dao

Dao, often rendered Tao, is a central concept in Chinese philosophy and religion, traditionally translated as "the Way" or "the Path." In Daoist thought, the Dao is the ultimate principle that underlies and unifies the cosmos. It is formless, ineffable, and timeless, yet it manifests in all things and governs change without force.

Foundational texts such as the Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) and the Zhuangzi present the Dao as the source of the world and the measure of proper conduct. Humans are urged to attune themselves to the Dao rather than impose rigid schemes. Core ideas include wu wei (non-forced action), naturalness or ziran, and harmony with the Dao's rhythms. The Dao is often linked with the interplay of yin and yang and with cyclical cosmology, emphasizing a flexible, adaptive order rather than rigid structure.

Dao has informed both Daoist philosophy and religion, including ritual practice, alchemy, and traditional medicine, and has influenced East Asian thought more broadly. In some strands of Confucianism, dao denotes the proper Way of ritual and governance, though the emphasis differs from Daoist spontaneity. In modern usage, Dao remains a versatile term for discussions of the ultimate principle of reality and for living in accordance with nature.