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Art of the Ancient World, C. 5000 B.c.e.–400 C.E.

Art of Ancient China

What is Daoism?

Like Confucianism, Daoism (also spelled Taoism) is also considered to be both a religion and a philosophy, and is native to China. Daoist philosophy is more metaphysically focused than Confucianism, and emphasizes intuition and developing a harmonious relationship with nature. It is founded upon the teachings of two ancient philosophers named Laozi and Zhuangzi. The word dao means “the Ultimate Way” and is symbolically linked to water. Water is yielding and moves gently around obstacles, but it is also strong—it can turn even the largest stones into sand.



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