subject: Lao Tzu, The Founder Of Taoism [print this page] Lao Tzu, The Founder Of Taoism Lao Tzu, The Founder Of Taoism
It's widely believed that Lao Zi was the keeper of the government archives in the west of China, and that Confucius consulted with him.
At the end of his life, Lao Zi is said to have climbed on a water buffalo and ridden west towards what is now Tibet, in search of solitude for his last few years. On the way, he was asked to leave behind a record of his beliefs. The product was a slim volume of only 5000 characters, the Tao Te Ching (Tao De Jing) or The Way and Its Power). He then rode off on his buffalo.
It's doubtful that Lao Zi ever intended his philosophy to become a religion. Zhuangzi, who lived between 399 and 295 BC, picked up where Lao Zi left off. Zhuangzi is regarded as the greatest of all Taoist writers and The Book of Zhuangzi is still required reading for anyone trying to make sense of Taoism. However, like Lao Zi, Zhuangzi was a philosopher and was not actually trying to establish a religion.. Credit for turning Taoism into a religion is generally given to Zhang Taoling, who formally established his Celestial Masters movement in 143 BC.
At the center of Taoism is the concept of Tao. Tao cannot be perceived because it exceeds the senses, thoughts and imagination; it can be known only through mystical insight, which cannot be expressed with words. Tao is the way of the universe, the driving power in nature, the order behind all life, and the spirit that cannot be exhausted. Tao is the way people should order their lives to keep in harmony with the natural order of the universe.
Just as there have been different interpretations of the 'way', there have also been different interpretations of De---the power of the universe. This has led to the development of three distinct forms of Taoism in China.
Taoism later split into two divisions, the 'Cult of the Immortals' and 'The Way of the Heavenly Teacher'. The Cult of the Immortals offered immortality through meditation, exercise, alchemy and various other techniques. The Way of the Heavenly Teacher had many gods, ceremonies, saints, and special diets to prolong life and offerings to the ghosts. As time passed, Taoism increasingly became wrapped up in the supernatural, self-mutilation, witchcraft, exorcism, fortune-telling, magic and ritualism.
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