Daoism
/ˈdaʊ.ɪzəm/noun
A Chinese philosophical and religious tradition centered on living in harmony with the Dao.
Did you know?The word comes from Chinese 道 (dào), “way” or “path,” and the same character also appears in Chinese thought as a cosmic principle guiding reality itself.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Chinese
Chinese
道 (dào)
““Way,” “path,” “road,” and by extension a guiding principle or method”
Late Imperial China
Chinese
道家 / 道教 (dàojiā / dàojiào)
““Daoist school” / “Daoist teaching,” referring to philosophical and religious traditions associated with the Dao”
19th Century
English
Taoism
“English transcription using the older Wade-Giles spelling “Tao” for Chinese 道”
20th Century
English
Daoism
“Modern pinyin-based spelling of the same tradition, reflecting Mandarin pronunciation more closely”