In Shaketown, the
character Wo Sam was a paragon of Taoist ethics, though his compassion became
severely challenged as he moved further into the world of the tongs. Taoist
propriety emphasizes the Three Jewels
of the Tao: compassion,
moderation, and humility, while Taoist
thought generally focuses on nature,
the relationship between humanity and the cosmos; health and longevity; and wu wei
(action without
effort--what we in the west might call "instinctive action" or "flow").
Harmony with the universe
and its source (Tao) is the intended result of Taoist practices.
Religious Taoism traditionally features reverence for
ancestors and immortals
along with a variety of divination
practices, including the throwing of
Kau Cim, fortune sticks. Clerics of religious Taoism often take care to note distinctions
between their ritual tradition and the customs and practices found in popular
("folk") religion. Chinese alchemy, astrology, cuisine, Zen Buddhism, several Chinese
martial arts, traditional
Chinese medicine, feng shui,
and many styles of qigong
have been intertwined with Taoism throughout history.
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