Is Lao Tzu the founder of Taoism?

Is Lao Tzu the founder of Taoism?

Taoist thought can be traced back to ancient times. Laozi is just an inheritor of Taoist thought. He is perfecting the thoughts of the ancients. Some of his thoughts are mentioned in the Book of Changes. Therefore, he cannot be the founder of Taoism. It's Lao Tzu, but he is a milestone. He is well-deserved to be a saint

Does Lao Tzu belong to Taoism?

This is what later generations say

What is the relationship between Laozi’s Taoism and current Taoism?

Lao Tzu is the originator of Taoism and the protagonist of the story of a butterfly in a dream.

Is the "Tao Te Ching" Taoist or Confucian?

"The Tao Te Ching", also known as "Laozi", is a representative work of Taoism. It is a work compiled by Taoist scholars during the Warring States Period by organizing the quotations and thoughts of Laozi throughout his life. The full text consists of eighty-one chapters, about 5,000 words, divided into two parts. The first thirty-seven chapters are the first part, called the "Tao Jing", and the last forty-four chapters are the second part, called the "De Jing", so it is called the "Tao Te Ching".

"Tao Te Ching" is the first work with a complete philosophical system in the history of Chinese philosophy, covering philosophy, science, politics, religion, military science, health science, sociology, ethics, etc. This knowledge is known as "the first of all scriptures".

Isn’t Laozi’s Taoism related to the I Ching at all?

There should be a connection. The following is a classic view of the impact of the "Book of Changes" on Chinese culture. The "Book of Changes" is The roots of Chinese culture were born around the Neolithic Age, and are an important symbol of China's entry into a civilized society. It is not only the earliest civilized classic, but also has an important impact on China's Taoism, Confucianism, Chinese medicine, writing, mathematics, philosophy, folk culture, etc. The "Book of Changes" is an artificial coding system. It consists of three different levels of system levels: Bagua, sixty-four hexagrams, and three hundred and eighty-four lines. It is also equipped with hexagram words and line words for text explanation. It has a strict and perfect internal code mathematical structure. , is the most hierarchical and most tightly structured symbol system in ancient civilizations currently known, and is also the earliest example of the application of systems theory. The openness and compatibility of the "Book of Changes" system set a model for the application of systems theory in later generations. The coding of the "Book of Changes" follows the strict laws of similarity, correspondence, correlation and relativity. It uses a simple hexagram system to simulate the development and evolution laws of all things in the universe and finds abstract connections between things. Compared with the modern research on concrete connections, Science is a brand new field, and its mysteries are still worthy of in-depth study. The theory of yin and yang encoded in the "Book of Changes" and its laws of extreme change, as well as the idea of ​​​​the Eight Diagrams of Successor Heaven and the Future, have a profound impact on Taoism. They are the ideological foundation of Taoism and are revered by Taoists as "one of the three mysteries." The Book of Changes is also an important source of Confucian ideas such as the Doctrine of the Mean, benevolence, righteousness, etiquette, wisdom, trust, and the Three Cardinal Guidelines and the Five Constant Virtues. It is respected by Confucians as "the first of all the classics." The yin and yang theory of the Book of Changes is the basis of the yin and yang theory of traditional Chinese medicine. The ideas of real-time positioning and keeping pace with the times in the "Book of Changes" have a vital influence on traditional Chinese medicine. The treatment principles of treating one person with one person and making prescriptions according to the disease are all derived from this. At the same time, it had an important influence on the formation of theories such as Ziwu Liuzhu, Eight Cardinal Principles Syndrome Differentiation, and the Six Evils of Wind, Cold, Heat, Dampness, Dryness, and Fire. The classic work of traditional Chinese medicine "The Yellow Emperor's Internal Classic" was greatly influenced by the "Book of Changes". The "Shen Nong's Materia Medica" of the Eastern Han Dynasty used the concept of Bagua to clarify the principles of traditional Chinese medicine. Zhang Zhongjing's "Treatise on Febrile Diseases" developed the Yin-Yang theory and Tai Chi into one into the Six Classics theory, established the principle of syndrome differentiation of the Six Classics, and laid the foundation for clinical medicine. The Book of Changes has a direct impact on military theory. Wang Yinglin of the Song Dynasty said in "Tongjian Answers": "The Book of Changes is a book, and the art of war is complete." The 64 hexagrams of the "Book of Changes" are suitable for the choice of war maneuver strategies. The famous military strategists Sun Bin, Wu Qi, Zhuge Liang, etc. in history , all arranging troops and formations according to the principles of "Book of Changes". In history, Qi Jiguang also referred to the principles of the "Book of Changes" when he created formations to fight against Japanese invaders. "The Book of Changes" also has great inspiration for the development of martial arts. There is a saying in the Book of Changes that "a gentleman should prepare his weapons to avoid danger" and "a gentleman should prepare his weapons to prevent accidents", which has a direct impact on the formation of the concepts of martial arts, fitness and self-defense. Baguazhang, Tai Chi, etc. all come from the theory of "I Ching". The influence of the "Book of Changes" on architecture is mainly closely related to the theory of "Feng Shui". In ancient times, urban construction layout and architectural settings were guided by the theory of the "Book of Changes". Siheyuan is a typical example of architecture with the concept of yin and yang balance and harmony.

