Taoism

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how, instead of dictating right from wrong, Taoism emphasizes the ideal of so-called pure talk, stressing that people should only talk about the good side of everything, to create a sense of positive energy and harmony between the spirit and the universe. The paper looks at how the epoch of Taoism came in the form of the Song Dynasty, which many historians consider the first modern era of Chinese history. The paper further explains that during this Dynasty the leadership and the emerging commercial classes embraced, for the first time, the spirit of the Tao to an imperial level, because of the economic and social changes gripping China at the time.

From the Paper:

"For most of early Chinese history, Taoism was often "the philosophy and consolation of the gentleman in retirement, of the political failure." (DeBarry, Chan & Bloom, p.50) It was a religious philosophy distanced from the political administration of China, rather than embraced by the rulers of the empire, unlike Confucianism or even Buddhism. Taoism was a religion of "seclusion and cultivation," that seemed alien to the demands of the workaday world, much less the ways of rulers. (DeBarry, Chan & Bloom, p.50) Taoism stood in marked contrast to Confucianism's advocacy of n rigidly hierarchical to life that seemed to ideally suit the ways of an emperor operating under a mandate of heaven. However, the epoch of Taoism would come in the form of the Song Dynasty, which many historians consider the first modern era of Chinese history. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• DeBarry, William, Wing Tsit Chan, & Irene Bloom. Sources of Chinese Tradition. Volume One. Columbia University Press, 1960.
• Hansen, Valerie. "The Beijing Qingming Scroll and Its Significance for the Study of Chinese History." Journal of Sung-Yuan Studies. 1996. Reprinted by Asian Topics in World History. [28 Nov 2006] <http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/song/readings/urban_life.htm>
• "The Song Dynasty in China." Asian Topics in World History. 2004. [28 Nov 2006] <http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/song/>
• "Social Changes: Family and the Status of Women." Asian Topics in World History.2004. [28 Nov 2006] <http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/song/social/family/family.htm>
• Theobold, Ulrich. "Chinese Philosophy: Neo-Confucianism." 2000. [28 Nov 2006] <http://www.chinaknowledge.de/Literature/Classics/neoconfucianism.html>

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