Taoist philosophy is an integral and basic element of the vast and diverse Chinese civilization alongside mainstream Confucianism and Buddhism. Taoism or the School of Tao refers to a set of philosophical teachings and religious practices rooted in a specific metaphysical understanding of the Chinese character Dao (usually known as Tao).

Taoism has had a deep and long-lasting influence in many domains of Chinese culture, including the arts, literature, medicine, and cuisine. It has spread widely throughout East Asia. Taoism emphasizes freedom, nature, cosmology, self-cultivation, and even the search for immortality.

Being different from that of Confucianism, the social philosophy of Taoism is not aggressive, or positive. Because society is only a process that materializes the Tao, it is not the ultimate purpose of living. From the perspective of Taoism, Confucianism is rational, but it does not boast absolute values, thus a set of measures to build the "ideal society," as in Confucian social philosophy, is not necessary. What Taoists emphasize most is the basic principles to survive in society, which should prove to be effective under any kind of historical conditions. Unlike Confucian social philosophy, the focus is not self-cultivation, but rather the wisdom to respond to various conditions in the society, meeting people's needs for rehabilitation and recuperation.

Taoism provides the theoretic foundation for recuperation policy at the beginning of the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD). Meanwhile, Taoism also provides a place to retreat for traditional Chinese officials who failed in Confucianism-dominated officialdom. This is still a big area subject area for Chinese scholars to explore, helping to complement Confucianism.

  Important philosophers

Laozi

Laozi, also known Lao-tzu, is considered the founder of Taoism. Daode Jing, or Tao Te Ching (Classic of the Way and Virtue), written by Laozi, has only 5,000 Chinese characters, but covers a wide range of subjects from the metaphysics of Dao (Tao, or the Way), the wisdom of life, cosmology, to ontology. People are supposed to learn the wisdom of life in general, Laozi theorizes, and he brings forward philosophical ideas on politics, sociology, and interpersonal relationships. Yet the focus is not on the creation of civilization, but rather on self-cultivation. Laozi's thoughts are basically social philosophy and theories based on Dao, but he is not interested in creating a new and ideal society, because that is not the way of the Dao.

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