1. Lao-tzu Also romanized as Laozi or Lao-tse – “Old Master” Founder of Taoism – Wrote Tao Te Ching “Classic of the Way and Virtue” Bamboo strips from 4 th century BCE History – Lived during 6 th century BCE – Referenced in Han historical record from 1 st century BCE

2. Taoism Categorization – Philosophical Taoism The “Tao” = The “Way” Harmony with nature – Religious Taoism 2 nd century CE  First religious group Lao-tzu is a deity Tang emperors claimed to be descendants of Lao-tzu (618-907 CE)

3. Yin and Yang Taijitu – Symbol – Complementary rather than opposing Yin (black) – “Shady place” – Characterized by darkness, the moon, coolness, slowness, femininity, water, earth, softness, yielding Yang (white) – “Sunny place” – Characterized by lightness, the sun, warmth, speed, masculinity, fire, the sky, hardness, aggression

4. Themes in the Tao Te Ching Naturalness Simplicity Detachment from desire Wu wei – “non action” – Effortless, spontaneous movement – Yielding

5. Tao Te Ching excerpts “A way can be a guide, but not a fixed path.” – Ch. 1 “Act without presumption, and do not dwell on success.” – Ch. 2 “The Way is unimpeded harmony.” – Ch. 4 “When you win a war, you celebrate by mourning.” – Ch. 28 “Flexibility and yielding overcome adamant coerciveness.” – Ch. 36 “All beings bear yin and embrace yang, with a mellowing energy for harmony.” – Ch. 42 “…people may gain from loss, and may lose from gain.” – Ch. 42 “Sages have no fixed mind.” – Ch. 49

6. Tao Te Ching excerpts “Keeping flexible is called strength.” – Ch. 52 “When the government is unobtrusive, the people are pure. When the government is invasive, the people are wanting.” – Ch. 58 “When trees are born they are tender, and when they die they are brittle. Stiffness is thus a companion of death, flexibility a companion of life.” – Ch. 76 “Nothing in the world is more flexible and yielding than water.” – Ch. 78 “…sages keep their faith and do not pressure others.” – Ch. 79 “Sages do not accumulate anything but give everything to others.” – Ch. 81