Influence of Daoism in Modern Life in China - Case Study Example

Influence of Daoism in Modern Life in China Introduction Daoism also popularly known as Taoism is defined as an indigenous Chinese philosophy that includes religious, philosophical and ethical traditions that emphasize the art of living in harmony with nature. The origins of Tao, which broadly means ‘the Way’ dates back to over 2000 years ago in China. Taoism revolves around the ‘Tao’ which according to the Chinese is the ultimate creative concept of the universe. This concept signifies that every thing around us is unified and is closely connected to the Tao. Tao is considered to be a religion but does not have any particular God, and comprises of unity as well as opposites ‘Yin and Yang’. (BBC, 2014) Feng Shui, which is also an important component of Taoism, has a wide and meaningful influence on the architectural design of structures and its decorative style. Chinese believe that Taoism has a very positive influence on people’s lives and even today in this modern world it continues to play a major role. The Influence of Tao on Behaviour and Morality According to Taoism, people’s lives are influenced by the Yin and the Yang and it is according to this concept that a person’s life will be good or bad. The concept of opposites as contained in the Yin and Yang holds great significance because it teaches individuals how to face their problems and how to be optimistic in life. However, according to the Yin and Yang principle, the universe is made up of complimentary forces such as dark and light, hot and cold, life and death, good and bad etc. and all these forces depend on the Tao. There are Taoist Temples, where many deities are worshipped, but they all belong to the Tao and like everything in the universe also depend on the Tao. (BBC, 2014) According to the Chinese, two very essential components that are interdependent on each other are the Yin and Yang and though they are considered opposite in nature, yet they are relative and compliment each other with their energies. The Yin is considered to be the negative and dark aspect while the Yang is the positive, assertive and creative aspect. Both the Yin and Yang have a common source which is the Dao and they work in tandem with each other to bring about a balance in an individual’s life. The following is a good example of the balance brought about by the Yin and Yang. If an individual gives away all that he has to help others, then he will be left with nothing. On the other hand, if he is selfish and keeps everything he has for himself without helping others, even then it is not good. In both the above examples we find that there is a lack of balance between the two and therefore in such a situation, harmony cannot be achieved. Therefore, it is evident, that unless there is a balance in all our actions, only then one can live in peace and harmony. In order to achieve such harmony, one should give some help to others and at the same time keep some for oneself, so that a balance is brought about in life. According to the conventional world view, people in general have the notion that the universe comprises of separate objects. However, according to the Taoist teachings the Chinese people are reminded that they have to cross such contradictive boundaries and move beyond them because it is not good to choose between sides. They are advised to take the middles path by viewing both sides and giving them due credit equally. In describing such a situation Lao Zi, a great Chinese philosopher and founder of Taoism (Elizabeth Reninger, 2014) states that there are always two sides to every story and therefore we need to “blunt the sharpness and untangle the knot.” (Lao Tzu, 6th cn. B.C.E).In his opinion, such an attitude in life serves to help us live in harmony in our society. Lao Zi feels that by making a conscious effort to understand both sides of the story equally, it helps individuals to become more understanding, empathetic and appreciative of others in our community and society. Taoism, has its roots in Chinese traditions and customs but has a worldview outlook that helps to promote the all round development of human beings. According to Taoist teachings, achieving harmony with nature is the ultimate goal, which brings peace and harmony to the individual. Taoism promotes self –development, virtuousness and a pursuit of deep spiritual immortality. They adhere to practices such as reading or chanting their scriptures, the art of Feng Shui, fortune- telling and deep meditation. (BBC, 2014) The primary ideal in Taoism is to set a good example to everyone and therefore to set a good example, they have to check their words, actions and behaviour and change the same if they are not proper. The main idea behind this ideal is to direct their lives towards living in harmony with nature. According to Taoist philosophy, it is more important to be a good individual than just doing good to others. They believe that by transforming oneself into a good person, the world would become a better place to live in. According to them, a good person has the capacity to influence others and change other people in their community and thereby the world at large. In order to fit well in society and bring about a positive change, an individual first needs to change himself before trying to change others. Standard of Living and Good Health Taoism proposes a change in lifestyle in guiding people to lead a healthy life. Human life as documented by Science is approximately a span of about 120 years or so, but according to Taoists it is quite meaningless to strive for physical immortality. On the contrary, Taoists recommend that we should live well everyday and should not have concerns about how long one might live. Taoism also recommends that one should cultivate the attitude of not predefining the limit of one’s life or age, but rather that they live an active life everyday. By active they mean that each day should be filled with rich experiences and important and healthy activities that would