87 topics
Knowledge
Texts, concepts, practices, cosmology, and history — from the Daodejing to the China Taoist Association.
Open knowledge01 / The Tradition
Taoism, described accurately.
A reference library on the tradition itself — its texts, concepts, lineages, deities, and sacred geography. Every entry is checkable; nothing here is an association claim.
02 / Four pillars
Where to begin, depending on what you came for.
The tradition is presented separately from the association’s own plans, so the two are never confused.
4 lineages
Schools
The major living and historical branches of organised Taoism, and what actually distinguishes them.
Open schools28 figures
Pantheon
Deities, immortals, and founding figures — from Laozi and the Three Pure Ones to the Eight Immortals.
Open pantheon17 places
Sacred sites
The mountains, temples, and monastic seats where the tradition is still practised.
Open sacred sites03 / Core concepts
Six ideas the rest depends on.
The Tao as Ultimate Reality
Beyond its role as an ethical or practical guide, the Tao names the ultimate ground of reality itself — ineffable, prior to all distinction, yet the source from which the differentiated world of the 'ten thousand things' continuously emerges.
Wu Wei (無為) — Non-Action, Effortless Action
The central Taoist principle of non-forcing, non-striving, acting in alignment with circumstances. Not passivity but action that flows from deep attunement to the Tao.
Yin-Yang — Beyond Duality
The dynamic complementary forces underlying all existence. Not simple opposites but interdependent, containing each other, eternally flowing between states. More subtle than Western understanding.
Neidan — Inner Alchemy Microcosmic Circuit
The foundational inner alchemy practice: circulating energy through Ren (front) and Du (back) meridians connecting perineum to crown. Transforms jing into qi, qi into shen, shen into void.
Taiji (Tai Chi) — Origins and Philosophical Foundations
The "Supreme Ultimate" fist art, integrating Taoist philosophy into martial movement. Not merely exercise but a pathway to embodying wu wei and understanding yin-yang through direct practice.
Ziran (自然) — Spontaneity and Natural Simplicity
Acting according to one's true nature without forcing or conditioning. The Taoist ideal of authentic spontaneity that emerges when mental artifice falls away.
04 / Ten terms
Plain definitions, so nobody has to guess.
A starter vocabulary mixing tradition terms with the operational language we use. For depth on any of them, use the knowledge directory.
- Tao
- The unfolding pattern of reality and life as relationship, process, and continuous adaptation.
- Wu wei
- Action with right timing: enough effort to support, not enough to force outcomes.
- Yin–yang
- A way to understand interdependence between complementary qualities.
- De
- Character quality: lived integrity and ethical presence in action.
- Practice cycle
- One complete round of plan → implement → review → refine → repeat.
- Pilot-first
- Approach that starts with a small tested version before scaling anything.
- Learning in public
- Publishing assumptions, process, outcomes, and revision notes for trust.
- Stewardship
- Responsibility to protect participants, context, and the work already underway.
- Community rhythm
- The natural cadence of attention, rest, work, and review.
- Review framework
- A set of criteria used to decide what to keep, improve, pause, or stop.
05 / How the library is organised
Eight categories across 87 topics.
Texts & Scriptures
Sacred texts and philosophical works
Concepts & Philosophy
Core ideas and metaphysical principles
Practices & Cultivation
Meditation, ritual, and training methods
Cosmology & Deities
Universe structure, celestial beings, symbolism
History & Movements
Periods, sects, and key figures
Medicine & Health
Healing and longevity practices
Martial Arts & Movement
Internal and external physical traditions
Lineages & Transmission
Schools, ordination, and teaching lines
Sourcing
Entries are written from published scholarship and the traditions’ own institutional records. Photographs are freely licensed images from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each page. Where a fact is contested among scholars, the entry says so rather than choosing a side.