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Article: DAOISM: Religion or Philosophy?(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- Calliope
- Article date:
- October 1, 2000
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2000 Carus Publishing Co. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The name "Daoism" comes from the Chinese word dao, which literally means "way" or "path." Daoism is the only major religion, on a scale similar to Christianity or Buddhism, to have developed entirely inside China. While Christianity and Buddhism both spread throughout the world to become international religions, Daoism remains mostly in China. Buddhism entered China early in the first millennium C.E., and Daoism and Buddhism both competed with many different, local religious beliefs. Nevertheless, Daoism remained China's chief indigenous religion.
In later times, the Chinese came to see Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism as their most important philosophical and ...