Yin & Yang in Taoism
Lao zi, the founder of Taoism, advanced his
ideas on health building during the Spring and
Autumn Period. His ideas laid the groundwork for
subsequent doctrines on health building. Lao
zi’s birth place, and the date of his birth and
death were nerve specified by historians, but he
is believed to have lived during the latter part
of the Spring and Autumn Period (722 - 476
B.C.).
One legend says Lao Zi was Lao Dan, a historian
in charge of a library. His family name was Li,
his given name was Er, and he was born in the
state of Chu (today’s Luyi County, Henan
Province).
As to why Li Er was called Lao Zi, another
legend says he was born with white hair after
his mother carried him in her womb for 72 years.
He could speak when he was born and said,
pointing to a plum tree, “This is my family
name.” (The Chinese character “li” means plum).
Throughout the dynasties there has been a
continuing debate as to whether he authored the
book Lao Zi, also titled The Book of Ethics. Lao
Zi, which contains 5,000 Chinese characters, was
written in the literary form of poems and odes.
It shows a refined style and penetrating
thought, but is generally believed to have been
written by his followers in the middle of the
Warring States Period (c. 381 B.C.)
Lao Zi believed that to stay healthy, people
should revert to the primary state by giving up
all complex emotions and desires like a newborn
baby. He argued for indifference to fame and
gain. He believed in nihilism, selflessness, and
few desires, and advocated serenity, temperance,
and peace. For physical exercise he was devoted
to breathing exercises. He held that people
should not pursue delicious food; simple food
was enough.
Prior to Lao Zi, people had thought the Taoists
paid minimal attention to health building
through food but, in fact, the Taoists believed
in simple food, vegetables, and coarse grains.
Such a diet actually does help prevent cardiac
and cerebral diseases that result from excessive
protein and fat.
More on Chinese
food and health
building:
Confucian Philosophy on Health Building
Buddhist
Philosophy on Health Building
Mohist Philosophy
on Health
Building
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