Chinese Literature as the Reflection of Doaism

Contents
1. Introduction
2. Chinese religious views and their role
3. The impact of Taoism on Chinese literary works
4. Conclusion
5. Bibliography

Introduction
China is one of the most mysterious countries for a westerner. It has a particular philosophy, moral and ethical views, and quite a particular religion. It is a result of isolation of China from the rest of the world for many centuries that led to the formation of Chinese culture different from all others and very often it is very contrasting to European or American cultures.
One of the most important places in Chinese culture occupies Chinese religion or it would be better to say Chinese religions. Since the country is very big and nowadays it has the largest population in the world a variety of religions is quite normal. One of the basic religious and philosophical schools is considered to be Taoism that influenced other philosophical and religious movement such as Confucianism and Buddhism. At the same time a particularly significant influence of Taoism may be observed in Chinese literature of different genres and epochs. In fact literature is a reflection of philosophical views and beliefs of Chinese people and their attitude to life developed in Taoism as well as in other religions and philosophical movements.
In terms of this paper the impact of Taoism on Chinese literature will be basically analyzed that would obviously need to reveal the entity of Taoism, its correlation to other influential philosophical schools, namely Confucianism and Buddhism, and its role in the life of Chinese people and, only after realizing the significance of Taoism for Chinese society at large, it would be possible to discuss its impact on Chinese literature and discuss how Taoist attitude to life is reflected in literature, for it is obvious that Taoism is an essential part of Chinese people views and beliefs and one of the basic elements influencing Chinese literature, making it very particular and different from other literatures, underlying specific features which are typically Chinese.
Chinese religious views and their role
In order to understand the significance of Chinese religious views for society and development of local literature it is necessary to fully understand their entity because it is evident that literature is closely related to national religious views, traditions and cannot exist independently from the components shaping national culture.
It should be emphasized from the beginning that religion played an extremely important role in life of Chinese people because traditionally religion is not only some religious beliefs it is practically always something more, it is a philosophy, a reflection of people’s moral views and set of values, and finally the way of life. Consequently, religion, to a certain extent, defined the life of Chinese people.
So, what were those religious views, which influenced Chinese people, culture and naturally literature? Actually, the development of religions in China was closely interrelated and the mutual influence of different religions was quite normal for China but probably Taoism played the primary role. However, Confucianism was also quite popular and significant. It was a religious and philosophical teaching founded by one of the most outstanding and famous Chinese philosophers Confucius. It was originally Chinese religion that appeared and developed in China and that in fact reflects Chinese psychology, traditional views and believes. Soon after its appearance and due to its wide popularity and due to success of Confucius teaching, it became one of the most popular religions of Chinese people.
As for Taoism, it should be said that it was a philosophy developed practically at the same time as Confucianism that gained people acclaim and was close to Chinese mentality and culture because it was also an original Chinese philosophy and religion. Traditionally, it is believed that this religious and philosophic teaching was developed by Lao-Tzu and soon it became “one of the major philosophical-religious traditions that, along with Confucianism, has shaped Chinese life and thought for more than 2000 years” (Thompson 1996:211).
Generally speaking, Taoism was adapted to Chinese reality and reflected the reality, as it was perceived by Chinese people, and it influenced practically all spheres of life. Actually, it is possible to say that Taoism shaped moral, ethical, cultural, and certainly religious views of Chinese. Naturally, people did not have a real alternative to religions, including Taoism, and they treated them as the only possible truth and, consequently, they totally depended on the stereotypes that prevailed in this or that religion.
So, it is necessary to dwell upon one of the basic Chinese religions, namely Taoism, and analyze it influence on people and how it defined their everyday life and behavior.
First of all, it should be said that Taoism, as any other religions, tends to regulate relations between rulers and average people. Basically, it promoted the idea of a complete obedience to those in power and people were promised to have better life either after their death or in their next life.
Speaking in details about Taoism, it should be said that it mainly sought to promote inner peace for individuals and harmony with their surroundings. According to this religion, the goal of life of every person was to cultivate mystical relationship to Tao. It meant that adherent were recommended to “avoid dispersing their energies through the pursuit of wealth, power, or knowledge” (Thompson 1996:324). On the contrary, each Taoist should be able to concentrate on life itself through the shunning of every earth distraction. Taoists believed that a good moral life would provide health and well being of a person like an award for proper moral life. Furthermore, the longer the Taoist’s life, the more saintly the person was presumed to have become and ideally it should lead to immortal life.
As a result, under the influence of religious views a particular and unique Chinese culture and philosophy was shaped and it became typical for traditional Chinese culture to seek for harmony between man and the universe, and emphasize individual’s ethics and morality. And it is necessary to underline that it was based on three main religions Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, and the role of the latter was very important. All these religious views “provided Chinese people with tolerance, social progress, a safeguard for human morality, and righteous belief” (Maspero 1981:165).
