Myth says that Lao Zi, was born sometime during the Chinese state of Chu, however his date of birth is unknown. He was the founder of Daoism, but very little is actually known about him. According to some historical works, his original name was Li Er. He was the keeper of archives in the Zhou court. Zhou was the name of the dynasty that ruled the states during the time period between the spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period that followed. When he saw the decline of the Zhou dynasty, he left his post to live the life of a hermit. On his way out he had to pass a gate. It was here that the gatekeeper, who had heard of his teachings, begged him to write a book before he left. He agreed to do so, and he wrote a book of about 5,000 words that is called the Dao De Jing, or generally called the Lao Zi. After he finished the book, he went away, and nobody knows exactly where he went or when he died. There is only a record of him having a discussion with Confucius after he left. The small book that he wrote, the Dao De Jing or Lao Zi, is written verse, it is said to contain great wisdom.
Confucianism and Daoism emerged out of the same turbulence, and sought stability in different ways. On one hand you have a social and political philosophy as practical and rational as Confucianism. On the other hand you have the intuitive; nature based spiritual pursuits and mysticism of Daoism. How did the Chinese culture reconcile these two seemingly contradictory ideologies? The key to understanding their joint influence is to think like a Daoist. The Chinese people did not have to choose one or the other they looked to both Yin and Yang. In the realm of human relations such as the social political spheres there was Confucianism. For spiritual needs and to connect with the natural and harmonious workings of the universe, there was Daoism. An analogy for this could be for example; when a professor at Pacific Lutheran University walks out his door every morning on his way to start the workday as an instructor, he is a Confucianist. For the contemplative moments, when one sits under a tree and enjoys nature one is a Daoist. Together, these two complementary philosophies or schools of thought become the foundations of Chinese cultural and social life for thousands of years. Family life, political legitimacy, education, medicine, religion all will be based on the perceptions and truths of these two religions.
China developed as a largely self-contained traditional society. The answers to social, political and spiritual questions came from within their borders and also out of their specific and unique historical experience. In fact, up until the last 200 years, there was only one outside belief system that became widely adopted and absorbed by the Chinese culture and that was Buddhism. Recognize that this foreign idea did not even take root in China until the second century.
The kinds of observations we can make about China, then, are to recognize that this culture derives ideas and structure that provides a remarkable and quite rare degree of continuity. The kind of trade offs can be seen vividly in Chinese civilization. Stability was born out of tradition, but it was a culture where individual innovation was difficult or impossible. A Confucian based society means that social, educational and political patterns are clearly outlined; Change happens slowly, and individuals find many aspects of their lives established and limited by tradition. China, then, and will always be another society that displays the advantages and costs of religion.
