By: Micah Lindsey
Summer Larsen
Alan Wilson
Laozi (Lao Tzu)
Laozi (Lao Tzu) was the founder of
Daoism/Taoism
 He is known for organizing sacred texts
that turned the spiritual beliefs into a
religion
 The he pieced together is book known
as Tao Te Ching

Laozi (Lao Tzu)
Date Founded
Daoism/Taosim was founded around
580-500 B.C.E
 Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu writings, was
written along side the founding of
Daoism.
 The Tao Te Ching is one of the most
widely read sacred texts, due to it’s
simplicity and is read by all religions.

Basic Beliefs of Daoism
“Tao”(the way) is believed to be the
origin of the universe.
 Tao is indescribable and beyond human
understanding.
 There are four basic themes of Daoism,
-Tao as mentioned above
-life is the greatest of all possessions
-life is to be lived simply
-pursuing material wealth, fame, power,
stature, prestige, pomp, or glory is to be
despised.

Basic Beliefs of Daoism

The Yin Yang was a big Part of Daoism,
resembling that there is reality in both
sides in good and evil
Gods and Goddesses

Daoism didn’t have a specific god but a
mass of deities (creators/supreme
beings). Such as Jade Emperor, The
Four Heavenly Emperors, and The Five
Emperors of the five Directions. The
most supreme deities were the Three
Purities. There were other small deities
as well but not neaerly as important.
The Three Purities
The Three purities were: The Celestial
Worthy of Numinous Treasure, The
Celestial Worthy of the Tao and its Value,
and the Celestial Worthy of Primordial
Beginning

The Jade Emperor
The Jade Emperor was the highest single
deity ruling the universe. He was only lower
then the Three Purities, was Equal to The
Emperor in the human world

The Four Heavenly Emperors

The Four Heavenly Emperors: Gouchen,
Ziwei, The Great Emperor of longevity,
and Houtu
The Three Divine Officials

The Three Divine Officials are the Official
of Heaven who bestows blessings, the
Official of Earth who Pardons sins, and the
Official of Water who eliminates disasters
Afterlife
Daoism did not focus on death, it
focused on having a good, healthy, and
long life
 Daoist beliefs about the afterlife reflect
the religion approach to life, rather than
death
 Daoist stresses health and longevity
through diet and meditation.
 Death to the Daoist is nothing but the
return to the Tao itself

Religious and Other Texts
Tao Te Ching written by Lao Tzu.
 The way and its power Written be Lao
Tzu.
 Tao, A new way of thinking.
 Tao Te Ching is one the most sacred
text in china all other sacred texts tie
back to Tao Te Ching. Tao Te Ching is
the backbone of Daoism.

Geographic Area
Along with Confucism and Legalism,
Daoism was a big part of classical
China’s early religions
 The were few believers of Daoism in
Africa, Europe, Latin America, northern
America, Oceania, but most of it
population is found in Asia

Geographic Area
Believers Today
Approximately 187,107,000 people in
the world believe in Daoism, which is
3.4% of the world’s population to this
date
 Many people Have similar beliefs about
the world but do not fully commit to the
Daoist religion

Interaction with
Politics/Government
Taoism/Daoism is in some ways its own
political practice.
 Taoism is not associated with
government, As mentioned earlier
Taoism believes more in life and the
longevity of life and morals rather than
political views.

Sources
www.china.org.cn/english/daodejingforu
m/208124.htm
 www.taoism.net/ikuanto/origin/home.htm
 www.sacred-text.com/tao/
 Personaltao.com/teachings/questions/w
hat-is-yin-yang/
 http://www.bellbookandcandlepublication
s.com/greenwoodsvillage/gor/tao.php
