Facts and information
The Tao is said to be like a ‘way’ of life, and a force that flows through every living thing and the universe. Taoists aim to live in harmony with the Tao.
These are the main things which guide the way Taoists live –
- The 3 jewels, which are compassion (or caring for others), moderation (or self-control) and humility (or being humble)
- Developing personal energy or ch’i
- The importance of a healthy mind and body
Time does not travel in a line with a start, a middle or an end, but is constantly moving along a circle.
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Their understanding of god
Taoists do not believe in a single God who has power over all things. Taoists worship many all-powerful God although they do worship a number of deities.
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How it began
Many believe that Lao-Tse was a librarian. He understood a lot about the Tao, and became the person who knew most about the Tao faith.
Lao-Tse became so unhappy with theinequality in Chinese society that he left the country. While he was traveling he stopped at the gates of the Chinese Empire on his way to Tibet. The guard of the gate asked Lao-Tse to write down his teachings about the Tao for others to learn from. This became one of Taoism’s most important books, called the Tao Te Ching.
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About worship
Taoists worship in temples and at altars in their homes. Their religion has many gods.
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How many people believe in this faith?
There are around 20 million Taoists in the world, most live in Taiwan.
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