the entire universe. The Tao say that fame, honor, and power create war. Tao “carries one to his desired place.”(f3) The Tao Te Ching speaks hardly of heaven, and only once of God. It says “how pure and still the Tao still is. I do not know whose son it is. It might appear to have been before God.” Many people say that the Tao of Lao Tzu and the human Tao are quite different.I Ching was transmitted, but not written by Confucius. It discussed/discusses the yin and yang philosophy. I Ching translates to Book of Changes. “Yang” stands for light, summer, and benevolent spirits and gods. “Yin” represents darkness, winter, and evil spirits. Yang is known as “Shen,” where the males were categorized. “Kuei” is the group for females (yin). The five elements were all in either Shen or Kuei. Yang elements were used for furniture, food, amulets, and/or decorations. Practical Taoists were much more interested in the yang elements than they were in the yin elements.Shin Huangti is the founder of the Ch’in Dynasty. Later, Taoists were more like Buddhists at heart. During this time, Taoism was becoming more and more on the animistic level. Buddhism came after Taoism, which came after the founding of Confucianism. Buddhists recruited many Taoists.There are three senses/meanings of the Tao. The first one is the Way of Ultimate Reality. The Tao Te Ching says “the Tao that can be spoken in not the real Tao.”(g3) The second sense of Tao is the Way of the Universe. This sense enters the body of humans, and seems to take on a life of its own. Tao says it “adapts its vivid essence, clarifies its manifold, fullness, subdues its resplendent luster, and assumes the likeness of dust.”(g3) Basically, its saying that the Tao spirit never dies. The third sense of Tao is the Way of Human Life. It adds on and goes together with the Way of...
