On my recent trip to China, I learned about Dao that I would like to share with my readers:
The word Dao means "the Way" in Chinese and refers to the way of the universe, the order behind nature, and the power within nature. While Confucianism is more of a social philosophy and Buddhism came from outside China, Daoism can claim to be the only really indigenous Chinese "religion." It is all about man finding his place in the great cosmic balance of things. In contrast to the monotheistic religions, with their emphasis on good fighting evil, in Daoism there is what's known as a unity of opposites. Good and evil, light and dark, stron and weak, empty and full are all part of the same whole, and each is necessary to the other.
While Confucius stressed order and duties and finding one's place in society, Daoism focused more on metapysical questions, finding one's place in the universe. It had connections with folk religions. It was linked to alchemy and magic and meditation and dietary control.
The absence of a monotheistic faith claiming to be revealed as divine truth is no doubt one of the reasons Chinese people claim they have never fought a war in the name of religion.
The Dao in Daoism, the Way itself, is by its nature unknowable. I always feel this single line has had more impact on the Chinese psyche than almost any other. "There is no absolute spiritual truth. Truth, if it even exists, is unknowable." Contrast this with Judasism, Christianity, and Islam, which claim to be revelations of divine truth.
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