The legend of Laozi and Daoism - Revision history

65.130.181.67 at 16:38, 6 December 2012

2012-12-06T16:38:01Z

Dekeo: /* Modern Influence */

2012-10-18T20:30:33Z

Modern Influence

Dekeo: /* Daoism */

2012-10-18T20:28:38Z

Daoism

Dekeo: /* Daodejing */

2012-10-18T20:27:46Z

Daodejing

Dekeo at 20:21, 18 October 2012

2012-10-18T20:21:17Z

Aaronsamudio at 18:25, 11 October 2012

2012-10-11T18:25:33Z

Aaronsamudio: /* Modern Influence */

2012-10-11T18:22:19Z

Modern Influence

Aaronsamudio at 18:19, 11 October 2012

2012-10-11T18:19:10Z

Aaronsamudio at 18:13, 11 October 2012

2012-10-11T18:13:17Z

Aaronsamudio at 17:49, 11 October 2012

2012-10-11T17:49:22Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:38, 6 December 2012
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−	[[File:Laozi.jpg\|250px\|thumb\|~~left~~\|Typical renderings of Laozi depict him as an old man with long white hair and beard.]]	+	[[File:Laozi.jpg\|250px\|thumb\|right\|Typical renderings of Laozi depict him as an old man with long white hair and beard.]]
	Arguably the most influential Chinese philosopher of his time, Laozi’s life reflects the ambiguity of his philosophy—mysterious and contradictory. Questions asked about the Daodejing, the Taoist script attributed to Laozi, also lead to doubts over the actual existence of Laozi himself. However, despite the uncertaintly of Laozi’s existence as a physical being, his deification as a worshiped figure in China parallels similar global religious figures which emerged during Karl Jasper’s “axial age”(Jasper 1951). As a philosopher, or deity, Laozi continues to contribute to philosophical thought, and religious worship in modern days.		Arguably the most influential Chinese philosopher of his time, Laozi’s life reflects the ambiguity of his philosophy—mysterious and contradictory. Questions asked about the Daodejing, the Taoist script attributed to Laozi, also lead to doubts over the actual existence of Laozi himself. However, despite the uncertaintly of Laozi’s existence as a physical being, his deification as a worshiped figure in China parallels similar global religious figures which emerged during Karl Jasper’s “axial age”(Jasper 1951). As a philosopher, or deity, Laozi continues to contribute to philosophical thought, and religious worship in modern days.

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 == '''Modern Influence''' ==
-The influence of the Laozi on Chinese culture profound.  By inspiring intellectual and philosophical movements the Daodejing played a significant role in the evolution of Chinese philosophic thought and the development of classical  literature, calligraphy, painting, music, martial arts, and other cultural traditions (Chan 2012)
+The influence of the Laozi on Chinese culture is profound.  By inspiring intellectual and philosophical movements the Daodejing played a significant role in the evolution of Chinese philosophic thought and the development of classical  literature, calligraphy, painting, music, martial arts, and other cultural traditions (Chan 2012)
 Laozi is even considered by some to be the first libertarian, and excertps from the Daodejing are included in the a book titled "The Libertarian Reader."

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:28, 18 October 2012
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−	Daoism advocates a life of simplicity, lived in harmony with ziran shijie (the natural world), as well as enlightened leadership. Around 200 BC, the first successful organized religious Daoist system appeared in the Eastern Han Dynasy when, in 142 CE, Zhang Daoling established the "Way of Celestial Masters." The inspiration for Daoism according to it's founder Zhang Daoling, were based on visionary encounters with Laozi. The Daodejing, is used as a authoritative religious ~~tex~~. Some of the promises that is offers for following the way include wisdom, salvation, and immortality for those that follow the "way."	+	Daoism advocates a life of simplicity, lived in harmony with ziran shijie (the natural world), as well as enlightened leadership. Around 200 BC, the first successful organized religious Daoist system appeared in the Eastern Han Dynasy when, in 142 CE, Zhang Daoling established the "Way of Celestial Masters." The inspiration for Daoism according to it's founder Zhang Daoling, were based on visionary encounters with Laozi. The Daodejing, is used as a authoritative religious text. Some of the promises that is offers for following the way include wisdom, salvation, and immortality for those that follow the "way."

