Daoism

The Daoist tradition incorporates a highly diverse range of philosophical, religious, and folk values and practices, all of which share a concern for realigning human life so that it is in better accord with the natural rhythms of the universe. Symbols of particular importance include the Way (Dao), the Great Ultimate (Taiji), yin and yang. The goals of practice are sagehood, immortality, and universal salvation. To attain these goals, Daoists have performed such activities as visualization meditation, forms of calisthenics, alchemical experiments, and elaborate communal rituals. Today, very few active Daoist temples may be found in China, although qigong and taijiquan, both of which are associated with Daoism, have gained popularity not only in China, but in Europe and North America as well.