What is Taoism?
Taoism is one of the important schools of thought in China, with a hundred schools of thought contending. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, represented by Laozi and Zhuangzi, they advocated that Taoism is natural and self-absorbed, and should change with things. At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Taoism, based on the Taoist thoughts of Huang and Lao, inherited the immortal magic of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. Taoism takes "Tao" as the core, thinks that the avenue is inaction, and puts forward political, economic, governing the country and military strategies such as cultivating Tao, guarding men and women, and combining rigidity with softness. It has a simple dialectical thought, which has a far-reaching impact on China's philosophy, literature, science and technology, art, music, health care and religion.

The origin of Taoism can be traced back to Emperor Taigu. During the Spring and Autumn Period, Laozi collected the great wisdom of ancient sages, summed up the essence of ancient Taoist thought, and formed a moral theory of inaction. It marks the formal formation of this Taoist thought. Since then, it has become the supreme treasure of governing the country in past dynasties. With Huangdi, Yi Yin, Taigong, Xin Qiji, Xunzi, Laozi, Wen Zi, Liezi, Zhuangzi, Guan Zi and Guo Guan as the main representatives, they advocate "doing nothing, being simple, moving with the times, changing with things" and so on. It is particularly important that although Taoism has classic works, its thoughts are not limited to works. The formation of Taoist thought takes summing up, developing and writing classics as the main path. Every leap in thought has gone through an extremely long period of accumulation, once again highlighting the vitality of Taoism. Taoist figures can make contributions to the WTO; In the long river of history, whenever a disaster comes, Taoist figures challenge the chaotic source of the disaster with a lofty spirit, punish evil and promote good, and set things right, thus stirring up many legendary chapters.

When Guo Guanzi was educating Pang Xian, he listed the basic practice direction of a Taoist scholar, which he called nine ways, namely, "one is virtue, the other is yin and yang, the third is dharma, the fourth is celestial officials, the fifth is divination, the sixth is geisha, the seventh is human feelings, the eighth is weapons and the ninth is soldiers." Both are indispensable, only more and less, and those who can become Taoists must be all-round talents.

There is no way to deal with Tao, but it is suitable for change. Historian Sima Tan said in Six Books. Taoism "changes with the times, with things", "nothing-oriented, adaptation for use", "inaction, impermanence", "keep pace with the times" and "keep pace with the times". Therefore, Tai Shigong emphasized' change'. This is due to the professional advantages and profound knowledge background of Taoism. Taoism comes from official history. In ancient times, the historian's duties were mainly to observe the stars, draw up the calendar, manage the royal classics and collect files, and was in charge of all the precious classics owned by Chinese tribal matriarchal society to paternal society, so he was a scholar who knew the knowledge group like the back of his hand at that time.

The source of thought

On the Six Essentials in Historical Records;

Taoism makes people single-minded, energetic, invisible and supports everything. It is also a skill. Because of the harmony between Yin and Yang, we should adopt the goodness of Confucianism and Mohism, sum up the essence of the law, keep pace with the times, conform to the changes of things, establish customs, and do everything unsuitable. It is easy to operate with reference to the agreement and get twice the result with half the effort.

Taoism is inaction, and it is said that everything is ready. In fact, it is easy to do, and its words are difficult to understand. Its technology is based on nothingness and uses conformity. Nothing is impermanent, so we can study the feelings of everything. Not for things first, not for things later, you can become the master of everything.

Hanshu Yiwenzhi:

Because of historians, the Taoists recorded the way of success, failure, survival, happiness and misfortune in ancient and modern times, and then knew that we should stick to this principle, be self-controlled, be humble and weak, and be self-sustaining. This gentleman is also skilled in the south. Suitable for Yao's hustle and bustle, easy to bang and modest, which is also its strength. If you let go, you will be heartbroken, learn etiquette and abandon righteousness, saying that clearing up deficiency alone can be treated.

Encyclopedia of China's Philosophy:

One of the main schools of ancient philosophy in China, taking Tao as the final origin of the world, was named Taoism. Founder Lao Zi. Its main representatives are Yin, Zhuangzi, Tian Pian and so on. In addition to Laozi and Zhuangzi, there are Huangdi Neijing, Wen Zi, Liezi, Guanzi, Guanzi, Shilu Chunqiu and Huainanzi.

Taoism takes Tao as the foundation of the world, follows the weak as the Tao, and advocates inaction politically. Because of the different understanding of Tao and inaction, they are divided into different factions, and the ideological centers of each faction are also different, either leaning towards governing the country or governing the body. There are 37 schools and 993 articles. Each school is different and has its own unique style and characteristics.

The Taoist world outlook system of "Tao gives birth to one, two, three and all things" is similar to Yi Zhuan, and it is proposed that "Yi Tai Chi means two instruments, two instruments give birth to four images, and four images give birth to eight diagrams". Laozi believes that three talents give birth to everything; Confucius believed that the four images of Yin and Yang (old Yin and Lao Yang, less Yin and less Yang) gave birth to everything.

On the contention of a hundred schools of thought in Taoism from Yan Zi;

"In the ancient three generations, learning was in the officer, not in the people, and the people of weeds were not allowed to be elegant. Only Laozi, as a historian, holds the key to the library of knowledge for thousands of years, and he can open and close it. So when I came out, I exhausted the secrets of heaven and earth and collected the merits of ancient and modern times. Scholars are all over the world Taoism became popular among the people. Since there are many Taoists, they go their separate ways. Everyone has his own teacher. The study of the nine schools of agency. The names of these nine streams are Xing Yan. "

Introduction to pre-Qin learning;

"The study of Taoism is actually the program of various schools. All the philosophers used the early period of the Ming Dynasty, while the Taoism was unified, and all the philosophers used it, and the Tao was its body. "