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Taoism |
Confucianism |
Buddhism |
| Texts |
Tao Te Ching, the essential guide book. |
The Five Classics and Four Books. The first of the books Lun Yu (Analects of Confucius) is the primary text. |
The Pali Canon. |
| Core Beliefs |
- The Tao (the 'Way') is the ultimate principle
- Union with the Tao is the aim
- Maintaining balance and harmony within and between the self and environment is essential
- Compassion towards others is principle
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- Family is the core unit of society
- Through right and harmonious relationships in family and society, the state will be in order
- Benevolence and harmony are paramount
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- Life entails suffering
- Suffering is a result of attachment to desires
- Overcoming attachment and achieving liberation from endless reincarnations is possible through following certain practices
- Compassion is paramount
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| Essential concepts (In relation to health) |
- Interactive elements, Yin/Yang
- Chi, Life force
- Meridians are pathways for chi
- Five forces of universe (wood, metal, earth, water, fire)
- Feng Shui (system of aesthetics) to enhance chi
- TCM has roots in Taoism
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- Five Virtues
- Five Relationships
- Principle foundations for TCM
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- Karma
- Reincarnation
- Meditation and mindful awareness
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| Common health practices |
- Acupressure
- Acupuncture
- Herbal medicines
- Cupping
- Coining
- Moxibustion
- Massage
- Martial arts/movement
- Meditation
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- Acupressure
- Acupuncture
- Herbal medicines
- Cupping
- Coining
- Moxibustion
- Massage
- Martial arts/movement
- Meditation
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No particular health practices; these would likely be culturally determined.
East and Southeast Asian Buddhists most likely to follow TCM and other Taoist health practices, whilst Buddhists from other cultures/countries (e.g. Cambodia and tribes Hmong and Mien) may also include Ayurvedic principles (Indian traditional medicine).
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| Common health principles/factors that will influence health |
- Avoid excess
- Maintain or increase chi
- Avoid activities/emotions that reduce chi
- Diet to maintain yin/yang balance
- Harmony with nature
- Non-doing (attitude of let-it-be)
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- Maintain harmony and balance
- Observing guidelines will assist in maintaining harmony and balance
- TCM principles
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- Avoid excess
- Avoid attachments
- Pay attention to the needs of the body
- Pay attention to the quality of relationships
- Practice compassion, mindfulness
- Non-action (attitude of let-it-be)
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| Beliefs in causes of illness |
- Because of imbalance within the individual
- Because of imbalance between the individual and nature
- Because of discord with the ancestors
- Supernatural causes
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- Disharmony results when the 5 basic relationships of society are disrupted
- Disharmony results when the 5 Virtues are not practiced
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- Disharmony as a consequence of previous wrongful actions (karma)
- Biomedical causes
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| Countries in which most commonly practiced |
- China
- Taiwan
- Korea (prevalent)
- Southeast Asia (particularly Mien and Hmong)
- Japan (although less so a formal tradition, it is embedded in culture)
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- China
- Korea (prevalent)
- Taiwan (prevalent)
- Singapore
- Hong Kong
- Japan
- Vietnam
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- India (prevalent)
- Korea
- Japan
- China
- Cambodia
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| Festival days |
- New Year (depends on country of origin of practitioner)
- Lao Tzu's birthday on 15th of the second lunar month
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- New Year (depends on country of origin of practitioner)
- Confucius' birthday on 8th moon, day 27 (around September/October in Gregorian calendar)
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- Wesak/Vesak – the Buddha's birthday, enlightenment and death on 4th moon, day 8 (around May in Gregorian calendar)
- Buddhist New Year (depends on country of origin of practitioner)
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