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 It is thought that because the Daodejing originated during the end of the Warring States period that many of the writings in it which discrourage conflict reflect the war-weary author and his culture.
-"Fine weapons are inauspicious instruments; All creatures find them repulsive. And so one who has the Way does not rely upon them. At home, a cultivated person gives precedence to the left; At war, a cultivated person gives precedence to the right.61 Weapons are inauspicious instruments, not the instruments of a cultivated person. But if given no choice, the cultivated person will use them. Peace and quiet are the highest ideals;
+"Fine weapons are inauspicious instruments; All creatures find them repulsive. And so one who has the Way does not rely upon them. At home, a cultivated person gives precedence to the left; At war, a cultivated person gives precedence to the right. 61  Weapons are inauspicious instruments, not the instruments of a cultivated person. But if given no choice, the cultivated person will use them. Peace and quiet are the highest ideals;
 They achieve their goal but are not arrogant. They achieve their goal but only because they have no choice. They achieve their goal but do not force the issue. For after a period of vigor there is old age. To rely on such practices is said to be contrary to the Way. And what is contrary to the Way will come to an early end."(Ivanhoe 177)
+.
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 *'''Government'''
-Laozi was an optimist, he believed in the intrinsic good of human beings.  He believed that if you let them be they would revert to there "natural" state, a demure, humility.  It is the action upon them, he argues that makes the people react, and act "unnaturally."
+Laozi was an optimist, he believed in the intrinsic good of human beings.  He believed that if you let them be they would revert to their "natural" state, a demure, humility.  It is the action upon them, he argues that makes the people react, and act "unnaturally."
 "The more dull and depressed the government, the more honest and agreeable the people. The more active and searching the government, the more deformed and deficient the people." (Ivanhoe 191)
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 In this quote we see how the Daodejing purposefully contradicts itself as a part of its pedagogy:
-"When the best scholars hear about the Way, They assiduously put it into practice. When average scholars hear about the Way, They sometimes uphold it and sometimes forsake it. When the worst scholars hear about the Way, They laugh at it! If they did not laugh at it, it would not really be the Way. And so the common saying has it: The clearest Way seems obscure; The Way ahead seems to lead backward; The most level Way seems uneven; Highest Virtue seems like a valley; Great purity seems sullied, Ample Virtue seems insufficient; Solid Virtue seems unstable; The simple and genuine seems fickle; The great square has no corners; The great vessel takes long to perfect;The great note sounds faint; The great image is without shape; The Way is hidden and without name.80 Only the Way is good at providing and completing." (Ivanhoe 2011).
+"When the best scholars hear about the Way, They assiduously put it into practice. When average scholars hear about the Way, They sometimes uphold it and sometimes forsake it. When the worst scholars hear about the Way, They laugh at it! If they did not laugh at it, it would not really be the Way. And so the common saying has it: The clearest Way seems obscure; The Way ahead seems to lead backward; The most level Way seems uneven; Highest Virtue seems like a valley; Great purity seems sullied, Ample Virtue seems insufficient; Solid Virtue seems unstable; The simple and genuine seems fickle; The great square has no corners; The great vessel takes long to perfect;The great note sounds faint; The great image is without shape; The Way is hidden and without name. 80  Only the Way is good at providing and completing." (Ivanhoe 2011).
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 Most scholars today believe that the Daodejing, also known as the "Laozi" is a composite work of many authors, regarding Laozi as a mythical character.  There is evidence, however that the Daodejing may have had a singular editor who compiled the work into one book.  The first record of the Daodejing in its present form can be traced back to 300-200 BCE, which is nearly 300 years after Laozi is said to have lived as one of Confucius' contemporaries (Ivanhoe 2011).
 == '''Daoism''' ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:21, 18 October 2012
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	Arguably the most influential Chinese philosopher of his time, Laozi’s life reflects the ambiguity of his philosophy—mysterious and contradictory. Questions asked about the Daodejing, the Taoist script attributed to Laozi, also lead to doubts over the actual existence of Laozi himself. However, despite the uncertaintly of Laozi’s existence as a physical being, his deification as a worshiped figure in China parallels similar global religious figures which emerged during Karl Jasper’s “axial age”(Jasper 1951). As a philosopher, or deity, Laozi continues to contribute to philosophical thought, and religious worship in modern days.		Arguably the most influential Chinese philosopher of his time, Laozi’s life reflects the ambiguity of his philosophy—mysterious and contradictory. Questions asked about the Daodejing, the Taoist script attributed to Laozi, also lead to doubts over the actual existence of Laozi himself. However, despite the uncertaintly of Laozi’s existence as a physical being, his deification as a worshiped figure in China parallels similar global religious figures which emerged during Karl Jasper’s “axial age”(Jasper 1951). As a philosopher, or deity, Laozi continues to contribute to philosophical thought, and religious worship in modern days.

