Taoism 道

the way | the flow

Origins in Ancient China

Taoism is one of the world’s oldest spiritual traditions, rooted in the rhythms of nature and the mystery of existence. It grew from ancient China’s search for harmony, weaving together philosophy, spirituality, medicine, art, and daily life into a way of living aligned with the Tao - the Way.

The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao

The earliest seeds of Taoism are thought to have appeared more than 2,500 years ago. In a time of social upheaval and constant warring, sages and seekers looked to the patterns of rivers, mountains, and the stars for wisdom beyond human conflict. From this deep listening to nature, Taoist ideas began to take shape.

“The supreme good is like water,
which nourishes all things without trying to.
It is content with the low places that people disdain.
Thus it is like the Tao.

In dwelling, live close to the ground.
In thinking, keep to the simple.
In conflict, be fair and generous.
In governing, don't try to control.
In work, do what you enjoy.
In family life, be completely present.

When you are content to be simply yourself and
don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you.”

-Lao Tzu

Lao Tzu and the Tao Te Ching

The story of the Tao Te Ching’s creation is as mysterious and poetic as the book itself.

Lao Tzu lived during a time of political turmoil in ancient China. He had served as a record-keeper in the royal court, a man of wisdom whose quiet presence drew the respect of those around him. But as the world around him grew more chaotic and filled with greed, war, and ambition, Lao Tzu felt the deep pull of the Tao (the Way) and chose to leave behind the life of government and retreat into obscurity.

Legend tells us that Lao Tzu mounted a water buffalo and rode westward, intending to pass beyond the borders of the civilized world into solitude. At the gate of the city, a guard named Yinxi recognized him. Yinxi knew that Lao Tzu carried profound wisdom, and he could not bear to let such knowledge vanish into the mountains, lost to future generations.

The guard stopped Lao Tzu and pleaded with him: “Before you go, please write down your teaching. Leave behind a record of the Way, so that the world may remember.”

Moved by the sincerity of the request, Lao Tzu dismounted and agreed. There, at the border, he composed a small book (around 5,000 characters) that distilled the mystery of the Tao into poetry, paradox, and timeless insight. This text came to be known as the Tao Te Ching (The Book of the Way and Its Virtue).

When it was finished, Lao Tzu handed the manuscript to the guard, and then continued on his journey, disappearing into legend. No one knows where he went, or even if the tale unfolded exactly as it has been told. What remains is the book itself—a guide to simplicity, humility, and harmony with the Way that underlies all things.

The Tao Te Ching endures not because of historical certainty, but because its wisdom feels as fresh and alive today as it did on that ancient border. In just a few pages, Lao Tzu gave the world a text that whispers like flowing water, teaching us to live gently, to act without striving, and to return again and again to the mystery of the Tao.

Wu Wei