The "nine beams and eighteen columns" in traditional architecture are all inspired by the "Book of Changes", and the corner tower of the Forbidden City is a typical example of this style. Go is also a game evolved based on the principles of the "Book of Changes" and is considered one of the most complex games in the world. Today, when chess masters are defeated by computers, computers cannot even reach the level of beginners in the field of Go. In addition, the "Book of Changes" has had a huge impact on gardening, health preservation, environmental protection, agriculture and other aspects, and some are still important references today. The unique real-time positioning system theory encoded in the "Book of Changes" fundamentally breaks the myth that modern science can be "repeated" and emphasizes the particularity of the contradictions of things, which has important worldview and methodological significance. As science develops, its far-reaching significance will be increasingly proven. The Book of Changes emphasizes the idea of ​​change that keeps pace with the times, and is the main source of traditional Chinese thoughts such as harmonious culture and advancing with the times. The idea of ​​sequence structure encoded in the "Book of Changes" is the earliest known example of studying the sequence structure of things, more than 5,000 years earlier than the current genetic sequencing. The same hexagram symbols are classified into "Lianshan", "Guizang", "Zhouyi" and "Shao Shiyi" due to different sequence structures. The idea of ​​real-time positioning in the "Book of Changes" is the root of the idea of ​​"harmony between man and nature", and it still has important reference significance for environmental protection and health care. The fuzzy concepts encoded in the "Book of Changes" are the forerunners of fuzzy mathematics in later generations. The four theories based on the coding of the "Book of Changes" have a direct impact on the "six books" of Chinese character creation and use. Pictograms, meanings, meanings, pictophones, transfers, and borrowings can all be used...

What kind of character is Laozi in Taoism? Please give a detailed historical explanation

Laozi (about 571 BC to 471 BC) is Li Er, with the courtesy name Dan and the posthumous title of Bo. Positive. Han nationality, a native of Qurenli, Li Township, Ku County, Chu State (now Taiqinggong Town, Luyi County, Henan Province), was a great philosopher, thinker and founder of the Taoist school in ancient my country. He was posthumously named the ancestor of the surname Li by the emperor of the Tang Dynasty. Laozi is one of the world's cultural celebrities and the author of "Tao Te Ching" (also known as "Laozi"). The essence of his works is simple dialectics, advocating governance by inaction, and his teachings have a profound impact on the development of Chinese philosophy. In Taoism, Laozi is revered as the founder of Taoism.

He once served as the "keeper of the collection room" (an official in charge of the collection of books) in the Zhou Dynasty. He is one of the greatest philosophers and thinkers in China. He is revered as the ancestor of Taoism and a world cultural celebrity. Laozi's ideological proposition is "inaction". "Laozi" uses "Tao" to explain the evolution of all things in the universe. "Tao" is an objective natural law, and at the same time it has the eternal significance of "independence and unchangeability, going forward without peril". "Laozi" contains a large number of simple dialectical views, such as the belief that everything has positive and negative sides and can be transformed by opposition. This is because "the opposite is the movement of the Tao", "the good can be transformed into the strange, and the good can be transformed into the demon". "Misfortune lies where blessings depend, and blessing lies where misfortune lies." He also believes that everything in the world is the unity of "being" and "nothing", "being and non-being are interdependent", and "nothing" is the basis, "everything in the world is born from being, and being is born from nothing". His mottos about the people include: "The way of heaven is to make up for the deficiency when there is more damage, but the way of man is not the same, to make up for the deficiency when the loss is not enough"; "The people are hungry because of the large food tax"; "The people despise death." , "The people are not afraid of death, so how can they be afraid of death?" His philosophical thoughts and the Taoist school founded by him not only made important contributions to the development of ancient Chinese thought and culture, but also had a profound impact on the development of Chinese thought and culture for more than 2,000 years. Regarding his identity, some people think that he is Lao Laizi, who was also from Chu. At the same time as Confucius, he wrote fifteen books to promote Taoism; others think that he was Zhou Taishi Dan (dān), who lived after the death of Confucius. For more than a hundred years. The famous historian Sima Qian explained in "The Biography of Laozi and Han Fei" in "Historical Records" that there were two speculations about Laozi and who he was at that time. "It may be said: Laozi is also Lao Laizi. He wrote fifteen chapters about the use of Taoism, which was said at the same time as Confucius." At that time, Sima Qian also suspected that Laozi was Lao Laizi and was not the founder of Taoism.

