Taoism is a kind of belief and a way of life that came from Chinese roots. It originated at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and is based on the ancient witchcraft and formulas of immorality. For Taoist, Lao Zi is the founder and supreme God of Taoism, and Taodejing, a profound book of only five thousand Chinese characters by Lao Zi as the believer's canon.
The essence of Taoism is "Tao". The word "Tao" is translated as "the way". In its broadest sense, Tao is the way the universe functions, the path taken by all natural events. "Tao" is nature's way, expressed in effortless action. Taoists often use the image of water to illustrate such effortless action. Water always settles to the lowest level and yet can wear away even the hardest of substances.
According to Taodejing, the basic principles of life are as following. First, be benevolent; Second, be pure; and last but not the least, do not act in advance of other people.
Within the Tao, the two elementary powers, Yin and Yang, function by reciprocal action. Yin and Yang are the two polar opposites into which all things can be classified. Thus dark and light, life and death, male and female, good and evil, strong and weak are all manifestations of Yin and Yang.
Taoism also claimed that people can be physically immortal. The famous Eight Immortals of Taoism are Li Tieguai, He Xiangu, Han Zhongli, Cao Guojiu, Lan Caihe, Lv Dongbi, Zhang Guolao and Han Xiangzi.
