Growing up in postwar Japan, I experienced Confucian and Buddhist philosophies strongly influencing my society and culture on many occasions, but I did not recognize the Taoist influence compared to these practices. However, as I researched Taoism, I started realizing that I have been surrounded by many Taoist teachings – physical and mental – without noticing.
The "Three Treasures," Jing, Qi, and Shen, are all familiar words to Japanese people. We talk about levels of Qi all the time. If someone’s mind or sprit seems down or not focused, we say, “take good care of your ‘Qi,’” or “strengthen your ‘Shen.’” When someone is not feeling well (or cannot perform sexually[MB1] ), we say, “you have to eat something to boost your ‘Jing.’ And if someone’s illness is lengthy, we recommend “Nourishing Life” (養生yangsheng), which traditionally means resting, eating well, or spending some time at an isolated hot spring spa surrounded by trees and nature.
Before Japan opened its doors to the West some 150 years ago, the basis of much of Japanese culture originated in China, including the social system, letters, philosophy, religion, medicine, and herbology. So it is not surprising to see the influence of Taoism in my country, including the Three Treasures, Yin and Yang, the Five Phases, and an appreciation of naturalness .
Five years ago in Japan, I took a class on the Qigong breathing exercise. While I was practicing it, I had some interesting experiences. I noticed a strong sensation between my palms, like magnets pulling each other. Soon, I could circulate from head to toe the Qi energy inside of my body, just by visualizing the ‘flow of force’ by breathing in and out. After, I felt refreshed. I felt even better when I practiced it outside, surrounded by trees in nature.
I am sure that many people have had similarly powerful experiences with Qigong, martial arts, or meditation. I have seen videos of martial arts such as Aikido, in which a tiny, elderly master knocks down a group of muscular young disciples without even touching them by using the Qi force in his hands. I have also seen Qigong healers cure illnesses with their hands. I understand that the Qi has enormous power and feel a deep appreciation for the early Taoist founders who discovered it in ancient times.
As I examine Taoist principles such as naturalness, cosmology, and harmony between heaven, nature, and humankind, and the nourishing essence of life for health, I find that Taoism possesses the timeless, universal value of cultivating our bodies, minds, and spirits. The more we live in the busy society of today, the more we need help from the Taoist wisdom of caring for the self.
Therefore, I am not surprised that Westerners are so attracted to this old East Asian philosophy and to the classic book, Tao Te Ching, sold in bookstores worldwide.