Legend:

According to legend, Laozi, who is regarded as Taishang Laojun by Taoism, is a descendant of Pengzu. In the year of Yangjia of the Shang Dynasty, the god turned into Qi, and Laozi was born in King Xuanmiao In the womb of his daughter Li Shi.

Mr. Li was washing clothes by the river at the end of the village when he suddenly saw a yellow plum floating down the upper reaches. Lishi hurriedly used a branch to fish up the fist-sized yellow plum. At noon, Li Shi was hot and thirsty, so he ate the plum. From then on, Li Shi became pregnant.

Li Shi was pregnant for 81 years and gave birth to a boy.

This boy was born with white eyebrows, white hair, and a white beard. Therefore, Li Shi named him "Laozi". I could speak since I was born. He pointed to a plum tree in the yard and said, "Li is my last name."

Laozi tried to establish a theory that encompasses everything in the universe.

Laozi believes that all things follow this law (Tao):

The interior of things themselves is not single and static, but relatively complex and changing. The thing itself is the unity of yin and yang.

Things that are opposite to each other will transform into each other, which is the transformation of yin and yang.

Laozi’s teaching scroll (regional) [1]

Method (virtue) comes from the law of things (Tao).

Laozi's "inaction" does not take "inaction" as the purpose, but "doing" as the purpose. Because according to the "Tao" mentioned before, "inaction" will be transformed into "action".

The brilliance of this kind of thinking is that although it is not subjectively aimed at obtaining benefits, it can objectively achieve better benefits.

From "The sky and the earth move on their own without anyone pushing them; the sun and the moon shine by themselves without being burned; the stars sequence themselves without being arranged; the animals and beasts emerge by themselves without being man-made. This is what nature does, so why bother with man?" (See the 4th paragraph of Laozi’s story Confucius asks about rituals below) It can be seen that:

The "nature" mentioned by Laozi is not a concept similar to God. The law of all things (Tao) is specified by nature, that is, "Tao" The law is natural". Some people have misunderstood the meaning of nature here.

It should be noted:

In fact, human life is like the existence of the universe, and no one can rationally point out its purpose.

Therefore, irrationally choosing a certain goal(s) becomes the only option.

I look at problems from the infinitely high position of Tao.

Therefore, Lao Tzu only mentioned the "method" but did not point out the "purpose".

This gives us a revelation: why should people suffer to deliberately achieve their goals...

What Laozi founded is Taoist philosophy, not Taoism. Is it right or wrong?

According to the official history of Taoism, it is correct! After all, according to the official statement, the establishment of Taoism was founded by the heavenly master Zhang Daoling in the late Eastern Han Dynasty

Is the founder of Taoism Laozi? What's the basis?

Taoism is not the same thing as the Taoist thought advocated by Laozi and Zhuangzi.

What we call Taoism now is actually a mixed concept. In addition to admiring the thoughts of Laozi and Zhuangzi, In addition to those who admire other ideas, it also includes many people who admire other ideas. In particular, what is called Taoism in later generations mostly refers to people who respect Taoist ideas. Taoism was not founded by Laozi. In fact, Laozi’s ideas only account for To a very small extent, Lao Tzu became the founder of Taoism because of historical and social reasons.

If you want to know the beginning and end of Taoism, you should read more related books. What others say is just other people’s understanding of things. This understanding is restricted by their personal knowledge and understanding ability, and cannot fully represent it. The truth of the matter. The final judge of what is right or wrong is you.

What is the relationship between Laozi’s Taoism and Taoism?

Taoism and Taoism The terms "Taoism" and "Taoism" are often used without distinction. Historically, these two words have referred to many different things and have been conflated; some people still advocate equating the two. However, if we understand Taoism as a philosophical school of thought founded by Laozi and Zhuangzi and reinvented in the Wei and Jin Dynasties, and understand Taoism as a religion that gradually formed in the Han Dynasty and later developed and diverged in several ways, then although Taoism is theoretically It has absorbed a large number of factors from Taoist thought, and even regards Laozi as its leader, but the two cannot be confused, nor can Taoist theory be the same as Taoist thought. As a religion, Taoism has its worship and belief in gods, believers and organizations, and a series of religious rituals and activities. The inheritance of its main sects is roughly clear. As a philosophical school of thought, the evolution of Taoism and its representative figures should be the most important content when it is explained. The inheritance and evolution of Taoism after the Wei and Jin Dynasties still seems vague and difficult to explain, but it has important implications for the past dynasties. However, the influence of scholars and literati is still vaguely discernible; from this perspective, it can also be said that "Taoism" in a narrow sense refers to the philosophical school of thought in the pre-Qin period with Laozi and Zhuangzi as its main representatives.

