Kelly Barry- Dao De Jing

In my RSTD 395 class, we have looked at many different Chinese religions including Daoism(Taoism), which promotes a correct manner of living known as "Dao" or "the Way". Itt's most popular text, the Dao De Jing, is the second more translated text in the world next to the Christian Bible. Supposedly authored by Lao Zi, the Dao De Jing is a series of poems focused on the ideas of yielding to nature and simplicity. A common concept seen throughout is called wu wei, or "not acting". For example, if you were caught in a rip tide, the safest thing to do is flow with the current and avoid struggling against it. This is the idea behind wu wei; go with the flow.
Similarly, there is a great emphasis placed on water throughout the text, stating, "The best man is like water". But how can we achieve this? Water is free flowing and uncontainable. Trying to control water is a futile attempt, as it is much too powerful. Even if we bottle water or encase it in a pool, there can be no hold on it forever (simple as opening the bottle to drink/ flooding of the pool).
There is also a heavy emphasis placed on female imagery in the text, since Daoism is primarily concern with things that are yin (subtlety, peace, darkness, femininity). "The gate of the subtle and profound female is the root of Heaven and Earth". Powerful.
This sacred text of Daoism has often been thought of as a work of art, both for its creative structure and its motivation towards inwardness and freedom. Over the centuries, it has been a main source of inspiration for Chinese art.