Taoismis believed to be founded by Lao Tseu (Lao Tu), a Chinese contemporaryof Confucius in about 500 B.C. The ideas and doctrines of his religionare explained in his book entitled Dao Duc Kinh (The Book of Morality).

Hedid spend his life on searching for a way that would avoid the constantfeudal warfare and conflicts that disrupted society during his lifetime.Taoism, therefore, is the natural mode of behavior that encourages oneto live purely and simply. It relies on harmony between Man, Nature anda Universal Order. Such a harmony would promote good will, personalintegrity. The ritual of Taoism in Vietnam today consists ofreligion-magical features, divining, worship of the spirits of nature,and so forth

Yin-Yang symbol

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The Yin Yang is a common theme in Taoism, with black representing yin and white representing yang. Thesymbol was derived from astronomical observations which recorded theshadow of the sun throughout a full year. The two swirling shapesinside the symbol give the impression of change - the only constantfactor in the universe. Hence, another idea states that, Yin - the darkside- represents the breath that formed the earth or symbolizes for the feminine which is  soft, cool, calm, introspective, and healing…  In contrast, Yang - the bright side- symbolizes the breath that formed the heavens and associate with the masculine: hard, hot, energetic, moving, and sometimes aggressive. However,since nothing in nature is purely black or purely white, the symbolincludes a small black spot in the white swirl, and a correspondingwhite spot in the black swirl.

The implications of Yin and Yang

The YinYang symbol reflects the inescapably intertwined duality of all thingsin nature. No quality is independent of its opposite, nor pure.This principle applies to all elements of existence – from nature to aparticular individual. Social disturbance, natural disasters, personalillness, unsettled family relationships and so on are the results of animbalance between the forces of Yin and Yang

A comparison between Taoism and other beliefs

Thecongruity of Taoism and Confucianism is obvious. Confucianism is ameans of regulating behavior without a spiritual dimension while Taoismgrant people precepts that mostly go without spirituality andmysticism. Like some aspects of Buddhism, Taoism seems to haveovertones of pessimism and a negative attitude toward attempts tochange drastically the life patterns.

 

Vietnam and Taoism

 

Priorto the Communist domination, many Vietnamese tended to accept all thethree religious beliefs, Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism, withoutconflict concerns. Taoism aims to adjust the nature, and has itsevidence in the daily life circle of ethnic Vietnamese whether they arecity-dwellers or peasants on rice paddy fields. Through our country,you can see so many images of the Gods of Taoism to be worshipped intemples and pagodas. Most families use their altar to worship the‘Kitchen God’- one of Taoist deities that monitor the families’behaviors. Coming to Vietnam, you may be puzzled by a small mirroredoctagonal disc, with the Yin Yang and other symbols, fixed above thedoor of most houses and small shops. According to the Vietnamesepeople, it plays an important role inbarring wandering spirits orghosts.