through alchemy, inner alchemy, meditation, and diet; spiritual immortality is achieved through enlightenment and union with the Tao.
- How do Taoists view naturalness (ziran)?
- Nature is intrinsically good, beautiful, and wise; humans should return to their natural, original state and align themselves with natural processes.
- What central paradox appears in Taoist philosophy?
- Weakness conquers strength, emptiness achieves fullness, and non-action accomplishes everything; apparent opposites contain their complement.
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