It would be more appropriately rendered by "lead way" and "lode" ("way," "course," "journey," "leading," "guidance"; cf. And if one does this one can translate 'achieving union with the Tao' into 'developing oneself so as to live in complete conformity with the teachings of the Tao' which is easier to understand, and closer to the truth. Find more names at wordhippo.com! [8] It is related to the idea of qi, the essential energy of action and existence. In contrast, Zhang Zai presented a vitalistic Dao that was the fundamental component or effect of ch'i, the motive energy behind life and the world. [16], The diversity of Taoist interpretations of the Tao can be seen across four texts representative of major streams of thought in Taoism. The Way of Man means, among other things, procreation; and eunuchs are said to be 'far from the Way of Man'. Confucius presents a humanistic 'Dao'. English words for tao include person, man, human, someone, guy, somebody, human being, individual, fellow and soul. People who like the name Tao … The tao/dao "the way" English word of Chinese origin has three meanings, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. Confucianism was largely a moral system emphasizing the values of humaneness, righteousness, and filial duty, and so conceived De in terms of obedience to rigorously defined and codified social rules. The earliest recorded usages were Tao (1736), Tau (1747), Taou (1831), and Dao (1971). Although it gives rise to all being, it does not itself have being. It is the path on which one travels. He also framed and elaborated on a "dàotǒng" (tradition of the Way) in order to reject the traditions of Buddhism. (form comes from formlessness)? The Way is contained within all things. This involves meditative and moral practices. Bronze scripts for dao 道 occasionally include an element of shou 手 "hand" or cun 寸 "thumb; hand", which occurs in dao 導 "lead". Important in this respect is the Taoist concept of De (德; virtue). This intuitive knowing of "life" cannot be grasped as a concept; it is known through actual living experience of one's everyday being. The most closely related English words are "track" and "trek", while "trail" and "tract" are derived from other cognate Indo-European roots. Tao is also the 9,882 nd most frequent forename worldwide, held by 100,756 people. [34], In Old Chinese (ca. An influential early Confucian, Hsiin Tzu, explicitly noted this contrast. [bound form, bound morpheme] ① channel ② way; reason; principle ③ doctrine ④ Daoism ⑤ line ⑥〈hist.〉 [history] ⑦ district; circuit canal; passage; tube ⑧ say (polite words) … See also 4dǎo, 4dāo, 4dǎo 导/道[導/- B.F. [bound form] ① guide; lead … ② transmit; conduct … ③ instruct; direct …, 4dāo 道 in shénshendāodāo … 神神道道 R.F. Philosophical speculation about what the Tao actually is, is less important than living in sensitive response to the Tao. In most belief systems, the word is used symbolically in its sense of 'way' as the 'right' or 'proper' way of existence, or in the context of ongoing practices of attainment or of the full coming into being, or the state of enlightenment or spiritual perfection that is the outcome of such practices. Hundreds of collections of Pali and Sanskrit texts were translated into Chinese by Buddhist monks within a short period of time. Though he acknowledged the existence and celestial importance of the Way of Heaven, he insisted that the Dao principally concerns human affairs. Water is soft and flexible, yet possesses an immense power to overcome obstacles and alter landscapes, even carving canyons with its slow and steady persistence. [Tao] means a road, path, way; and hence, the way in which one does something; method, doctrine, principle. It is known to have been written over 2400 years ago, but not much else is retained about the origins. Even more unexpected than the panoply of Indo-European cognates for Tao (drog) is the Hebrew root d-r-g for the same word and Arabic t-r-q, which yields words meaning "track, path, way, way of doing things" and is important in Islamic philosophical discourse.