serve to enrich their lives. It is not a good idea to try and seek out immortality because it only serves to limit one’s life instead of extending it. Taoists are aware of this fact and recommend that we should keep close to nature, have rich experiences, and hard work, instead of wasting it away in laziness and idling. Good health is the direct outcome of what is eaten and eating healthy is to keep healthy. Those who do not eat a balanced diet invite sickness and eventually death. According to Taoism, the human body changes gradually and needs different kinds of food during different stages. Some of the foods they propose are Yogurt, Green tea, Brown rice, Cabbage etc. and though these foods are full of nutrients they do not vouch for an eternal life. However, they recommend that one has to listen to the needs of their body and accordingly supply it with a mixture of food to get the required essences needed for good health. In fact, one could say that the Chinese culture of eating habits is much more complicated than that of the Westerners. According to them, food found in its most natural form is the best to achieve a sense of good health and well being. Taoism emphasizes physical fitness to keep the body healthy and strong and free from diseases. Regular practice of Qigong serves to keep the body supple and well toned and makes the person more flexible for movement by building up good strength, flexibility and endurance. One of the very popular exercises recommended by them is the Tai Chi which is not only a training exercise but used for building up stamina for defending oneself. Though this exercise was introduced very long ago, yet in these modern contemporary times it is widely used by the Chinese people and it has also spread to many countries of the world. Deep breathing is also advocated by the Taoist. According to them breathing in the right manner is very important because it serves to remove stress and bring about a balance in the body. Feng Shui, an ancient Chinese science is an art that is deeply rooted in the philosophy of the Taoists. They believe that the environment impacts people in many ways and therefore it is important to understand the environment in which we live. In order to bring about a balance and harmony, it is necessary to position the structure of a building in an appropriate manner and arrange the furniture and other objects to correlate with it so as to bring about harmony within ones surroundings. According to the art of Feng Shui, the construction of a building has to be done in accordance with other natural phenomena such as rivers, mountains or lakes, compass points and stars because its impact could affect the well being and health if not done correctly. Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese art but it still continues to influence not only Chinese culture but other cultures around the world. Though it is a known fact that Feng Shui has no scientific framework to it and it is only a superstitious practice, yet it possesses assumptions based on the cause and effects in association with the natural environment around us. The Chinese population still follows the art of Feng Shui and in fact today people in the modern world, believe in this art. Though modern society has made great advancement in science and technology, yet, they rely on Feng Shui to bring about peace and harmony into their homes, companies, establishments and other institutions. Feng Shui has become a big business today and it has even found its way into the curriculum of many universities in China and the U. S. that offer courses to master the art of Feng Shui. It is believed that before the construction of the Disney Theme Park in Hong Kong could take off, Feng Shui masters were called in to appraise the landscape and select the best area for the construction of the park. (Moore, 2011) Though modern China has advanced so much in all areas of development, yet it has not lost its touch with the Feng Shui art. In fact, every aspect of Chinese life be it religious, social, cultural, economic and political has been greatly influenced by the art of Feng Shui. The Chinese population believes that this art tends to shape and mould every aspect of their lives in a very significant manner by bringing about peace and harmony both in their homes, businesses and work-spots. This is the reason why Feng Shui is so closely intertwined in the fabric of Chinese society. Conclusion Taoism has come to be deeply rooted in the Chinese culture and its concepts are religiously followed by the Chinese population. Though Taoism is not a religion, yet its concepts are given top priority because of the value it brings into their lives. The concept of the Yin and Yang serve to nurture and develop a love for nature as well as the harmonizing factor into their lives. The concept of eating the right foods during the different stages of ones lives and breathing in the right manner helps to keep their bodies and minds in a well balanced condition. The recommended exercises done on a regular basis helps to keep their body fit and flexible. The concept of Feng Shui serves to bring about a balance of the individual in correlation with his environment. The concepts of Taoism are special and unique and those making use of this philosophy keep in good health and enjoy the harmony of body and mind in accordance with the nature around them. References BBC – Religion: Taoism. Web. Retrieved on 7th December, 2014, from: www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/taoism/ Elizabeth Reninger, (2014) Introduction to Lao Zi – the Founder of Taoism. Web. Retrieved on 7th December 2014, from: www.taoism.about.com Lao Tzu, (6th cn. B.C.E ) The Tao Te Ching. Translated by D.C.Lau (1963) Web. Retrieved on 7th December, 2014. www.terebess.hu/english/tao/lau.html Moore, M. (2011, March 08). Feng Shui Scandals cause 20 per cent drop in business. Retrieved from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/hongkong/8366372/Feng-shui-scandals-cause-20-per-cent-drop-in-business.html Read More