Sunday, May 4, 2014

History


The Real Origin of the Tao

Due to the language and cultural barrier between East and West, it can often be difficult to find reliable and accurate information about the Tao. Misconceptions abound, even from sources that one would normally consider definitive and authoritative. One such misconception, perhaps the most important of all, has to do with the origin of the Tao.

Over time, the language in which it was written has evolved and changed, creating a certain level of ambiguity with respect to the meaning of the verses, as well as the translation of the title. The literal translation of “Tao” is “Way.” “Tao/Way” does not refer to a goal towards which we must strive to travel, but an attitude, state of mind or way of being in the world. “Te” has several meanings, including “strength,” “virtue” and “power.” In translating the term, many experts rely on the ancient concepts of virtue and power, both of which have multiple meanings. “Virtue” includes the concept of “integrity,” and has a dual meaning that encompasses both personal integrity and self-knowledge and the integrity of the eternal principles upon which the Universe is structured. The meaning of “power” or “strength” in this context does not concern worldly power over others, but the personal power that arises from intellectual independence informed by personal experience and understanding, rather than a reliance on dogma or received doctrine.

Many people interested in the Tao are still under the impression that Lao Tzu founded Taoism about 2,500 years ago. There is some truth to this, as long as we are only talking about philosophical Taoism  or religious Taoism. However, the one thing that most people do not realize is that both variants of Taoism came from a much older tradition, known to the Chinese simply as the Tao. It is not possible for Lao Tzu to be the founder of this ancient tradition for the simple reason that it began at least 2,300 years before his time.

Discerning individuals may glimpse this truth when they come across references to Huangdi, one of the legendary emperors of ancient China. Encyclopedia Britannica identifies him as "a patron saint of Taoism," while Columbia Encyclopedia says: "Along with the semi-mythical Lao Tzu, he was associated in the traditional Chinese folk culture with the founding of Taoism."

This is interesting, because Huangdi lived about 4,700 years ago, 2,200 years before Lao Tzu. He could only be a patron saint of Taoism if Taoism already existed at that time. And if he was associated with the founding of it, then Lao Tzu could not logically play the same role. One cannot originate something that has already been around for generations. Thus, most reference works in the West that cite Lao Tzu as the source of Taoism are not completely accurate. We can give Lao Tzu credit for religious Taoism and philosophical Taoism, but not the original Taoism that gave rise to both.






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