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Religious Studies & Theology vocabulary · World Religions and Traditions

Daoism

Meaning in religious studies & theology, with examples

/ˈdaʊɪzəm/nounCommon term

In religious studies & theology, Daoism means: A Chinese religious and philosophical tradition centred on the Dao, 'the Way', the natural order of the universe, and associated with the Daodejing and the sage Laozi.

In Turkish: Taoizm, Daoizm

How it is used

Also spelled Taoism, an older romanization. Classical texts include the Daodejing and the Zhuangzi; key ideas include wu wei (effortless action) and the balance of yin and yang. Scholars now question the old split between 'philosophical' and 'religious' Daoism.

Example sentences

  1. Daoism and Confucianism shaped Chinese ideas about nature and society for centuries.

  2. Daoist priests perform rituals for the whole community during major festivals.

Common collocations

  • philosophical Daoism
  • religious Daoism
  • Daoist temple
  • Daoist texts
  • BuddhismA religious and philosophical tradition based on the teaching of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, who lived in northern India around the fifth century BCE.
  • syncretismThe blending of beliefs, practices or symbols from different religious traditions into a new form.
  • templeA building dedicated to the worship of a god or gods, especially in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and ancient religions; in Jewish history, the Temple in Jerusalem.
  • meditationA practice of training attention and awareness, for example by focusing on the breath, a word or an image, used in many religions for spiritual growth.

More terms: World Religions and Traditions

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