1. Taoism of Lao Tzu Berger Intro to Asian Religions

2. The Origins of Lao Tzu’s Taoism  Legendary founder Lao Tzu 老子 (370-300 BCE)  Legends of miraculous conception and birth  A keeper of archives in late Chou Dynasty and a contemporary and advisor of Confucius  Leaves realm of China at age 160, authoring the Tao Te Ching for a border guard  After reaching India, Lao Tzu transformed into Buddha

3. Metaphysical Principles used by Taoism  Inter-related cosmos of yin 陰 and yang 陽  The vital energy of ch’i 氣  The notion of tao 道 as course of nature  The priority of 天 道 t’ien tao or the “way of nature” over 人 道 ren tao or the “course of human beings”  The notion of 德 te or “power,” “virtuosity” that each living being is a focus of

4. The Tao Te Ching 道德經  The transformations of tao (I, p. 444)  Preferring the powers associated with yin (5, 11, p. 447; 28, 43, pp. 448-49; 78, p. 450)  Understanding opposition and leaning toward yin and non-interference (wu-wei) (2-3, pp. 445-46; 16-18, pp. 447-448; 46, p. 449)  Strategies for governing a small state during Chinese civil war (60, p. 450)

5. for Next Class  Sourcebook 450-460