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Daoism

OVERVIEW

Daoism offers special contributions to nature conservation. As one of the five recognised major religions of China – the other four being Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism and Islam – and with over 90,000 Daoist Masters and 30,000 registered places of worship serving tens of millions of followers, it is a major force for social change in China.

 

Daoism (also known as Taoism) was formally established as a religion under the East Han dynasty, about 2,500 years ago, when Lao Zi is said to have written the Dao De Jing (Tao Te-Ching), the most important book of Daoist wisdom. Since then, Daoism has been one of the main components of Chinese culture, and has exerted great influence on the Chinese way of thinking, working and acting.

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'In harmony with the Dao, the sky is clear and spacious, the earth is solid and full, all creatures flourish together, content with the way they are, endlessly repeating themselves, endlessly renewed.
 When man interferes with the Dao, the sky becomes filthy, the earth becomes depleted, the equilibrium crumbles, creatures become extinct.'
– Dao De Jing

BELIEFS & VALUES

Daoist beliefs & values share much common ground with conservation.

Although Daoism recognises many gods, there is no overarching divinity. Instead, in the very earliest Chinese vision of the cosmos, there is the Dao, the origin of all. Dao means ‘the way’. The Dao is the natural Way of the universe and flows through everything, giving life and meaning to all.

Follow the Earth: The Dao De Jing says: 'Humanity follows the Earth, the Earth follows Heaven, Heaven follows the Dao, and the Dao follows what is natural.' Daoists therefore obey the Earth. The Earth respects Heaven, Heaven abides by the Dao, and the Dao follows the natural course of everything. Humans should help everything grow according to its own way. We should cultivate the way of no-action and let nature be itself.

Harmony with nature: In Daoism, everything is composed of two opposite forces known as Yin and Yang. The two forces are in constant struggle within everything. When they reach harmony, the energy of life is created. Someone who understands this point will not exploit nature, but will treat it well and learn from it. It is obvious that in the long run, the excessive use of nature will bring about disaster, even the extinction of humanity.
Avoid over-exploitation: If the pursuit of development runs counter to the harmony and balance of nature, even if it is of great immediate interest and profit, people should restrain themselves from it. Insatiable human desire will lead to the over-exploitation of natural resources. To be too successful is to be on the path to defeat.

Antique Chinese painting

Daoist and Crane in Autumn Landscape, by Chen Hongshou (1598-1652), Cleveland Museum of Art

THE NATURE SANCTUARIES OF DAOISM
Image by Yu Gui

Daoist temple on Huashan mountain, one of the Five Great Mountains of China, seen as a sacred place in Daoism

Daoist nature sanctuaries are called dongtian and fudi, literally: “cave heavens” and “blessed lands.” They are sites outstanding in terms of landscape beauty, vegetation and wildlife. Founded more than 1,000 years ago, no hunting, land clearing, plant gathering, mining or water pollution has ever been allowed there. Human footprint was kept to a minimum.

Today these sites often harbour rare, elsewhere endangered, animals and plants.

 

Dongtian and fudi bear witness to China’s deepest value: the Dao (Tao). Dao is nature. To become one with nature is the Way for maintaining good health and to obtain “long life” (changsheng). Aishan means “care for mountains”. 

EXPLORE DAOIST ACTION IN CONSERVATION

There are an estimated 170 million Daoists, mostly in China but also in Taiwan, Japan and southeast Asia. 

Chinese Daoism has always put a great emphasis on Dao following nature, paying great attention to the harmony and balance of heaven, earth and humanity, and the balance between Yin and Yang. Daoism teaches that humanity should obey nature’s rules, maintain the balance of our ecological system and protect the all species that rely on it. 

 

Daoism has a unique sense of value in that it judges affluence by the number of different species. If all things in the universe grow well, then a society is a community of affluence. If not, this kingdom is on the decline. This view has in the past encouraged both government and people to take good care of nature, and continues to do so. This thought is a special contribution by Daoism to the conservation of nature.

 

Two Daoist Long-term Plans have been produced by the Daoist Association of China, one from 2010-2017, and the second from 2019-2025. Both plans contain a strong focus on conservation of land, water and wildlife.

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HIGHLIGHTED RESOURCES

Wu Wei and Ecology-video.jpg

Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology

Daoists at Taibaishan Ecological Temple

IInterfaith Center for Sustainable Development

Green and Yellow
Mountains

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Key guidance documents

Interested in getting a collaboration or a project going with a faith community but not sure where to start? Check out these key guidance documents.

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