Taoists are dedicated to living in harmony with the Tao – or path. Pronounced ‘dow’, the Tao is a natural energy that envelopes and flows through all living and non-living things in the universe. It regulates the processes of nature, bringing balance to the universe.

Taoists follow the art of wu wei, which means allowing nature to take its course and not interfering with it. Living one’s life is like allowing a river to flow towards the sea without impeding its natural flow.

Other core beliefs that guide Taoists include:

• The three jewels: compassion, moderation and humility
• Nurturing personal ch’ i – or energy
• Fostering health and wellbeing
• Cyclical rather than linear time

Followers of the Tao also believe that body’s organs and orifices correspond with the five elements of the sky: water, fire, wood, metal and earth. This belief forms the basis of acupuncture.

Taoist philosophy has had a significant impact on many people in the West, and the influence of the Tao can be seen in – among other things – the use of holistic medical techniques such as herbalism and acupuncture; or the popularity of meditation and martial arts.

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What are the forms of Chinese Taoist Religion in China?
Before the cultural revolution shook that continent there were three primary forms of TAOIST religion in China. The Monastic TAOISM known as the "Lungmen (Dragon Gate) TAOISTS," the "Chengyi Taoists" and the "Changtienssu Taoists."

• The Lungmen Taoists descend from the TaoistHermitage said to have been founded by disciples of LAO TZU at the Lungmen grottoes near Loyang where LAO TZU stopped for a while on his departure from the Chinese Empire. Their teaching is the purest spiritual teaching of LAO TZU. They practiced meditation and existed on a vegetable diet. They never cut their hair which they wore in the style of those ancient days.
  
• The Chengyi Taoist Church was quite similar to the Lungmen but somewhat more worldly as the monks ate meat, drank wine and sometimes married. They practice spiritism and exorcism, study magic, love lore and ancient herbal medicine. It is the form of Taoism that supports a pantheistic collection of popular gods around which there is associated much evolved ritual. The Chief Deity being the Jade Emperor.
  
• The Changtienssu Church (Heavenly Teacher Chang's) founded in the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.E to 25 C.E). Live mostly in towns. Their occupation was the writing of talismans and charms, black magic, fortune telling and mediumistic phenomena. They openly married, cut their hair, ate and drank everything. Teacher Chang persuaded the Emperor that a new vision of Taoism had been revealed to him and that it should be officially recognized. The Emperor granted the request and thus was founded a Taoism Church with a central unifying ecclesiastical authority. Teacher Chang established a definite hierarchy of priests with himself as Supreme Priest - sometimes called the Taoist"Pope." Also known as "The Heavenly Masters."
  

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Taoism was established by Lao-Tse, a contemporary of Confucius who lived between during the Han dynasty (604-531 BCE). Lao-Tse’s life is so cloaked in mystery that some believe that he never actually existed. By contrast, some Taoist groups regard him as a god.

It is generally agreed that Lao-Tse was a librarian who developed such a profound understanding of the Tao that he became widely respected as the definitive authority on the Tao faith.

Legend has it that he became so unhappy with the imbalances in Chinese society that he left the country. During his travels, he made various stops. The most famous of these was the stop he made at the gates of the Chinese Empire on his way to Tibet. Here, he wrote down his teachings in one of Taoism’s most important books, the Tao Te Ching.

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At the top of the hierarchy are the San Qing (three pure gods): Yu Qing (Jade Pure), Shang Qing (Upper Pure) and Tai Qing (Great Pure). Of these, the highest is Tai Qing (Great Pure), said to be the immortalised Lao-Tse, Taoism’s founder.

Beneath the top trinity come the four heavenly emperors: Yu Huang (Jade Emperor), who governs all other deities with help from the other three Jade Emperors. Next, there are four numina guarding the east, west, south and north respectively.

The Taoist pantheon also includes various heavenly spirits, such as the Ba Xian (Eight Immortals) and San Guan (Three Officials).

Wu wei
Taoists follow the art of wu wei, which means allowing nature to take its course and not interfering with it. Living one’s life is like allowing a river to flow towards the sea without impeding its natural flow.

Yin Yang
This well-known Taoist symbol represents the natural balance of opposites in the universe. When they are present in equal measure, calm reigns. When one outweighs others, confusion reigns – often as a result of human interference.

The two swirling shapes inside the symbol evoke change – the only constant factor in the universe. According to one school of thought, yin (the dark side) represents the breath that formed the earth. Yang (the light side) represents the breath that formed the heavens. Another view is that yin is night and yang day.

The traditional view is that yin represents the female qualities of softness, coolness, calmness, introspection and healing. Yang, which represents male qualities, is hard, hot, energetic, dynamic and sometimes aggressive.

Since nothing in the universe is black or white, there is a small white spot in the black swirl and small black spot in the white swirl.

Health and well-being
Taoists place great emphasis on their health and well-being, and for centuries they have practiced exercise and movement techniques such as tai chi.

Traditional Chinese medicine teaches that illness is caused by blockages or imbalances in the body’s chi (intrinsic energy). Tai chi is believed to balance this energy flow.

Among other benefits, tai chi is designed to stimulate the central nervous system, lowers blood pressure, improve circulation tones muscles and relieves stress.