Home >Taoism  > Tao

What is Tao?

In general, the word Tao means the primordial force that created the universe, meaning, heaven and earth.

Tao is defined from the first chapter of the Tao-te ching as something nebulous that can only be understood if we give up desire.

The abundant translations of this chapter have not explained enough what it is about. A much more appropriate explanation exists on this site - see here.

In the Western world, Tao is equated with God, although it does not have the same meaning. However, the idea of a creative power that precedes creation in all its forms remains.

Tao is the basic concept of Taoism. The word "taoism" itself comes from Tao, but we find it also in Confucianism and, in general, in any theory issued by a spiritual or metaphysical doctrine from China.

In the ancient representation of the ideogram "tao" there are two characters that suggest the original meaning of the term (see below):

The Chinese ideogram for Tao is made of two characters: head and foot. The ideas suggested are "consciously walking" or the way of ruling of the ancient sovereigns

Tao with Taoists and Confucians

Tao meaning differs widely depending on the context of the doctrine in which it is included.

Thus, for Taoists, "tao" is the very source and creator of all things in the universe and, in the same time, a model for the sage's conduct.

Tao-te ching - the Book of Tao and its Characteristics - maintains that the "tao" concept is obscure, that is, difficult to describe.

It is about something impossible to describe that existed since the beginning on the Universe, the root of Heaven and Earth and the Mother of everything.

Confucius

For Confucius and his school mainly interested in politics and ethics, "tao" refers to the art of ruling the state of the ancient emperors like King Wen and Duke of Chou, famous characters in the history of China.

Thus it points to a "way" or "method" of ruling took as a model by the Confucians.

Tao with Common People

Chinese people admired gifted persons such as archers, butchers, doctors etc. They were invited at the sovereign's court, put to the test and rewarded properly when they proved their skill.

Nowadays one could also find successful businessmen, gifted artists, writers, sportsmen acclaimed by the people, talented politicians etc. All of them have their own tao, and this means a specific aptitude and the way it is performed.

Let's conclude that Tao is a concept related to the birth of the universe, the way of governing and even the specific skills of certain people.

Concepts Related with the Tao

The following Taoist concepts relates with the Tao:

• Te
  Power or way of manifest of the Tao, like in the Tao Te Ching.
  -> Explore Te.
   
• Wu (emptiness)
  Points to the origin of the universe, just before the creation.
  -> Explore Wu
   
• Wu-Wei (nondoing)
  Doing nothing in order to achieve something. This concept is unique in Tao-te ching and Taoism.
  -> Explore Wu-Wei
   
• Fu (return)
  Related to the everlasting Tao movement
  -> Learn Fu
   
• Yin-Yang
  The law of complementarity in Tao and Tao-te ching
  -> Learn Yin-Yang

Learn Tao

Check our begginer course about Lao-tzu and Tao-te ching explaining what Tao and the related concepts are and, mainly, how they intermingle.

The course ofers a comprehensive view about Lao-tzu's Taoism with link to the meditation practice in Taoism.

[ Explore the Lao-tzu and Tao-te ching course ]

Home - Courses - Papers - Abstracts - Taoist Forum

Contact

-

Last revision: 14.08.2026 - Way of Perfect Emptiness