Toism Religion

Hua Shan, one of five sacred Taoist mountains in China. Photo: Harry Alverson.

"The way that can be spoken of is not the constant Way; The name that can be named is not the constant Name. The nameless was at the beginning of heaven and earth; the named was the mother of myriad creatures." --Tao Te Ching

Taoism (also spelled Daoism) is based on the teachings of the Tao Te Ching, a short tract written in the 6th century BC in China. Its emphasis on spiritual harmony within the individual complements Confucianism's focus on social duty. Today, there are 20 million Taoists worldwide, most of whom live in China, Taiwan or Southeast Asia. Taoism is also increasingly influential in the West, especially in the field of alternative medicine and in martial arts like Tai Chi.