Preview

Daoism Worksheet: Experiencing The World's Religions

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
936 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Daoism Worksheet: Experiencing The World's Religions
Daoism Worksheet
Calvin Young
REL 133
April 21, 2015
Dr. William Sunday
University of Phoenix Material

Daoism Worksheet

Complete the following questions in detail. Answer each question with a 1- or 2-paragraph response that includes a reference citation. Make use of Experiencing the World’s Religions and other sources in your research as you complete the questions.

1. Describe the principles of yang and yin.
As described in Molloy’s Experiencing the World’s Religions (2013), the primary principle of Yin and Yang is that they are the natural duality of the world. Daoists believe that all of nature exists as pairs; opposite but complementary. The Daoist belief is not for the Yin overpower the Yang, or Yang beat the Yin, but that balance
…show more content…
The main scripture in Daoism is the Daodejing (Tao Te Ching). What is the history and importance of this text for the tradition?
The Daodejing is believed to have been written by the legendary origin of Daoism, Laozi, who is worshipped as divine by many Daoists. According to legend described by Molloy (2013), Laozi was born of a virginal conception and was born old, his name meaning “Old Child”. Laozi is said to have written the Daodejing after being stopped at the western most border of China and being told that he must write down his teachings before
…show more content…
The two ways are in paintings. Some Chinese paintings focus on a small natural subject, just as a bird or plant, close up. This technique is used to draw into emphasis to the beauty of the small and often overlooked. Another painting technique used to emphasise teachings of Daoism is the use of empty space in long distance landscapes. The intent is to make the scene continue to the infinite. Within Chinese poetry, a common subject matter is simplicity, and focusing on harmony with nature. Also, as Daodejing and Zhuangzi contained a significant amount of poetry, poets after have used poetry to examine and develop the theme and messages contained within the books. Finally, Daoism has had a direct influence on the art of Chinese garden design. The house represents the yang, with emphasis on the straight lines and square designs. For this reason, Chinese gardens are designed as the complementary yin, focusing on circular designs, curved lines, and naturally flowing

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    As stated by the Shen-nong website, “Ancient people were greatly interested in the relationships and patterns that occurred in nature. Instead of studying isolated things, the viewed the world as a harmonious and holistic entity” ("Yin yang," 2005, p. 1). Yin and yang are best described as complementary ways for explaining relationships between objects. Yin is referred to as dark, cold, lower, rest, inward, and female. Yang is referred to as bright, hot, upper, movement, outward, and male. These two complementary forces helped the ancient people explain and understand nature, energy, and the human body.…

    • 977 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Daoism: Chinese school of thought, originating in the Warring State Period with Laozi (604-531 B.C.E)…

    • 2649 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In his book Signs from the Unseen Realm and Buddhist Miracle Tales in Early Medieval China, Robert Campany presents numerous account of Buddhist miracle tales from Wang Yan’s Records of Signs from the Unseen Realm. In the following four records of miraculous events, one can observe many elements of traditional Confucian and Daoist beliefs. In the 11th account, a wealthy man named Di Shichang is described to have secretly constructed an oratory in his home and made offerings of food to support the monks. One day, a homely monk arrived at his door; however, Shichang refused to wash the feet of this unkempt monk and instead ordered his servant to do it.…

    • 1064 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Comparison of the Bible and the DaodejingBoth the Bible and the Daodejing represent the religious artifacts designed to guide the believers through their lives, establishing the moral code to follow. The Bible is a significant symbol of Christianity and while its text is open to interpretation, the Bible is quite strict with the rules provided within it: the people must follow them without questioning, doing exactly how it was said by the God. Disobedience, violations of the God-made laws will be punished. Daodejing is widely followed by Chinese people. It is more vague and accepting, and emphasizes the reward for following it: if the search for the harmony is successful, the person will reach happiness. Everybody can follow the Way, as long as they strive for natural balance and harmony: “I am good to those who are good; I also am good to those who are not good…I trust the trustworthy; I also trust the untrustworthy” (Chapter 49).…

    • 825 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    World History Study Guide

    • 540 Words
    • 3 Pages

    9. Discuss the roles of women in Han China and after the fall of Han China.…

    • 540 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Daodejing Essay

    • 933 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The known author of the text is the Chinese sage named Laozi. What is known about the author is that Laozi was alive during the Zhou dynasty in the sixth century B.C. The name Laozi in pinyin actually directly translate in meaning as “old master”. Now looking directly at the name of the text, Daodejing, the meaning of the name can be understood by dividing it into two parts: “Way” (dao) and “Virtue” (de). With further investigation, the Way refers to the natural state of being and uncorrupted by pervading everything in the cosmos and the earth. Virtue is the essence in each thing that is in it’s natural state and the force that allows humans to reach their full potential (Norton Anthology 1344). In the Daoist (or otherwise known as Taoist) religion, the Daodejing is the fundamental text for the philosophy to Daoism, Confucianism and Chinese…

    • 933 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Within Daoism, there is no greater force than the force of nature and we as human beings…

