道教

• Pinyin: Dào jiào
• Hanzi breakdown: 道 = 辶 (walk) + 首 (head), the Way; 教 = 孝 (filial) + 攵 (action), teaching

Meaning

Daoism; Taoism. The indigenous Chinese religious and philosophical tradition.

One of China's major traditional religions, rooted in the teachings of Laozi and the Dao De Jing. Emphasizes living in harmony with the Dao (the Way), naturalness, and simplicity. Includes practices like meditation, martial arts, and traditional medicine.

Examples

1. 道教是中国土生土长的宗教，有两千多年历史。 Daoism is an indigenous Chinese religion with over two thousand years of history.
2. 他对道教文化很感兴趣，经常去道观参观。 He's very interested in Daoist culture and often visits Daoist temples.
3. 太极拳的哲学思想深受道教影响。 The philosophy of Tai Chi is deeply influenced by Daoism.

Usage Guide

Context: religion, philosophy, culture

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 道教提倡顺应自然。(Daoism advocates following nature.)
• 道教和道家有联系但不完全相同。(Daoism and Daoist philosophy are related but not exactly the same.)

Don't Say

• 道教(宗教)和道家(哲学)有区别，但日常使用中常混用 (道教 religion and 道家 philosophy are different, but they are often used interchangeably in daily use)

Origin & History

From 道 (the Way/Dao) and 教 (teaching/religion). 道 is the central concept representing the fundamental nature of the universe.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal