Dao

Dao (Chinese 道, dào — "way", "principle", "truth") is the central concept of Chinese philosophy, especially of Daoism (道家, dàojiā) and the Daoist religion (道教, dàojiào).

The absolute principle. Dao is the absolute principle preceding all existence, the source and law of the universe.

The Inexpressibility of Dao

Words of Lao Tzu. "The Dao that can be spoken is not the eternal Dao" (道可道，非常道 — Dao De Jing, 道德經, Lao Tzu, c. 4th c. BCE).

Dao in the Methods of Errarium

• I Ching (#6) — the 64 hexagrams as the model of Dao manifesting in situations
• Ba Zi (#10) — the chart of destiny as the manifestation of individual Dao
• Feng Shui (#22) — harmonization of space with the Dao of the locality
• Zi Wei Dou Shu (#23) — the "stellar" reflection of the Dao of life

Dao and Western Concepts

Not "God" and not "the Absolute". Dao is not identical with Western concepts of "God" or "the Absolute": it is impersonal, formless and not an object of worship in philosophical Daoism.

Parallels in Other Traditions

The closest analogs. The closest parallels are:

• Sanskrit Rita (ऋत — cosmic order)
• Sanskrit Brahman (ब्रह्मन् — the Absolute)

But with significant differences in ontology: Dao is both path and principle at once, whereas Brahman is only the principle.