Is the Tao Feminine? (tradition, translation, hell, Abraham, God)

[Bishka]

As I continue my reading in the Tao de Ching, I've noticed one thing - it keeps referring to the Tao as feminine or close to feminity. Am I misunderstanding, or is it feminine.

[Sunstone]

The Tao is neither feminine nor masculine. Or, as some would say, it is both feminine and masculine, and neither.

[c0da]

Originally Posted by Beckysoup

As I continue my reading in the Tao de Ching, I've noticed one thing - it keeps referring to the Tao as feminine or close to feminity. Am I misunderstanding, or is it feminine.

I think somewhere early in the Tao Te Ching, a mysterious female character is mentioned, although I can't be bothered going getting my copy to check (lazy me, sorry). Whether or not this is indicating that the Tao has feminine qualities, I'm not sure.

I think the idea of the Tao being a perfect balance eg. being expressed in a balance of logic and intuition.. etc, might apply to the genders too. The Tao has no dominant gender?

[d.]

tao is not like a god. i'm not sure if it's even an 'it'.

and i'm not sure if i agree that tao is a 'perfect balance' of some kind either. effortless balance, perhaps.

tao is not about balancing dichotomies.

[lunamoth]

It was also not my understanding that the Tao is like a being. It's the Way, right? Now let's see, what would the Way personified look like...

luna

[Jaymes]

I think many translations use "she" to keep people from slipping into the mentality that it's like the Abrahamic god that many are familiar with. Unfortunately I'm not good enough at traditional Chinese to tell you whether it really says "he" or "she"

[d.]

Originally Posted by Jensa

I think many translations use "she" to keep people from slipping into the mentality that it's like the Abrahamic god that many are familiar with.

mitchell does that. and i think that's a good thing, since my understanding is that chinese doesn't use 'he' or 'she' or similar. i haven't got that book here at the moment, i'll check tomorrow.

[d.]

Originally Posted by lunamoth

what would the Way personified look like...

in my opinion, the idea of 'tao personified' isn't meaningful or understandable at all.

[Scarlett Wampus]

The Tao may not be masculine or feminine, or both, or simply beyond thinking in such dichotomies but Lao Tzu certainly emphasised what Jung called the Feminine Principle in his choice of symbols. As to why this is I can only speculate, but for me personally its one of the appealing elements of the Tao Te Ching.