[41]. [3], Some scholars make sharp distinctions between moral or ethical usage of the word "Tao" that is prominent in Confucianism and religious Taoism and the more metaphysical usage of the term used in philosophical Taoism and most forms of Mahayana Buddhism;[4] others maintain that these are not separate usages or meanings, seeing them as mutually inclusive and compatible approaches to defining the principle. The word "Tao" (道) has a variety of meanings in both ancient and modern Chinese language. Their observations of the natural world influenced their philosophy, and one of the things they incorporated was the concept of eternity. Thus, the religious life is not an elite or special journey for Neo-Confucians. A user from New Zealand says the name Tao is of Maori origin and means "Spear... pointed at both ends...simuliar in design to a modern javellin.". In Lewis' thinking, God created the Tao and fully displayed it through the person of Jesus Christ. I do not know its name; I call it Tao. The writings of Lao Tzu and Chang Tzu are tinged with esoteric tones and approach humanism and naturalism as paradoxes. It flows around and over obstacles like water, setting an example for those who wish to live in accord with it. The 'emptiness' refers to the Buddhist concept of sunyata. The Nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth; Origin of first name Tao Back Popularity of the first name Tao The popularity of the first name, from 1600 to nowadays, is calculated on the basis of the family trees published on Geneanet. Since 1982, when the International Organization for Standardization adopted Pinyin as the standard romanization of Chinese, many Western languages have changed from spelling this loanword tao in national systems (e.g., French EFEO Chinese transcription and English Wade–Giles) to dao in Pinyin. Tao is difficult to define because it is, by definition, beyond human understanding. This is supported by textual examples of the use of the primary tao in the verbal sense "to lead" (e. g., Analects 1.5; 2.8) and seriously undermines the unspoken assumption implied in the common translation of Tao as "way" that the concept is essentially a nominal one. Tao is the "unified something" from which all things arise. [note 5], See also: Nine Schools of Thought and Hundred Schools of Thought, "Dao" redirects here. Taoists took a broader, more naturalistic/metaphysical view on the relationship between humankind and the Universe, and considered social rules to be at best a derivative reflection of the natural and spontaneous interactions between people, and at worst calcified structure that inhibited naturalness and created conflict. ...... Despite this diversity, there are some clear, common patterns and trends in Taoism and its branches. The term dao 道 is analyzable in terms of Chinese characters, alternate dào "way" or dǎo "guide" pronunciations and meanings, a possible Proto-Indo-European etymology, and loanwords such as English Dao or dao. Tao Te Ching, along with the Zhuangzi, is a fundamental text ... Tao Te Ching - Wikipedia Tao Te Ching Chapter One Tao (The Way) that can be spoken of is not the Constant Tao’ The name that can be named is not a Constant Name. Laozi in the Tao Te Ching explains that the Tao is not a "name" for a "thing" but the underlying natural order of the Universe whose ultimate essence is difficult to circumscribe due to it being non-conceptual yet evident in one's being of aliveness. "lodestone" and "lodestar"), the somewhat obsolescent deverbal noun from "to lead. For example, the Chinese Hanyu Da Zidian dictionary defines 39 meanings for dào 道 "way; path" and 6 for dǎo 道 (導) "guide; lead".[38]. Thus, outside of a few broad similarities, it is difficult to provide an accurate yet clear summary of their interpretation of the Tao. …. Submit the origin and/or meaning of Tao to us below The Way of Heaven, for example, is ruthless; when autumn comes 'no leaf is spared because of its beauty, no flower because of its fragrance'. The Nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth; In Chinese, this character 道 is pronounced as Cantonese dou6 and Hokkian to7. The symbol that most accompanies it is the yin/yang symbol because the polarities of yin and yang form its essence and dynamism. John DeFrancis's Chinese-English dictionary gives twelve meanings for dào 道 "way; path; say", three for dǎo 道 (or 導) "guide; lead", and one for dāo 道 in an "odd, bizarre" idiomatic expression. Each school of philosophy has its tao, its doctrine of the way in which life should be ordered. ‘Hence in analyzing Taoism, one must understand the Tao, its nature and its meaning.’ ‘Unlike the Brahman however, the Tao cannot be realized.’ ‘The non-analytical understanding of the Tao, requires one to practice Wu Wei, a process through which the individual experiences no mind, and does action from one's true nature.’ The name Tao means Peach, Long Life and is of Chinese origin. Cheng Yi followed this interpretation, elaborating on this perspective of Dao through teachings about yin-yang interactions, the cultivation and preservation of life; and the axiom of a morally just universe. The Tao was shared with Confucianism, Chán and Zen Buddhism and more broadly throughout East Asian philosophy and religion in general. The traditional interpretation of the 道 character, dating back to the (121 CE) Shuowen Jiezi dictionary, was a rare huiyi 會意 "compound ideogram" or "ideogrammic compound". Tao Name Meaning Chinese : according to tradition, from Tao Tangshi, the name of the emperor Yao (2357–2257 bc), first of the three model emperors, before he came to power. A number of later scholars adopted this interpretation, such as Tai Chen during the Qing Dynasty. Nameless, is the origin of Heaven and Earth; The named is the Mother of all things. Following the Way, then, is like going on a cosmic trek. The manifestation of the Tao is De, which rectifies and invigorates the world with the Tao's radiance. In Confucianism and in extended uses, the way to be followed, the right conduct; doctrine or method. In Confucianism and religious forms of Taoism, these are often explicitly moral/ethical arguments about proper behavior, while Buddhism and more philosophical forms of Taoism usually refer to the natural and mercurial outcomes of action (comparable to karma). Cut off words and meaning is emptiness. The normal, mundane life is the path that leads to the Absolute, because the Absolute is contained within the mundane objects and events of daily life.[24]. Ch'an (Zen) Buddhists regard the Dao as synonymous with both the Buddhist Path (marga) and the results of it; the Eightfold Path and Buddhist enlightenment (satori). This links it to the Proto-Indo-European root drogh (to run along) and Indo-European dhorg (way, movement). Search for more names by meaning. The use of Chinese concepts, such as Dao, that were close to Buddhist ideas and terms helped spread the religion and make it more amenable to the Chinese people. Finding the Dao and Buddha-nature is not simply a matter of formulations, but an active response to the Four Noble Truths that cannot be fully expressed or conveyed in words and concrete associations. Keller considers it similar to the negative theology of Western scholars,[9] but the Tao is rarely an object of direct worship, being treated more like the Hindu concepts of karma or dharma than as a divine object. [1] In the context of East Asian philosophy and East Asian religions, Tao is the natural order of the universe whose character one's human intuition must discern in order to realize the potential for individual wisdom. The devotional perspective of the Tao is expressed in the Ch'ing Ching Ching, a liturgical text that was originally composed during the Han dynasty and is used as a hymnal in religious Taoism, especially among eremites. 2dào 道 N. [noun] road; path ◆M. Many fun stories abound about these origins; however, these are just that, stories. The workings of Tao are vast and often beyond human comprehension. The multitudinous branches of religious Taoism accordingly regard the Tao, and interpret writings about it, in innumerable ways. [24], In total, the Dao is equated with the Absolute. Much of East Asian philosophical writing focuses on the value of adhering to the principles of the Tao and the various consequences of failing to do so. It is the way of nature. Confucianism regards the Way, or Truth, as concordant with a particular approach to life, politics, and tradition. Before we get into the 10 themes, here are my favorite chapters and passages from my first reading of the Tao Te Ching. They do not describe its reality. [24], Zhu Xi, Cheng Ho, and Cheng Yi perceived the Dao in the context of li (Principle) and t'ien li (the Principle of Heaven). [21] Some scholars believe that there is no distinction between Daojia and Daojiao. It is an unseen force that is the origin of the universe. In Zhongyong (The Doctrine of the Mean), harmony with the Absolute is equivalent to integrity and sincerity. A person dwelling within the Tao excels in themselves and their activities. The earliest written forms of dao are bronzeware script and seal script characters from Zhou Dynasty (1045–256 BCE) bronzes and writings. The Tao cannot be described in words. These ancient dao characters more clearly depict the shou 首 "head" element as hair above a face. [24], Buddhism first started to spread in China during the first century AD and was experiencing a golden age of growth and maturation by the fourth century AD. It can, however, be known or experienced, and its principles (which can be discerned by observing Nature) can be followed or practiced. The etymological linguistic origins of dao "way; path" depend upon its Old Chinese pronunciation, which scholars have tentatively reconstructed as *d'ôg, *dəgwx, *dəw, *luʔ, and *lûʔ. There was something undifferentiated and yet complete, This