    • 338 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Daoist principle would lead people to limit their consumer desires and foster compassionate giving, countering the growing disparities between rich and poor. (Fisher, 2014, p. 215) Women are taking on more roles as leaders to continue to spiritual practices of the old ways. Daoist nuns and monks are of equal status now unlike before when women couldn’t enter the temple. (Fisher, 2014, p. 214) Religious organizations must register with the government of China and operate under government control. In China Daoist temples are combined with Confucianist and Buddhist worshippers. Daoism is now being combined with academic study now in China to promote social welfare. The Daoiost people still have festivals every year to celebrate their religion all over China, Taiwan, Malaysia, and…

    • 874 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Laozi Influence

    • 1308 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Taoism’s history is one of the most important aspects of its foundation. One important figure in the foundation of Taoism is Laozi. Regarded as the founder of Taoism, Laozi is considered to be the writer or one of the writers of the Daodejing, a text that has influenced both the philosophy and religion (Toropov). However, in order to not cause debate on the original author, Laozi is referred to as a text speaking to all human beings (Toropov). This not only shows Taoism’s important history, but it also shows the unity between its followers. Laozi has also played many important roles, such as bestowing upon Zhang Daoling, another important Taoist figure, the high title of…

    • 1308 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Laozi and Dao

    • 439 Words
    • 2 Pages

    1, Superficially understanding Laozi’s ideas, “those who know do not talk; / those who talk do not know” (56), are a bit conventional during his period time. It seems like that sages should try to follow the path of solitary, pretending to be ignorant and hide their talents to stay out of troubles. But we should think much deeper because Laozi’s wisdom is extremely profound that it is difficult for us to understand it. I think that “those who know do not talk;/ those who talk do not know” means that sage does not need to show off their talents. In Laozi, if a person is true erudite or intelligent, he himself will unify with what he learns and understands; I mean that everything a sage does can show how wise he is—a sage himself is wisdom itself. Laozi himself focuses more on how to live as an erudite person, act as an erudite person rather than talk as an erudite person. Related to Chinese tradition, Laozi prefers people who are humble and low-key but not ostentatious and hard-edged. So, Laozi writes about Dao instead of talking it; he believes that Dao itself is the truth which truly exists and does not need to be publicized by preaching.…

    • 439 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Daoist Essay

    • 727 Words
    • 3 Pages

    One of the distinctions between Confucians and Daoists is represented through images of Confucians being inside an office concerned with societal and family matters. While Daoists are outside, in some mountain retreat, reclusive and reflective of one’s own individual life. This leads to the flourishing of Daoism among common people rather than the elite because daoism teaches the cultivation of the individual through effortless action and restrain from worldly matters. Although Daoist philosophers expound on the same fundamental ideas such as wu wei or effortless action and the Dao, Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu are distinct in their rhetorical strategy, style, and use of imagery mainly because Lao Tzu’s daodejing is poetic and terse while Chuang…

    • 727 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Eastern Religion

    • 1564 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Through out the many religions of the world there seems to be a common element of nature. Through the course of this paper we will seek out this element with in specific Eastern religions. There are many degrees of commitment within each of the religions discussed from the extreme of Taoism, Shinto and Confucianism, these being the religions we will further discuss.…

    • 1564 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Chinese Artifacts

    • 1278 Words
    • 6 Pages

    One of the four anecdotes from the “Life of Wang Xizhi” tells the story of a time when Xizhi, a ‘calligraphic’ sage, was extremely fond of the [graceful appearance of] geese. In Shanyin there was a Daoist monk who had raised a flock of more than ten fine geese. One morning Wang decided to take a small boat and go there. He was delighted with the geese and wanted to buy them, but the monk refused to sell. Wang tried in vain to persuade him. Finally, the monk told Wang that he loved Daoist philosophy and had always wanted a transcription of Laozi's Daodejing with its commentary by Heshanggong. He had already prepared the silk, but no one was qualified to write it. He…

    • 1278 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Tao Te Ching

    • 497 Words
    • 2 Pages

    One of the most famous Chinese readings The Tao Te Ching, a founding text of Taoism. Taoism is a Chinese philosophical and religious tradition. Taoism is best known as nature, two opposites interacting with equal forces. Tao is indescribable, and it’s an abstract concept, progression of the universe and natural order. An aspect of its nature is highlighted throughout The Tao Te Ching. In the translation by Waley, he says how people should live life. The Tao Ching encourage one to look for enlightenment. Wants to avoid the thoughts of the outside world (Waley,211).…

    • 497 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The teaching of Daoism is that everything has its place in the universe including people, thus creating everything perfectly. The only way things will not be perfect is if something has changed its course of nature and fallen from the harmonious structure that was created for it. In order to find ones self is to find Dao, is your path, and to find Dao is to find yourself. Dao is the meaning of your life it is your purpose and motive, it is the principle of Yin and Yang of natural order. The Dao is like a life cycle on repeat that doesn't have a changed pattern ever unless we choose to change it which causes things to go wrong. We humans tend to think artificial things which is why our things never tend to go the way we want them to because we change of nature of things. Daoism understands the human problem by allowing things to just happen and it will solve it self in its own nature. The Wu Wei is the self honesty and truthfulness to oneself. The Pu is the original self thus the self that is naturally given. The Daoist want to recover the idea of Wu Wei to bring back the originality of Dao which is the way of life that is naturally…

    • 1419 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics