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Taoism “‡™Š‘Ž‹˜‡•‹ƒ‘ǡƒ†ƒ‘‹Š‹ǡ‹•ƒ‰‘‘†ƒǣ‡‡‡’•‹‰‘‘† –‡”• ™‹–Š ‡ǡ –ƒ‡• –Š‹‰• ‡ƒ•›ǡ Ž‘˜‡• –Š‡ ™‘”Ž† ƒ• Š‡ †‘‡• Š‹• ‘™ ’‡”•‘ǢŠ‡‹••‹’Ž‡Ž‹‡ƒ‹ˆƒ–ǡ…ƒ—–‹‘—•ǡ‘†‡•–ǡ›‹‡Ž†‹‰Ǥ‡‹• Š—„Ž‡ǡ ƒ† –Š—• Š‡ ”‡ƒ‹• ‡–‹”‡Ǥ ‡ ‹• •—„–Ž‡ǡ ’‡‡–”ƒ–‹‰ ƒ† ’”‘ˆ‘—†Ǣƒ˜‘‹†•‡š…‡••ǡ ‡š–”ƒ˜ƒ‰ƒ…‡ǡ ƒ† ‹†—Ž‰‡…‡Ǥ ‡ ƒ‡• –Š‡ •‡Žˆ ‘ˆ –Š‡ ’‡‘’Ž‡ǡ Š‹• •‡ŽˆǥŠ‡ ƒ…–• –‘ –Š‡ ‰‘‘† ‘” –‘ –Š‡ „ƒ† ™‹–Š ‰‘‘†‡••ǡƒ†–‘–Š‡ˆƒ‹–Šˆ—Ž‘”–Š‡ˆƒ‹–ŠŽ‡••™‹–Šˆƒ‹–ŠǤ‡”‡–—”•Ž‘˜‡ ˆ‘”‰”‡ƒ–Šƒ–”‡†ǤdzሺŠ‡ƒ›–‘‹”–—‡ „›ƒ‘Ǧœ‡ሻͳ History The history of Taoism (pronounced ‘™Ǧ‹• ) stretches throughout Chinese history Originating in prehistoric China, it has exerted a powerful influence over Chinese culture throughout the ages Taoism evolved in response to changing times The acceptance of Taoism by the ruling class has waxed and waned, alternately enjoying periods of favor and rejection But it was always a cornerstone of most of Chinese society.2 Due to the language and cultural barrier between East and West, it can often be difficult to find reliable and accurate information about the Tao Misconceptions abound, even from sources that one would normally consider definitive and authoritative One such misconception, perhaps the most important of all, has to with the origin of the Tao Many people interested in the Tao are still under the impression that Lao Tzu founded Taoism about 2,500 years ago There is some truth to this, as long as we are only talking about philosophical Taoism (ƒ‘ ‹ƒ ) or religious Taoism (ƒ‘ ‹ƒ‘‘ ) However, the one thing that most people not realize is that both variants of Taoism came from a much older tradition, known to the Chinese simply as the “Tao.” It is not possible for Lao Tzu to be the founder of this ancient tradition for the simple reason that it began almost 5,000 years ago Discerning individuals may glimpse this truth when they come across references to