page was last edited on 21 December 2020, at 14:47. Although it's conventional to refer to The Tao, some writers think that the "the" should be dropped because it isn't in the original Chinese term. [29]. That sort of thinking is misleading: Thinking of the Tao as some sort of object produces an understanding of the Tao that is less than the reality. In Taoism, Chinese Buddhism and Confucianism, the object of spiritual practice is to 'become one with the Tao' (Tao Te Ching) or to harmonise one's will with Nature (cf. There is no single orthodox Taoist view of the Tao. This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Note that brackets clarify abbreviations and ellipsis marks omitted usage examples. The Tao is often expressed as a sea or flood that cannot be dammed or denied. De (德 "power; virtue; integrity") is the term generally used to refer to proper adherence to the Tao; De is the active living or cultivation of the way. In Taoism, the basic, eternal principle of the universe that transcends reality and is the source of being, non-being, and change. An early surviving text to describe the Tao is the Tao Te Ching, written by Lao-Tzu (The old master). 1 a : the unconditional and unknowable source and guiding principle of all reality as conceived by Taoists. Paronomastically, tao is equated with its homonym 蹈 tao < d'ôg, "to trample," "tread," and from that point of view it is nothing more than a "treadway," "headtread," or "foretread "; it is also occasionally associated with a near synonym (and possible cognate) 迪 ti < d'iôk, "follow a road," "go along," "lead," "direct"; "pursue the right path"; a term with definite ethical overtones and a graph with an exceedingly interesting phonetic, 由 yu < djôg," "to proceed from." It is not a god. Like water it is undifferentiated, endlessly self-replenishing, soft and quiet but immensely powerful, and impassively generous. [reduplicated form] 〈topo.〉[non-Mandarin form] odd; fantastic; bizarre [39]. In Chinese translations of the New Testament, λόγος (logos) is translated with the Chinese word dao (道) (e.g. Language and the "naming" of the Tao is regarded negatively in Taoism; the Tao fundamentally exists and operates outside the realm of differentiation and linguistic constraints.[15]. Emptiness is the Dao. The Way of Man means, among other things, procreation; and eunuchs are said to be 'far from the Way of Man'. Also a female Japanese name. When a lesson is titled 'Origins of Taoism,' one would assume it would include things like the date in which Taoism was founded, or at the very least the name of its founder. The reappearance of C162 [辶] "walk" in ti with the support of C157 [⻊] "foot" in tao, "to trample," "tread," should perhaps serve us as a warning not to overemphasize the headworking functions implied in tao in preference to those of the lower extremities.[40]. John 1:1), indicating that the translators considered the concept of Tao to be somewhat equivalent to logos in Greek philosophy. The Zhuangzi (also spelled Chuang Tzu) uses literary devices such as tales, allegories, and narratives to relate the Tao to the reader, illustrating a metaphorical method of viewing and expressing the Tao. [12] Particular things (things with names) that manifest from the Tao have their own inner nature that they follow, in accordance with the Tao, and the following of this inner nature is De. However, when it comes to Taoism, also spelled Daoism, this is simply not the case. It is often translated as the "way" or "path" - or the way of all things. A branch of his descendants retained the surname Tao. What is impo… The most important thing about the Tao is how it works in the world, and how human beings relate to it. Ceiling in 10,000 Buddhas temple in Hong Kong. The evidence just summarized would indicate rather that "tao with the hand" is but a variant of the basic tao and that the word itself combined both nominal and verbal aspects of the etymon. The Tao includes several concepts in one word: BBC © 2014 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Shao Yong regarded the Dao as the origin of heaven, earth, and everything within them. Taoism as a religion began in the year 142 C.E. The most useful words to stimulate an idea of the Tao are found in the Tao Te Ching and Chuang Tzu: The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao; Joseph Wu remarked of this conception of the Tao, "Dao is not religiously available; nor is it even religiously relevant." Victor H. Mair proposes a Proto-Indo-European etymology for dao 道, supported by numerous cognates in Indo-European languages, and semantically similar Arabic and Hebrew words. The combination of chuo 辶 "go" and shou 首 "head" (numbers 162 and 185 in the Kangxi radicals) signified a "head going" or "to lead the way". This article highlights the difficulty in defining the Tao. He explicitly paired 'Dao' and 'De', focusing on humane nature and righteousness. Read more. Pai-chang's statement plays upon this usage in the context of the fluid and varied Chinese usage of 'Dao'. Wuwei (Pinyin: wúwéi), or "naturalness", is contingent on understanding and conforming to this inner nature, which is interpreted variously from a personal, individual nature to a more generalized notion of human nature within the greater Universe.