TAOISM AND THE ICHING

Taoism and the IChing

Taoism and the IChing

Introduction:

The world encompasses of many religions. More than 270 religions and their sub-religions or branches are practiced around the world. In Asia only around 50 different religions are practiced and Islam happens to be the dominant one. Many scholars and authors argue on the origin of any religion and try to put their opinion in forms of book and chronological evidence (Miller, 2000).

Discussion:

However, the most dominant religion in East Asia where China lays is Taoism or Daoism and a new thing which has emerged is called I-Ching. Taoism happens to be one of the oldest Chinese religions; its emphasis on working with nature rather than in opposition to it has attracted vast numbers of followers through the ages. In recent years, the Taoist ritual feng shui, creating harmony through the placement of buildings, doorways, and furniture and thereby affecting the physical and spiritual life, has become an enormously popular Western trend. On the other hand, The I-Ching or Book of Changes is an ancient Chinese divinatory and philosophical system that gained popularity and prestige within western culture during the second half of the twentieth century, attracting among others many who have influenced or are involved in the New Age Movement s and alternative spirituality (Miller, 2000).

Moreover, Taoism consists of a variety of Chinese religious and philosophical teachings that aim to harmonize relations between humans and the natural world. The word "Tao" means flowing with the way of nature. The philosophical principle behind the religion holds that the universe is a symbiosis of patterns that cannot exist individually. If everything in nature is allowed to proceed without hindrance, then the universe will be in balance since all things will be working together. Reflecting the shamanist background of China, Taoism sees a pervasive spirit world that is both interlocked with and separate from the world of humans. Taoism is believed to have developed as a religion when Lao-tzu, who may be a historical figure or the name ascribed to a group of anonymous philosophers, assembled all the Tao teachings in the book Tao Te Ching around the sixth century bce. In the book "The Worlds Religion” by Houston Smith, the author has explained what basically is Daoism along with many other religion. He has stressed why people believe in religions and why such a strong association with it is. The book is written in poetic form, making it difficult to clearly grasp its prescriptions for living, but Taoism did clearly offer personal salvation and freedom, making it unique among Chinese faiths of the day. The I-Ching is a book consisting of sixty-four six-line figures called 'kua' or 'hexagrams': all possible combinations of whole yang lines, and divided yin lines. Each hexagram has a name and is related to various texts. When using the I-Ching as an oracle, one first frames a question and then, by the random but ritualized division of forty-nine yarrow stalks or the throwing of three coins, one arrives at ...