The impact of Taoism on Chinese literary works
On analyzing the role of Taoism in Chinese cultural and social life, its importance becomes obvious. Naturally literature could not remain isolated from the processes that took place in Chinese society and culture under the influence of Taoism as one of the main religious and philosophical movements. In fact, it is even possible to say that literature was shaped under the influence of Taoism because it is an undeniable fact that the basic ideas of Taoism were reflected in its principal literary works of this movement and its development may be traced through the research of religious treaties dedicated to this religious and philosophical school. Naturally such treaties may be viewed at as an independent literary works.
Nonetheless, the impact of Taoism is much larger than one may think, believing that its influence is limited only by religious texts. Naturally it is an erroneous view on the role of Taoism in Chinese literature since its impact was much broader in the development of literature and its different genres. At the same time it is quite difficult to argue that the situation could be different, it means that Taoism could remain just a religious movement limited only in spiritual and religious domain. At this respect it is necessary to remind that the specific feature of Chinese culture is its intertwined character, it means that religious views are closely related to philosophical views, moral norms and naturally literary tradition.
In order to understand the impact of Taoism on Chinese literature and its role in making Chinese literature really unique and different from others under the influence of this movement, it is necessary to discuss some cases where the impact of Taoism may be easily traced. In fact it is quite natural in the situation when “the Taoist wisdom of unity of heaven and humanity has coursed through the veins of Chinese culture” (Maspero 1981:213).
Probably it would be better to briefly discuss, one of the most outstanding historical figures, Confucius, who had managed to develop his own teaching contributed significantly to the development of Taoism and who was also known for his literary and philosophic works. At the same time Taoism influenced greatly the views of Confucius and his further philosophical and literary works. In fact the profound impact of Taoism on Confucianism can be seen in such Confucian saying as “aspire to the Tao, align with virtue, abide by benevolence, and immerse yourself in the arts” (Rolston 1990:289), and literature is one of the most popular arts, or else he estimated that “if one hears the Tao in the morning, one can die without regret in the evening” (Rolston 1990:290).
Furthermore, Taoism is a part of Chinese culture and one of its basic points is the idea of ‘leaving the mundane world’, universe harmony and truthfulness. It is also noteworthy that Taoism offered Chinese people a very stable moral system, “unchangeable so long as heaven remains” (Rolston 1990:310) that found its reflection in Chinese literature. As a result many of Chinese literary works have a didactic character.
In fact Taoism affects such a very subtle domain as morality, which belongs to spiritual realms and often literature becomes one of the main means through which culture and moral system, developed by this or that philosophical or religious movement, may be commonly understood.
At this respect, the famous “Four Chinese Classics” are very noteworthy for in these works the impact of Taoism on Chinese literature is particularly obvious. “Four Chinese Classics” are considered to be the four “most renowned novels in Chinese culture” (Rolston 1990:356). One of them, “The Journey to the West”, is a mythical tale, which tends to mystification and particularly concern about truthfulness and its significance for harmonious life. It only should be pointed out that the main characters of the novel traveled West and they went through 81 dangers and calamities before they arrived at the West and achieved True Fruition. In such a way, the author, Wu Cheng’en underlines the importance of finding the truth and he attempts to persuade a reader that the truth is worthy overcoming all obstacles one may face. It means that one of the main principles of Taoism is one of the cornerstones of the novel.
Another classic novel, “A Dream of Red Mansions”, starts with a dialog between a spirited stone and the Deity of Infinite Space and the Tao of Boundless Time at the Baseless Cliff of the Great Waste Mountain and this dialog provides clues for the human drama that unfolds in the novel. In fact the names are very symbolic and convey the impression of eternity of the universe and the life.
Moreover, it also contributes to the development of a kind of unification of a man and universe. At the same time, the author, Cao Xueqin, tends to indicate at the greatness of the universe and weakness of a man. Actually, it is a tragic love story set at the background of the decline of an aristocratic family. A particular feature of the love story is its high morality and correspondence to basic moral norms of Chinese society, which are significantly influenced by Taoist views, and probably, such an attempt of the author to stick to high moral norms makes the love story even more tragic.
At the same tome the novel unfolds a vast and moving panorama of social history. It also parades a memorable and dazzling cast of characters, with the central ones being Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu. And often specialists indicates that “its wide range and meticulous structure together with its literary merit in the form of exquisite language make it universally recognized as the epitome of the art of the classical novel in China” (Rolston 1990:375). Consequently, it is particularly important that such a respectable literary work is influenced by Toaism.
