University of Phoenix Material

Daoism Worksheet

Complete the following questions in detail. Answer each question with a 1- or 2-paragraph response that includes a reference citation. Make use of Experiencing the World’s Religions and other sources in your research as you complete the questions.

1. Describe the principles of yang and yin. Yin and Yang are represented by intertwined objects that look like commas. One is dark and one is white. The meaning is to show the balance between good and evil or any set of opposites. It shows that the opposite of one thing can turn onto the opposite of the other. The concept is that the universe expresses itself in opposite ways but in complementary ways like light and dark, birth and death, young and old, old and new, and the list goes on and on. The dot of the opposite color in each side is the seed that represents the division that will turn into the other (Molloy, 2012, Chapter 6).

2. The main scripture in Daoism is the Daodejing (Tao Te Ching). What is the history and importance of this text for the tradition? The Daodejing is highly regarded as one of the world’s premier religious texts. The title can be translated as the classical book about the Way and it’s power. There are multiple versions but the one most widely used dates back to the third century. The chapters do not have a clear pattern, rather they are read more as poetry. It may have perhaps originated as a collection of proverbs and oral sayings that were translated into written form. Much like the Bible, it is thought to have had multiple authors that contributed over a period of time to the book and it was eventually put all together (Molloy, 2012, Chapter 6).

3. How are Daoist ideals expressed through art? Offer several examples. Daoist ideals are expressed in many different ways in art. They are shown in written, painted, sewn,