Six Dimensions to Help You Rediscover Chinese Taoism

Taoism centers around the concept of the ‘Dao,’ emphasizing ‘the Dao follows nature’ and ‘governing through non-action,’ and it has had a profound impact on fields such as traditional Chinese medicine and feng shui. Many people find philosophy to be abstruse, and Taoist philosophy even more mysterious and difficult to comprehend. But in reality, Taoist philosophy is like a ‘master key’ in life, capable of helping us solve various problems.

Taoist yin-yang theory divides all things in the world into two opposing yet complementary forces: yin and yang. Take day and night, for example—without the light of day, how could one appreciate the tranquility of night? Without the rest that night provides, daytime productivity would also suffer.

Taoism emphasizes ‘Dao’ and ‘De.’ ‘Dao’ refers to the natural order of the universe, while ‘De’ is the principle guiding human behavior. As stated in the Tao Te Ching, ‘The highest good is like water. Water benefits all things and does not compete with them,’ teaching us to be like water—nourishing everything without contending for superiority. In daily life, if we all adopt this kind of humility and tolerance, many conflicts can be easily resolved. By putting ourselves in others’ shoes, relationships also become more harmonious.