The similarities and differences between Taoist theology and Taoist thought are indeed difficult to describe. Let me give you an example: Lao and Zhuang did not mention Taoism’s so-called immortality and immortality. It cannot be regarded as a reasonable extension of Lao and Zhuang’s thoughts. It can even be said that it is not contrary to the way of nature. Taoism is one of the most important schools of thought among the hundreds of scholars in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods in China. Taoist thought originated very early. According to legend, Emperor Xuanyuan had the idea of ​​the unity of nature and man. Generally speaking, it is recognized that the first person to establish Taoist doctrine was Laozi in the Spring and Autumn Period. Laozi gave a detailed explanation in his "Laozi" ("Tao Te Ching"). Other representatives of Taoist thought include Zhuang Zhou, Lieyu Kou, Hui Shi and others during the Warring States Period. Taoism advocates a natural world view and methodology, respects Huangdi and Laozi as its founders, and calls them Huang Lao. The core of Taoist thought is "Tao", which is believed to be the origin of the universe and the law that governs all movements in the universe. Laozi once said in his works: "There are things mixed together, born in advance of heaven and earth. Xiaoha! Liaoha! Independent and unchanging, it can be the mother of heaven and earth. I don't know its name, so I call it Tao" ("Laozi" Chapter 2 Chapter 25) In the early years of the Western Han Dynasty, Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing of the Han Dynasty governed the country with Taoist ideas, allowing the people to recuperate from the harsh rule of the Qin Dynasty. History calls it the rule of Wenjing. Later, Confucian scholar Dong Zhongshu proposed to Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty the policy of "deposing hundreds of schools of thought and respecting Confucianism alone", which was adopted by later emperors. Taoism has since become a non-mainstream thought. Although Taoism was not officially adopted, it continued to play an important role in the development of ancient Chinese thought. Neo-Confucianism of the Song and Ming Dynasties was developed by integrating Taoist thoughts. Taoist thought was later absorbed by Zhang Lu's Five Pecks of Rice and other religions, and evolved into Taoism, one of the important religions in China. Fengliu in the Wei and Jin Dynasties paid more attention to alchemy when talking about metaphysics. Therefore, Taoism and Taoism are often confused. Taoism is a polytheistic religion formed and spread in China. Its influence was second only to Buddhism in ancient China. Taoism, together with Confucianism and Buddhism, is considered to form the three pillars of traditional Chinese culture. Taoism takes Tao as its pursuit goal, hence the name Taoism. Taoism is formed on the basis of ancient Chinese Taoist thought and theory by absorbing the magic of immortals, folk ghost and god worship concepts and witchcraft activities. It advocates tranquility and inaction, immortality, and attainment of enlightenment and immortality. Origin: Although Taoism regards Laozi as its founder, its ideas are not completely consistent with the thoughts of Laozi and Zhuangzi, but more benefit from the Huang-Lao Taoism that was popular in the early Han Dynasty and relied on Laozi's famous sayings to cultivate Taoism and maintain longevity. Another origin of Taoism is Fangxian Taoism, which began in the Warring States and flourished in the Qin and Han Dynasties. In addition, we can also trace the worship of ghosts and gods in the Yin and Shang Dynasties. In the process of its gradual formation, the interaction between Taoism and Buddhism which was entering China at that time (the influence of Buddhism on Taoism and the influence of Taoism on the sinicization of Buddhism) is also worth noting. Development process The development of Taoism is generally divided into four periods: the origin period of the Han, Wei and Jin Dynasties, the prosperity of the Tang and Song Dynasties, the emergence of Quanzhen religion during the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, and its decline after the Qing Dynasty. The formation of Taoism was a slow development process. As two landmark events in the final formation of Taoism, one is the spread of the Taiping Jing and the other is Zhang Daoling's Five Dou Rice Road. During the reign of Emperor Shun of the Eastern Han Dynasty (126-144), the "Taiping Qingling Book" (later known as the "Taiping Jing") passed down by Yu Ji and Gong Chong was published and was widely disseminated. By the time of Emperor Ling of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Zhang Jiao was preaching according to the "Taiping Qingling Book", which was called Taiping Dao. He claimed to be a great sage and a good teacher. His followers were spread all over the world and he was already quite influential. Later, the Yellow Turban Uprising failed, and Taiping Road declined day by day. Likewise...

Are Laozi and Zhuangzi both the founders of Taoism?

There are three founders of Pre-Qin Taoism: the first is Yang Zhu, but his works have not been preserved, so people do not know what his specific thoughts are. They can only learn from some other books. His thoughts are occasionally seen in the book; the second is Laozi, who left a "Tao Te Ching", which is the origin of Taoist thought. This is because Yang Zhu has no works preserved; the third is Zhuangzi, who left a copy of "Zhuangzi" The book further developed the thoughts of the Tao Te Ching, thereby completing Taoist thought.