Taoism (also called
Daoism) is a philosophical, ethical or religious tradition of
Chinese origin that emphasizes living in harmony with the
Tao (also romanized as
Dao). The term
Tao means "way", "path", or "principle", and can also be found in Chinese philosophies and religions other than Taoism. In Taoism, however,
Tao denotes something that is both the source of, and the force behind, everything that exists. Taoism is practiced as a religion in various Asian communities. Its theology is not theist (even though some communities do worship Laozi as the attributed founder of the religious doctrine), and has more affinities with
pantheistic traditions given its philosophical emphasis on the formlessness of the Tao.
