ABSTRACT
Taoism emerged from the experience of the ancient Chinese people living with and observing nature around them and within them. Its first formal writings came from the Warring States period approximately 2500 years ago, and it sprouted into folk-religious forms during the Han dynasty 500 years later and continues today in philosophical, religious, and various spiritual-esoteric traditions. Taoists believe that the universe has a subtle responsiveness. They see every action gives birth to a complementary reaction, that the environment of one’s mind, the condition of one’s body or the state of one’s political system or economy invites certain types of growth and development and hinders others. The ancient Taoist perspective is that the universe emerged from an unimaginable unity that gives birth to all things. All things born of this oneness have their relative, contrasting, and complementary natures, or yin and yang aspects.