[13]. The Tao is not a thing or a substance in the conventional sense. 1. a. [citation needed]. Read more. Taoism perceives the Tao as a natural order underlying the substance and activity of the Universe. Boodberg noted that the shou 首 "head" phonetic in the dao 道 character was not merely phonetic but "etymonic", analogous with English to head meaning "to lead" and "to tend in a certain direction," "ahead," "headway". Tao was the 82nd-most-common surname in mainland China, but it was unlisted among the 100 most common Taiwanese surnames. Axel Schuessler's etymological dictionary presents two possibilities for the tonal morphology of dào 道 "road; way; method" < Middle Chinese dâuB < Old Chinese *lûʔ and dào 道 or 導 "to go along; bring along; conduct; explain; talk about" < Middle dâuC < Old *lûh. Tao synonyms, Tao pronunciation, Tao translation, English dictionary definition of Tao. The Chinese language is written in a logosyllabic style, while English and other European languages are phonogramatic. Taoism (/ ˈ t aʊ-/), or Daoism (/ ˈ d aʊ ɪ z əm /, / ˈ d aʊ-/), is a philosophical tradition of Chinese origin which emphasizes living in harmony with the Tao (Chinese: 道; … It might be more helpful to regard Tao as a system of guidance. A good way of avoiding the Tao-as-object error is to see the various concepts of the Tao as doing no more than describing those effects of the Tao that human beings are aware of. This reduplication of shen 神 "spirit; god" and dao occurs in Northeast China speech. The tree which seemed to die came back to life in the spring season and the grass grew again. The Dao is cutting off words and speech." Apparently written as a guide for rulers, it defined the Tao, or way, and established the philosophical basis of Taoism. Chu Tao is 'the way to be a monarch', i.e. The history of Taoism stretches throughout Chinese history. He emphasized the ethics of the Way. The self steeped in the Tao is the self grounded in its place within the natural Universe. Finally in a particular school of philosophy whose followers came to be called Taoists, tao meant 'the way the universe works'; and ultimately something very like God, in the more abstract and philosophical sense of that term. Buddhism and Confucianism particularly affected the way many sects of Taoism framed, approached and perceived the Tao. ◆V. It cannot be perceived but it can be observed in the things of the world. Human language can only give hints that may help the mind to form an idea. [10] The Tao is more commonly expressed in the relationship between wu (void or emptiness, in the sense of wuji) and yinyang (the natural dynamic balance between opposites), leading to its central principle of wu wei (inaction, or inexertion). The primarily idea and focus of Taoism is the Tao (way, path), which is important to be followed, not taking any action that is contrary to nature and … The Tao can be roughly thought of as the flow of the Universe, or as some essence or pattern behind the natural world that keeps the Universe balanced and ordered. Nothing exists apart from the Principle of Heaven in Neo-Confucianism. A derivative, Daoshi (道士, "Daoist priest"), was used already by the Jesuits Matteo Ricci and Nicolas Trigault in their De Christiana expeditione apud Sinas, rendered as Tausu in the original Latin edition (1615),[note 4] and Tausa in an early English translation published by Samuel Purchas (1625). The Tao lends its name to the religious tradition (Wade–Giles, Tao Chiao; Pinyin, Daojiao) and philosophical tradition (Wade–Giles, Tao chia; Pinyin, Daojia) that are both referred to in English with the single term Taoism. The Tao Te Ching has a long and complex textual history. They feel that using 'the' gives Westerners the idea that the Tao is a metaphysical reality, by which they mean a thing (in the widest sense) or an absolute being like a god. During the Tang dynasty, Han Yu further formalized and defined Confucian beliefs as an apologetic response to Buddhism. It should also be contrasted with dao 導 "lead the way; guide; conduct; direct; ". A mind free of thought merged within itself, beholds the essence of Tao A mind with thought identified with its own perceptions, beholds the mere forms of this world It operates everywhere and is free from danger. More often the kitchen god or genie is described as a single person and may be called Ong Tao, Ong Lo or Ong Vua Bep. ② (for a course (of food); a streak (of light); etc.) It consists of 3 letters and 1 syllable and is pronounced Tao. Soundless and formless it depends on nothing and does not change. Tao is both Named and Nameless, As Nameless, it is the origin of all things. They concluded that when people died they went somewhere else where they continued to live, they did not just disappear. Geographical distribution of the first name Tao The name Tao is of Chinese origin. Some variants interchange the chuo 辵 "go; advance" radical with the xing 行 "go; road" radical, with the original bronze "crossroads" depiction written in the seal character with two 彳 and 亍 "footprints". with the revelation of the Tao to Zhang Daoling or Chang Tao-ling by the personified god of the Tao, … Which existed before Heaven and Earth. the rational basis of human activity or conduct. 'Dao' is commonly used in this fashion by Chinese Buddhists, heavy with associations and nuanced meanings. And being comes from non-being. The meaning of Tao is "great waves". The Tao transcends humanity and all of creation. When it comes to understanding the full meaning of the term Tao, we must look closely at the traditional character of the term itself. also Dao n. 1. 1972. Nameless, is the origin of Heaven … The surname Tao is predominantly found in Asia, where 98 percent of Tao are found; 97 percent are found in East Asia and 96 percent are found in Sino-East Asia. All forms of Taoism center around Tao and De, but there is a broad variety of distinct interpretations among sects and even individuals in the same sect. [42] Either dào 道 "the thing which is doing the conducting" is a Tone B (shangsheng 上聲 "rising tone") "endoactive noun" derivation from dào 導 "conduct", or dào 導 is a Later Old Chinese (Warring States period) "general tone C" (qusheng 去聲 "departing tone") derivation from dào 道 "way". Dao, (Chinese: “way,” “road,” “path,” “course,” “speech,” or “method”) the fundamental concept of Chinese philosophy. Cheng Hao regarded the fundamental matter of li, and thus Dao, to be humaneness. In Taoism, an absolute entity which is the source of the universe; the way in which this absolute entity functions. b : the process of nature by which all things change and which is to be followed for a life of harmony. Besides these common 4th and 3rd tonal specifications dào 道 "way" and dǎo 道 (or 導) "guide", 道 has a rare 1st level tone dāo pronunciation in the regional idiomatic expression shénshendāodāo 神神道道 "odd; bizarre". [24], As a formal religious concept in Confucianism, Dao is the Absolute towards which the faithful move. [note 3] Much of Taoist philosophy centers on the cyclical continuity of the natural world, and its contrast to the linear, goal-oriented actions of human beings. All four texts are used in modern Taoism with varying acceptance and emphasis among sects. The Tao is a non-dualistic principle – it is the greater whole from which all the individual elements of the Universe derive. 25 Life-Transforming Tao Te Ching Quotes & Passages. The use of 'Dao' in this context refers to the literal 'way' of Buddhism, the return to the universal source, dharma, proper meditation, and nirvana, among other associations. Dao is written with the Chinese character 道 in both Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese. the art of ruling. The earliest Chinese character for Tao, explains Deng Ming-Dao, “is formed by combining the sign for ‘movement’ with the sign for ‘leg.’” So the Tao is a picture of a person moving along a path. [25], Pai-chang Huai-hai told a student who was grappling with difficult portions of suttas, "Take up words in order to manifest meaning and you'll obtain 'meaning'. With nature humane virtues is following of the New Testament, λόγος ( logos ) translated... He only rarely speaks of the natural condition tao is the origin of life the spring season and the seed of primordial. Etc. important than living in sensitive response to changing times, its! Complex textual history and speech. relevant. response to Buddhism gives us a simple definition Tao its! Citation needed ] the Tao and fully displayed it through the person of Jesus Christ reduplication shen. Within them enabling style sheets ( CSS ) if you are able to do so to! 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