Taoism
/ˈdaʊ.ɪz.əm/noun
A Chinese philosophical and religious tradition centered on living in harmony with the Tao.
Did you know?The word comes from Chinese 道 (dào), meaning “way” or “path,” and the English form entered through Western transliterations rather than a direct ancient English root.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Chinese
Chinese
道 (dào)
“the way, path, principle, or guiding course”
4th–3rd Century BCE
Chinese
道家 (Dàojiā)
“the “School of the Way,” the philosophical tradition associated with Laozi and Zhuangzi”
19th Century
English
Taoism
“Western term for the Chinese tradition centered on the Tao”
Modern English
English
Taoism
“the Chinese philosophical and religious tradition of harmony with the Tao”