−	In his Source Book on Chinese Philosophy" Wing-Tsit Chan asserts, ""Chinese Civilization and the Chinese character would have been utterly different if the book [Daodejing] had never been written." Chan goes on insisting that Confusionism, and Buhddism a have not escape Taoist influence. In fact, Chan says, one cannot "~~nope~~ to understand Chinese philosophy, religion, government, art, medicine--or even cooking--without a real appreciation of the profound philosophy taught in [the Daodejing] (Chan 136).	+	In his Source Book on Chinese Philosophy" Wing-Tsit Chan asserts, ""Chinese Civilization and the Chinese character would have been utterly different if the book [Daodejing] had never been written." Chan goes on insisting that Confusionism, and Buhddism a have not escape Taoist influence. In fact, Chan says, one cannot "hope to understand Chinese philosophy, religion, government, art, medicine--or even cooking--without a real appreciation of the profound philosophy taught in [the Daodejing] (Chan 136).

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:25, 11 October 2012
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	[[File:Presentation_Laozi.pptx]]		[[File:Presentation_Laozi.pptx]]
	-Nice job with the presentation yesterday. --[[User:Tcrale\|Tcrale]] 00:17, 11 October 2012 (UTC)		-Nice job with the presentation yesterday. --[[User:Tcrale\|Tcrale]] 00:17, 11 October 2012 (UTC)
		+	[[User:Aaronsamudio\|Aaronsamudio]] 18:25, 11 October 2012 (UTC)

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 ''The Tao Te Ching''
-== '''Philosophical Influence''' ==
+== '''Modern Influence''' ==
 == '''References''' ==
 Chan Wing-Tsit, A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy, Princeton Press 1963

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 == '''Daoism''' ==
 * '''Parallels with Other Religions'''
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 -If you seek the Way through learning, you will not understand it. If you seek the Way with a humble heart, then you will find it.
 ''The Tao Te Ching''

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 "When the best scholars hear about the Way, They assiduously put it into practice. When average scholars hear about the Way, They sometimes uphold it and sometimes forsake it. When the worst scholars hear about the Way, They laugh at it! If they did not laugh at it, it would not really be the Way. And so the common saying has it: The clearest Way seems obscure; The Way ahead seems to lead backward; The most level Way seems uneven; Highest Virtue seems like a valley; Great purity seems sullied, Ample Virtue seems insufficient; Solid Virtue seems unstable; The simple and genuine seems fickle; The great square has no corners; The great vessel takes long to perfect;The great note sounds faint; The great image is without shape; The Way is hidden and without name.80 Only the Way is good at providing and completing." (Ivanhoe 2011).
 This undefinable axiom to the Daoist philosophy will later receive criticism from modern western philosophers for lacking the pragmatism of a defined system of belief.
-'''Background'''
+'''Legitimacy'''
 Most scholars today believe that the Daodejing, also known as the "Laozi" is a composite work of many authors, regarding Laozi as a mythical character.  There is evidence, however that the Daodejing may have had a singular editor who compiled the work into one book.  The first record of the Daodejing in its present form can be traced back to 300-200 BCE, which is nearly 300 years after Laozi is said to have lived as one of Confucius' contemporaries (Ivanhoe 2011).
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 ''The Tao Te Ching''
 == '''Philosophical Influence''' ==