 In the study of comparative religion, a Taoic religion is a religion, or religious philosophy, that focuses on the East Asian concept of Tao ("The Way"). This forms a large group of religions including Taoism, Confucianism, Shinto, Yiguandao, Chondogyo, Caodaism, Jeung San Do and Chen Tao. Taoic religions as a world religion group is comparable to the Abrahamic religions and Dharmic religions. Taoic faiths claim at least 500 million members worldwide.
Ancient Chinese philosophies defined Tao and advocated cultivating De in that Tao. There are ancient schools that have merged into traditions under different names or are no longer active, such as Mohism and many others of the Hundred Schools of Thought, while some such as Taoism persist to the modern day. Taoic religion is usually polytheistic or nontheistic, but henotheistic, monotheistic, pantheistic, panentheistic and agnostic varieties exist, inside and outside of Asia. Taoic religion has Western adherents, though their interpretation may significantly differ from traditional East Asian thought and culture.
Terminology
Taoic religion, as a term, is one of many ways to label the body of faiths incorporating the concept of "Tao". This is also expressed in analogues such as Tao religion, Taoic tradition and Tao-based religion. Far Eastern religion, East Asian religion and Chinese religion, along with their analogues, also find use as terms for the religious grouping. Despite the wide variety of terms, the Tao-based faiths are recognized as a distinct religious family.
No single term is univerally used in popular or academic literature. Syncretism is widespread in East Asia, often making it difficult to recognize individual faiths. Further complications arise from the inconsistent use of many terms. Tao religion is often used for Taoism itself, especially Tao chiao, as well an identifying term for Tao-based new religious movements. Far Eastern religion may refer to only faiths based upon Tao, but also can include Buddhism, or even inclusively refer to all Asian religions. The problems in distinguishing religious practices and inconsistency in terminology can make discussion of Taoic religions difficult.
Taoism and Confucianism
The terms Tao and De are shared religious and philosophical terms between Taoism and Confucianism. The authorship of the Tao Te Ching is assigned to Laozi, who is traditionally thought to be a teacher of Confucius. However, some scholars believe the Tao Te Ching arose as a reaction to Confucianism. Zhuangzi reacted to the Confucian-Mohist ethical disputes. Zhuangzi's "history of thought" casts Laozi as a prior step to the Mohists by name and the Confucians by implication. It is important to note that Laozi and Zhuangzi are usually considered mythological figures by secular scholars.
Early Taoist texts reject the basic assumptions of Confucianism which relied on rituals and order, in favour of the examples of "wild" nature and individualism. Historical Taoists challenged conventional morality, while Confucians considered society debased and in need of strong ethical guidance.
Interaction with Dharmic faiths
The entry of Buddhism into China was marked by interaction and syncretism with Taoic faiths, Taoism in particular. Buddhism's scriptures were translated into Chinese with Taoist vocabulary, because it was originally seen as a kind of foreign Taoism. Chan Buddhism was particularly modified by Taoism, integrating distrust of scripture, text and even language, as well as the Taoic views of embracing "this life", dedicated practice and the "every-moment". In the Tang period Taoism incorporated such Buddhist elements as monasteries, vegetarianism, prohibition of alcohol, the doctrine of emptiness, and collecting scripture into tripartite organisation. During the same time, Chan Buddhism grew to become the largest sect in Chinese Buddhism.
Buddhism was not universally welcomed, particularly among the gentry. The Buddha Dharma seemed alien and amoral to conservative and Confucian sensibilities. Confucianism promoted social stability, order, strong families, and practical living. Chinese officials questioned how a monk's monasticism and personal attainment of nirvana benefited the empire. However, Buddhism and Confucianism eventually reconciled after centuries of conflict and assimilation.
Ideological and political rivals for centuries, Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism deeply influenced one another. They did share some similar values. All three had a humanistic philosophy emphasizing moral behavior and human perfection. In time, most Chinese people identified to some extent with all three traditions simultaneously. This became institutionalised when aspects of the three schools were consciously synthesised in the Neo-Confucian school.
Neo-Confucianism
Neo-Confucianism was a consciously created syncretism of Taoism, Confucianism and Chinese Buddhism. It is recognized as being formulated and established during the Song dynasty, but traces its roots to scholars of the Tang dynasty. It combined Buddhist religious concepts with Taoist yin yang theory and the I Ching, and placed them on the framework of classic Confucianism.
Despite Neo-Confucianism's incorporation of the "best" elements of Buddhism and Taoism, its apologists still decried the two faiths. However, its influence on Chinese society has blurred the distinction between the three faiths, even into modern times. Neo-Confucianism was an officially endorsed faith for over five centuries, deeply influencing all of East Asia. It should not be conflated with New Confucianism, which is a modernist form of Confucianism rather than a syncretism of East Asian faiths.
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