ABSTRACT
Taoism is one of the ancient religions of China. It urges the harmonization of the individual with Nature which leads to an ethical stance of doing nothing contrary to Nature. Taoism is possibly best known in the West for its philosophy of Yin and Yang (male and female) and the desire to find health and happiness by balancing these two basic realities of nature. Taoism first found acceptance in the West, through the I Ching, a popular Chinese divinatory practice, but more recently has experienced its greatest success through its association with the martial arts, especially kung fu. Taoist religious groups, often in connection with martial arts centers, began to appear in the 1960s, and while not as popular as Buddhism, it is finding a small but dedicated following.
