Adieu, the final farewell, an exploration of death!
Tao: Forward to Zoroastrian – Famous Cemeteries - Back to Shinto
Back to Next tier of religions – Religions – Death
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Quick Links:
| Definition | Diyu |
| Lao Tzu | Open casket |
| Yin Yang | Funeral |
| No god | Pearl |
| Principles | Feng Shui |
| Guàns | Seventh day |
| Reincarnation |
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Some 3m people, 0.04% of global population follow Taosim, aka Daoism.
It was founded around 2,500 years ago by the philosopher Lao Tzu when he wrote the book Tao Te Ching. Taoism is more focussed on the spiritual existence than Confucians.
A second book, the Chuang Tzu, provides poems, sketches and essays assembled by Zhuangzi. Its symbol is yin yang that symbolises dualism – male-female, life-death, light-dark…
It has no god, and no central authority. It is recognised by the Chinese government.
There are three main principles in Taoism – inactivity, simplicity and being harmonious with nature. Taoist thought therefore focuses on health and vitality, on genuineness, on longevity and immortality, on refinement and detachment, on potentiality, transformation and spontaneity, on equilibrium, or wu wei.
Taoists have temples, guàns, and the rituals held there focus on purification, on meditation and making offerings to deities.
At death a Taoist believes the soul will be reincarnated in another being, that choice being dependent on the virtue of their previous life.
But it wanders within the diyu, a form of hell, until it is reincarnated.
The body is washed and dressed in best clothes, usually coloured black, blue, brown or white. Red is forbidden because it is considered the colour if life. An open casket is used for friends and families to pay their respects, then it is closed.
The funeral consists of chanting, meditation, prayers and speeches. Flowers are usually lotus or chrysanthemum. Incense is burned.
A pearl is usually placed on the mouth, both to light the way in what is considered to be a dark place, but this is also to use as a bribe to the officials in the other world.
A Feng Shui master determines the date, the location and the time of the cremation and/or burial and the orientation of the grave.
Taoists believe that on the evening of the seventh day after death, the soul of the departed will visit their home. The family prepare a meal with the favourite dishes of the deceased.
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Tao: Forward to Zoroastrian – Famous Cemeteries - Back to Shinto
Back to Next tier of religions – Religions – Death
Back to Adieu Index - Back to Bob Denton home page
