Taoism Beliefs
Taoism is an arm of ancient Chinese religion. Today, it enjoys a new-found niche, mainly because of the clarity of thought and a defined perspective that has global appeal.

China has contributed in more ways than one to the contemporary world. Beyond resilience and a genuine application of the principles of Communism, it has also shared a lot of the ancient philosophy that has rippled down the ages. Although the common claim is that the religions of China are not organized in belief, the truth is that there is a subtle integrity. This is not only seen in the general system of beliefs but also in the practices.

Ancient Religions of China

The common thread between the ancient Chinese beliefs is that the practices extolled do not require leadership, founders or hierarchy. The whole belief structure is defined by various integrated interactions between the different philosophical traditions that have religion as the offshoot. Ancient religions of China are better understood and studied as the four main traditions very evident in Chinese art and culture. These are Chinese folk religion, Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. Most of the Chinese follow a combination of the four belief structures and resultant practices. Like Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism too have an organized belief system that is complementary and not competitive to each other. Both the religious traditions highlight the moral and social life of man, focusing primarily on spiritual growth. The way of life taught by the Chinese philosophers relates to and focuses on humanism. This line of thought has had a major impact on the political life in China, Korea and Japan.

Taoism

Taoism has the same world-view as Confucianism or ancient Chinese folk religion. Its philosophy operates within the same paradigms. It celebrates man's association and interdependency with nature. Moving on to a wider plane, the relationship between religion and the universe takes the form of veneration, which lies beyond the confines of time and space, ancestor worship and belief in the sovereign. The principles on which Taoism thrives even today include Ch'i, Feng Shui, interdependency between life and death, the Eight Immortals and the Ultimate Reality.

Ch'i: Ch'i is also pronounced and spelt as Qi. This fundamental concept means 'breath'. However, Ch'i also refers to the flow of energy or life force. The philosophy highlights the fact that there is a life force that fills space and pervades everything around us. Ch'i is believed to be the womb of matter. A balance of its quality and quantity is considered very essential for health and wellness. It is considered as the animator of life. Ch'i can be regulated through breath control and acupuncture.

Feng Shui: Feng Shui is the Chinese art of placement. It involves the stabilization of the flow of ch'i, yin and yang and the five elements in any environment. This is believed to have an impact on the health and wealth of occupants by redirection and acceleration.

Interdependency between Life and Death: Life and death are considered as two aspects of the same universal reality. This reality is also referred to as Tao. Taoism understands death simply as a phase of transformation, ideally understood as the shift from yang to yin. This automatically eliminates any fear or desire for death. Taoism believes that everything has an opposite. Duality is relative in nature and forces are highly interdependent. Hence, Taoism does not struggle or oppose any of the dualities. A perfect understanding of this duality is believed to generate immortality and superhuman ability. The exercises involved in achieving a better understanding of the forces of duality include maintaining a balanced diet, regulating breath, controlling sexuality and identifying with the subsequent moral harmony.

The Eight Immortals: Taoism identifies eight ageless and very powerful beings. These powerful beings are believed to have been born in the Tang dynasty. A mention of these Eight Immortals is made in Chinese art and literature. Each one has its own symbol and special power and together, they are associated with good fortune. The interpretations are unique and very interesting for these immortals - age, youth, wealth, poverty, position, rank, feminine, masculine and the commoner.

The Ultimate Reality: In Taoism, Tao is defined as a natural order that is not easily revealed. It not only encompasses all, but also has no characteristics. Hence, the ultimate reality is best understood as 'being' and 'non-being'.

Taoism binds together opposite and complementary forces, yin and yang, which are interdependent in nature. Yin is believed to represent femininity and water, while yang is the masculine energy and light. When these dualities are well-balanced in life; the result is an uninfluenced pure self. In a world full of conflicting forces playing havoc in everybody's life, Taoism seems like the culmination of all search and all duality.