Taoism

__**Taoism**__ 

= **Central Questions** = =Objectives=
 * What is the Dao (Tao)? What are yin and yang?
 * How does Taoism influence East Asian, especially Chinese, society?
 * How is Taoism similar to, and different from Confucianism? How is it complimentary to Confucianism?
 * Knowledge**
 * Students will know the legend of Laozi.
 * Students will know the tenets of Daoism
 * Attitudes**
 * To appreciate the importance of and relevance of Daoist ideas.
 * To consider the application of Daoist beliefs to one's own society.
 * To appreciate Daoist ideas that can be found in literature and art.
 * Skills**
 * To analyze and interpret the writings from the Daodejing and the Zhuangzi
 * To communicate information and opinions to a group/class.
 * To work cooperatively in small groups

=**The Yin and Yang**=

= = = Introduction to Taoism: Get to your stations... = You will be directed to move to a learning station in the room where you will read a file. Make sure you have your note maker ready for this one. There will be a total of 6 stations. Be attentive: there will be a test. Cornell notes
 * Your student number || Your stations ||
 * 1 || A ||
 * 2 || B ||
 * 3 || C ||
 * 4 || D ||
 * 5 || E ||
 * 6 || F ||

=Follow up to "Introduction to Taoism"= Go to Questions About Taoism, and as a group of //Experts on Taoism// answer the questions on your wiki.

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=Assignment 1= Taoism is sometimes described as that which cannot be described, but can be known. This gets pretty difficult. The Tao, or Way, is what is commonly used. One thing that is often stressed in Taoism is the notion that everything is in a state of flux and that we can never be truly certain of anything because of this lack of permanence.

Read the poem below. =[|Chuang Tzu] And The Butterfly Analysis= Chuang Tzu in dream became a butterfly, And the butterfly became Chuang Tzu at waking. Which was the real—the butterfly or the man ? Who can tell the end of the endless changes of things? The water that flows into the depth of the distant sea Returns anon to the shallows of a transparent stream. The man, raising melons outside the green gate of the city, Was once the Prince of the East Hill. So must rank and riches vanish. You know it, still you toil and toil,—what for?

Prepare an answer for the following questions" =
 * 1) Why does the author choose a butterfly?
 * 2) What is the importance of the water cycle?
 * 3) What is the point about the 'man raising melons'?
 * 4) What is the author attempting to convey to the reader?


 * Important Diagrams Concerning Taoism**=





=**Assignment 2**= =Essential Quotes of Taoism=

Go to the Essential Quotes of Taoism above and read through them. Be sure to note down answers to the following questions. (Be prepared to share your answers):
 * 1) In //Lectures on the Tao Teh Ching//, Lao-Tzu says, that, "The mystery of the Mysterious is the gateway to all indescribable marvels". Does this quote have an equivalent to in Christianity? Are there other parts of the Tao Teh Ching that remind you of Christian ideals?
 * 2) See Passage 2, "Not honoring men....Not wanting rare things...Not paying attention..." How are does this help one understand how Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism found common ground and were not mutually exclusive belief systems?
 * 3) In Passage 2, what do you think is meant by the lines, "relaxing the mind, reinforcing the abdomen, gentling the will, strengthening the bones"?
 * 4) Consider the last three entries from D.C. Lau's //Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching//, Lao Tzu describes government. How is this ideal different from Confucius' ideal? What present day system of government are you reminded of when you read this section? Do you think this is a good system? Explain.
 * 5) Regarding the third treasure that Lao Tzu describes, what do you think is his message? Do you agree? What does this say about people who are ambitious?

=Assignment 3://The Tao of Pooh// by Benjamin Hoff= By now you have done read all (or at least a considerable portion of //The Tao of Pooh//). This is another assignment that goes onto your wikispace. Mouse over the book cover below to see what must be done for this assignment.