Taoism, the other side of Chinese thought

Videoconference by Rémi Mathieu, Emeritus Research Director at CNRS (CRCAO)

Founded by the illustrious Lao zi, Taoism developed in China from the XNUMXth century BC as a political philosophy, an alternative to Confucianism, which claims to be the doctrine of the literati. Five centuries later, it acquires a new form and a force while transforming itself into popular religion. His influence on Chinese thought, as on beliefs, but also on the arts has been considerable, even today. We will try to trace its founding ideological elements and assess their repercussions on artistic and literary expressions in China.