A powerpoint I made in 2008 on Taoism for my own reference.

1. Miguel Yasuyuki Hirota
miguel@ineval.org

2. • A philosophy preached by Lao-tze ( 老子） whose life is
still full of mysteries
• The main subject: “Tao” ( 道 , “Original Path”), or “the
Path / Law of the Universe”
• Main concept: your life will be easy-going if you return to
the Tao (“Original Path”) and will be hard if you go against
it (like a stream)
• Main text: “Tao Te Ching” ( 道德經 ) with only about
5,000 Chinese characters

3. • A yin ( 陰 ) philosophy compared with the yang ( 陽 )
aspects of the Confucianism ( 儒教 )
• Why Yin?: because of its paradoxes and emphasis on
sustainability without control
• Self-submission instead of self-control
• Harmony instead of domination

4. • Something which constantly changes (chap. 1)
• Gate to the essence of all life (chap. 1)
• Existed before heaven and earth (chap. 4, 21)
• Like water: benefits everything without contending (chap. 8)
• “Oneness” and “Origin”: if you know it you know its
teaching and principle too (chap. 14)
• Disappears when humanity and righteousness arise (chap.
18)
• You’re reassured if you are with IT (chap. 20)
• Vague and intangible, but the faith lies within (chap. 21)

5. • Mother of everything (chap. 25)
• Supplemented by “Te” ( 德 , virtue) > “ren” ( 仁 ,
humanity) > “Yi” ( 義 , justice) > “Li” ( 禮 , etiquette)
(chap. 38)
• Cultivated by a superior man, doubted by an average man
and disdained by an inferior man (chap. 41)
• Exists in your own true self (cha. 47)
• Protects you from any dangers if you follow IT (chap. 50)
• Harmony: nothing will harm if it turns into IT (chap. 60)
• Its words can benefit all people and its action can guide
them to follow the right PATH (chap. 62)

6. • So great that IT seems unreal (chap. 67)

7. • No recognition asked for the succession: those who have no
credit don’t have to worry about losing it (chap. 2)
• Weaken your worldly ambition and strengthen your essence
(chap. 3)
• Act without desire to accomplish everything in its natural order
(chap. 3)
• Abandon your self-concern but feel accomplished to achieve your
ever-lasting life (chap. 7)
• Never force your way to avoid making faults (chap. 8)
• Cherish your inner peace and remain unaffected by worldly
desires to unify yourself with the Oneness (chap.15)
• Yield to preserve the whole, be hollow to be filled etc. (chap. 22)

8. • Conduct yourself with the essence of TAO without never
departing from IT (chap. 26)
• Know the masculine strength and abide by the female
gentleness, know the white splendour but hold onto the
humble black, know the honour but abide by the
dishonoured (chap. 28)
• Avoid all extremes, extravagance and pride (chap. 29)
• Understand the law of cause and effect and don’t rely on the
strength of force (chap. 30)
• Behave gently and meekly if you practice Tao (chap. 41)

9. • Keep guard on your sensory desire and shut the doors of
temptation (chap. 52)
• Be simple and restrain from your desires if you want to
achieve (chap. 59)
• Be humble to win people’s support although you’re stronger
than they, then smaller ones will merge into you (chap. 61)
• Treat both the big and small ones equally (chap. 63)
• Plan for the hardship while it’s easy, act upon the great while
dealing with the minute without striving (ibid.)
• Guide people to restore their simplicity and innocence,
don’t try to rule people with tactics (chap. 65)

10. • Many words lead to exhaustion, better to focus on essence
(chap. 5)
• Don’t cling to your success but retreat (chap. 9)
• Don’t indulge yourself in sensory pleasures (chap. 12)
• If you don’t know the Natural Law, you’ll be have recklessly
and will invite misfortunes (chap. 16)
• How much can your action last if digressed from Tao?
(chap. 23)
• Don’t be arrogant, self-opinioned, prejudiced nor brag
yourself (chap. 24)

11. • You won’t succeed if you wants to take control of the world
(chap. 29)
• Don’t use weapons but as last resort (chap. 31)
• Don’t desire nor look for endless possession but find
contentment (chap. 46)
• You’ll fail if you act wit desire, you’ll lose if you try to
possess (chap. 64)
• Don’t use force nor lose your temper nor challenge others
but be humble (chap. 68)
• Don’t detest people, or they will detest you (authority)
(chap. 72)

12. The reason that river and ocean can be the Lords of all valley is
because they are located in the lowly position.
Therefore, the saint humbles himself to serve all people.
And he leads the people by putting himself last for the sake of their
welfare.
Thus, although he rules above the people, they do not feel him as a
burden.
Although he leads in front of the people, they do not feel him as a
threat.
Hence, the world supports him with no objection. This is because
he does not content, therefore, he is above all competition.

13. Miguel Yasuyuki Hirota
miguel@ineval.org