TAO-CHIA Chin., philosophical Taoism; one of two streams of Taoism, the other being religious Taoism (tao-chiao). Philosophical Taoism bases itself on the writings of Lao-tzu (Tao-te ching) and Chuang-tzu, who are considered to be its founders, Lieh-tzu and Yang Chu being their acknowledged successors.
Followers of philosophical Taoism strive to achieve mystical union with the Tao by meditation and by following the nature of the Tao in thought and action. Unlike the adherents of religious Taoism, they are not interested in attaining physical immortality.
The term tao-chia was first used during the Han Dynasty and refers to the central meaning of Tao as the Way. The Tao is thus understood to be the all-embracing principle from which all things arise. The ideology of philosophical Taoism is strongly marked by political considerations.
A central feature is the concept of wu-wei -spontaneous, unmotivated action- which philosophical Taoism emphasizes as a model for rulers. From an ethical point of view, philosophical Taoism is the opposite of Confucianism, whose cardinal virtues of humanity (Jen) and uprightness it rejects, because they veil the true nature of man and impede the Tao.
The political ideas of philosophical Taoism soon were adopted by other philosophical schools, but during the Han Dynasty philosophical Taoism lost a great deal of influence when Emperor Wu-ti (156-87 B.C.E.) proclaimed Confucianism the official state religion. At the same time, however, the teachings of philosophical Taoism spread among the people and played a decisive role in the later development of religious Taoism, which venerates the deified Lao-tzu as its founder.
During the Wei and Chin dynasties the experienced a revival in the form of neo-Taoism (hsüan-hsüeh), which combined Confucianist and Taoist ideas. In addition, philosophical Taoism played an important part in the establishment of Buddhism in China: it has been said that the Chinese form of Zen (Ch’an) could not have flowered if philosphical Taoism had not prepared the ground for it. The philosophical ideas of Lao-tzu and Chuang-tzu live on in the hearts and minds of the Chinese people and find their most immediate expression in Chinese painting and poetry.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Eastern Philosophy and Religion: Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Zen. Shambhala Publications, Inc.
Documents on Tao-chia
Books on Tao-chia
External links: Tao / Taoism / Tao-chiao / Lao-tse / Tao-te ching / Chuang-tse / Tao / Wu-wei / Confucianism / Jen / Hsüan-hsüeh / Buddhism / Ch’an