
The Mandarin Chinese pronunciation for the word 道 ("way, path") is spelled as tao 4 in the older Wade–Giles romanization system (from which the spelling 'Taoism' is derived), while it is spelled as dào in the newer Pinyin romanization system (from which the spelling "Daoism" is derived). Since the introduction of the Pinyin system for romanizing Mandarin Chinese, there have been those who have felt that "Taoism" would be more appropriately spelled as "Daoism". Main article: Daoism–Taoism romanization issue It is also a major religion in Taiwan and claims adherents in a number of other societies, in particular in Hong Kong, Macau and Southeast Asia. Today, the Taoist tradition is one of the five religious doctrines officially recognized by the People's Republic of China. Chinese alchemy (especially neidan), Chinese astrology, Chan (Zen) Buddhism, several martial arts, traditional Chinese medicine, feng shui and many styles of qigong have been intertwined with Taoism throughout history. Taoism has had a profound influence on Chinese culture in the course of the centuries and Taoists ( 道士 dàoshi, "masters of the Tao"), a title traditionally attributed only to the clergy and not to their lay followers, usually take care to note the distinction between their ritual tradition and the practices of Chinese folk religion and non-Taoist vernacular ritual orders, which are often mistakenly identified as pertaining to Taoism. The Tao Te Ching, a book containing teachings attributed to Lao Tzu ( 老子 Lǎozǐ Lao³ Tzŭ³), together with the later writings of Zhuangzi, are both widely considered the keystone works of Taoism. 337 BCE) may also have been a major influence, expounding a realpolitik of wu wei, or qualified inaction.
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Early Taoism drew its cosmological notions from the School of Yinyang (Naturalists) and was deeply influenced by one of the oldest texts of Chinese culture, the I Ching, which expounds a philosophical system about how to keep human behavior in accordance with the alternating cycles of nature. The roots of Taoism go back at least to the 4th century BCE. Taoist ethics vary depending on the particular school, but in general tend to emphasize wu wei (action without intention), "naturalness", simplicity, spontaneity and the Three Treasures: 慈, "compassion", 儉, "frugality" and 不敢爲天下先, "humility". Taoism teaches about the various disciplines for achieving "perfection" by becoming one with the unplanned rhythms of the all, called "the way" or "Tao".

In Taoism, the Tao is the source, pattern and substance of everything that exists. Taoism ( / ˈ t aʊ ɪ z əm/), or Daoism ( / ˈ d aʊ ɪ z əm/), is a philosophical and spiritual tradition of Chinese origin which emphasizes living in harmony with the Tao ( Chinese: 道 pinyin: Dào lit.
