Chinese Taoist Shaman Tampon from Yunnan. Part of over 100 years.

Taoism was born in China, it is said of a certain Lao Tseu who wrote the Tao Te King, also called Dao of Jing, a book of which everyone has undoubtedly heard. But we will see later that the origins of Taoism go back well before the appearance of its emblematic figure.

Before talking about TAO, you should know that China has two other spiritual currents which are Buddhism and Confucianism.

Confucianism is a set of rules of conduct and benevolence, rules of morals, ethics and justice, which govern the way of behaving with the family, in society and in politics.

Buddhism originates from India and was created by Siddhârta Gautama, a prince said who would have left rank, nobility and wealth to devote himself to awakening. The practice, in its most ancestral form, focuses on meditation and mindfulness. The Chinese form, as almost all forms, have liberally extended the founding principles, as for example with the addition of philosophical dialogue and devotional practices.

Taoism when he was born well before the arrival of Confucianism and Buddhism in China. Taoism means "TAO study" or "Way study". TAO in itself is difficult to define because it is a reality beyond words and concepts, it can only be expressed. We differentiate know and knowledge because we can know something but without necessarily having experienced it, in which case, we do not know it, that was not experienced intimately.

Taoism is a natural path in the sense that it is based on introspection and observation of nature, its functioning, and its cycles. By nature, we do not hear that the bucolic side of nature but in its broader interpretation by integrating the cosmos, human nature and society.

Taoism takes its roots in shamanism and in meditation practiced by reclusive philosophers, by forest and mountain hermits. It was from these practices that the so -called “Chi Kung” energy gymnastics appeared which then joined Chinese medicine. Shamanism was at the origin mainly practiced by women, not surprising therefore that a strong equality man woman is of rigor. We could even go so far as to say that the bases are matriarchal! This remained true in the ancestral form, on the other hand since the Taoism succumbed to the Confucian and government patriarchy This rule has "degraded".