Not less interesting and significant is the novel “Outlaws of the Marsh”. The novel starts with a tale how premier Hong, in charge of military affairs, accidentally set free 108 demons. By the way, this legend explains the origin of ‘108 outlaw militants of prowess’. In this novel, by Shi Nai’an intrigue, adventure, murder, war and romantic stories are told in the suspenseful manner of the traditional story telling. In fact this novel emphasizes the necessity to live in peace and keep traditional set of values developed in Taoism in order to prevent wars and other cruel things that can occur to mankind.
Finally, the fourth classic novel, “Three Kingdoms” begins with a heavenly warning of a disaster, and ends with the inescapable conclusion of the God’s will: “the world’s affairs rush on like an endless stream; a heaven-told fate, infinite in reach, dooms all” (Rolston 1990:528). In such a way, the author, Luo Guanzhong, underlines that despite all of powers a human being can gain due to political or military forces, all of these powers are in vain before the will and power of a supreme, almighty Deity, who really controls the world. And again the eternity of the universe, insignificant of a human being compared to a deity, which are so typical for Taoism, are in focus of the author’s attention. Equally the author promotes boldness and talents that are welcome in every individual. The similar legends were used in works of other writers, such as Yue Fei.
On analyzing all of these four works, it is possible to say that the authors use of the myths was not a coincidence but, on the contrary, it was a reflection of a basic philosophy of Chinese intellectuals toward nature and humanity, developed in Taoism. In fact these novels produced a significant influence on the Chinese society, and people’s mind. Probably such a profound impact of these literary works was the result that they were based on principles of Taoism that were practically universally accepted in China.
However, one may argue that Taoism was not the only religious and philosophical movement that was popular in China and influenced these works but it is necessary to admit that Confucianism, for instance, been the second influential movement in China was quite close to Taoism and it is possible to say that both movements simply to enriched one another. On the other hand, it is impossible to deny that Taoism is much closer to legendary basis of the novels, while Confucius was rather concerned about philosophical aspects of life and often reconsidered myths developed in Taoism. Anyway, Taoism basic principles were skillfully promoted by the authors of the four novels.
Furthermore, when speaking about ‘righteousness’, people think of Guan Yu of the “Three Kings” rather than the concept itself – how his righteousness to his friends transcended the clouds and reached heaven; how his unmovable loyalty to his superior and sworn-brother Lui Bei gained him respect even from his enemies; how his bravery in the battle prevailed in the most dire of situations, his final defeat in a battle near the town of Mai; and, finally, his conference as a deity with his son. When Chinese people think about loyalty they think of Yue Fei, a “Song Dynasty” general who served his country with unreserved integrity and loyalty; and Zhuge Liang, prime minister of the Shu state during the “Three Kings” period, who ‘gave his all until his heart stop beating’. Can’t one find the same principles and basic ideas in Taoism? Obviously these novels reflect the main concepts and principles that made Taoism so popular and close to Chinese people and any arguments about the insignificance and lack of impact of Taoism on Chinese literature seem to be not very persuasive since its role and influence are undeniable and naturally it found its reflection in Chinese literature.
Conclusion
Thus, taking into account all above mentioned, it is possible to say that Taoism, as one of the main Chinese religions, sustained local peculiarities and traditions of Chinese culture and produced a significant impact on practically all spheres of social and cultural life. This impact is particularly obvious in literary works of different genres. In terms of this paper novels, where such an impact is clearly seen, were discussed that permitted to find out that the basic principles of Taoism as religious and philosophical movement found their reflection. At this respect, the mythical basis may be referred to as a reflection of religious, or to put it more precisely legendary aspect of Taoism, while moral values rather reflects philosophical aspect of this movement.
It also should be pointed out that an influence is a result of a long historical development of the movement for Taoism is deep rooted in Chinese mentality and closely related not only to all aspects of social and cultural life but to other religious and philosophical movements, such as Confucianism. Practically all religions that were widely spread in China insisted on proper social and moral conduct of all people that should lead either to harmony in the whole society or within each individual. At the same time, Taoism, promoting its moral values and numerous human virtues, such as striving for truth, contributed to the development of didactic character of many Chinese literary works. Moreover, for many short stories and novels Taoist legends and myths have become a basis for the plot development.
In such a way, Chinese literature undeniable reflects basic Taoist philosophical and moral ideals, and in such a context literature serves as a very persuasive means of promotion of Taoist movement among Chinese people and all those who are interested in a very peculiar Chinese literature and culture at large.

References:
1. Birrell, Anne. Chinese Mythology: An Introduction. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1993.
2. Maspero, Henri, Taoism and Chinese Religion Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press, 1981.
3. Paden, William. Sacred Texts of the World's Religions, Harper San Francisco, 1994.
4. Rolston, David (ed.). How to Read the Chinese Novel. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1990.
5. Thompson, Laurence G. Chinese Religion: An Introduction (5th ed.), Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 1996.