this post was submitted on 22 May 2025
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Explanation: I only know a little bit about Chinese history, but as I understand it, Taoism (sometimes transliterated as Daoism) is a religion/philosophical school that began in ancient China. It advocates that one is to live in harmony with 'the way' (or Tao, hence the name), a natural, universal order that it is most moral and most conducive to human happiness to follow.
However, this interest in knowledge of an intrinsic natural order also led Taoism to become heavily associated with/involved in Chinese alchemical practices - including the ever-popular search for an elixir of immortality. One might suggest that such a blatant departure from natural processes may not be entirely harmonious with any intrinsic universal order - but I'm sure with just a little more mercury in the formula, all of us doubters will have to eat our words!