To question our own existence is an inextricable element of the human condition. Since the dawn of humanity, humans have been asking not how, but why we exist. The non-theistic beliefs of Daoism allow the adherent to formulate their own individual interpretation of the meaning of life. Daoism was founded by Lao-Tzu, in approximately 550 BCE. Despite popular opinion, Daoism was not originally religion as such, rather a philosophical worldview and way of life. However for the purposes of this essay, it is a religion. The fluid, celestial beliefs of Daoism compliment it’s harmonious, eternal reputation. The philosophies of ‘The Dao’ (The Way), Wu Wei (non-action), Yin and Yang and Ch’i or Qi (life force/energy flow) all give adherents a complete,
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Everything in the universe can be described with Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang is the concept that all forces in the universe appear opposite relative to one another (http://tao-in-you.com/yin-yang.html 2015). “When people see things as beautiful, ugliness is created. When people see things as good, evil is created. Being and non-being produce each other. Difficult and easy complement each other. Long and short define each other. High and low oppose each other. Fore and aft follow each other” (Dao De Jing Chapter 2 http://personaltao.com/ ). This suggests that you cannot have yin without yang, or yang without yin, and no matter what one there is, there’s always the essence of the other in one. Therefore, pure yin or pure yang does not exist. For example, in a pool, the water would be yin and the structure of the pool is yang. There cannot be no structure for the water and water is needed in the structure for a pool. Furthermore, yin and yang is not static, if flows and changes with time. “Nonbeing gives birth to the oneness. The oneness gives birth to yin and yang. Yin and Yang give birth to heaven, earth, and beings. Heaven, earth, and beings give birth to everything in existence”(Dao De Jing Chapter 42 http://www.mobilewords.pro/Tao/chap42.htm 2015) implies that the Dao gave birth to ying and yang, and through the balance of ying and yang, all things came to be. In Daoism, adherents strive to become balanced between Yin and Yang, having an equal amount of each. Traditional chinese medicine links the imbalance of Yin and Yang to illness and disorders. Yin and Yang is meaningful to adherents as it explains the functions and behaviour of the universe, that most religions cannot. It provides the adherent with a harmonious sense of understanding, and ultimately becoming closer to knowing the true dao as Yin and Yang
Everything in the universe can be described with Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang is the concept that all forces in the universe appear opposite relative to one another (http://tao-in-you.com/yin-yang.html 2015). “When people see things as beautiful, ugliness is created. When people see things as good, evil is created. Being and non-being produce each other. Difficult and easy complement each other. Long and short define each other. High and low oppose each other. Fore and aft follow each other” (Dao De Jing Chapter 2 http://personaltao.com/ ). This suggests that you cannot have yin without yang, or yang without yin, and no matter what one there is, there’s always the essence of the other in one. Therefore, pure yin or pure yang does not exist. For example, in a pool, the water would be yin and the structure of the pool is yang. There cannot be no structure for the water and water is needed in the structure for a pool. Furthermore, yin and yang is not static, if flows and changes with time. “Nonbeing gives birth to the oneness. The oneness gives birth to yin and yang. Yin and Yang give birth to heaven, earth, and beings. Heaven, earth, and beings give birth to everything in existence”(Dao De Jing Chapter 42 http://www.mobilewords.pro/Tao/chap42.htm 2015) implies that the Dao gave birth to ying and yang, and through the balance of ying and yang, all things came to be. In Daoism, adherents strive to become balanced between Yin and Yang, having an equal amount of each. Traditional chinese medicine links the imbalance of Yin and Yang to illness and disorders. Yin and Yang is meaningful to adherents as it explains the functions and behaviour of the universe, that most religions cannot. It provides the adherent with a harmonious sense of understanding, and ultimately becoming closer to knowing the true dao as Yin and Yang