Taoism vs Zen - Difference and Comparison

Taoism versus Zen comparison chart
	Taoism	Zen
Use of statues and pictures	They can be used as meditation objects, but they are not that common.	As a symbolic reminder, which can be found in sculptures, arts, and architecture.
Place of origin	China	China
Practices	Philosophical maturity, virtuous conduct, internal alchemy, and some sexual practices.	Regularly visit temple to meditate & to make offerings to the Buddha and donations to monks/nuns.
Life after death	If immortality isn't attained during life, the Tao will continue to evolve and manifest in different forms, in accordance with the entity's general conduct during a state of existence. This applies to all sentient and insentient beings.	Multiple births, ultimate Nirvana
Founder	Lao Tzu	Founded by those who broke away from the original teachings of the Buddha or those who make adjustments to the teachings, during the Third Buddhist Council.
Belief of God	Tao literally means the Way, which indicates the movement of a dynamic existence that is composed of opposing forces. Taoists do not believe in a personal God.	believes in "buddhas" that can live forever and influence man kind in ways similar to the abilities attributed to "god(s)". this information comes from the late mahayana sutras and is opposite the oldest, original teachings (pali canon).
Literal Meaning	To follow the Tao.	zen is the japanese translation of the chinese word "chan" which is the chinese word for "dhyana" which is the sanskrit word for the pali word "jhana" which means "meditation".
Clergy	Taoist clergies are led by the daoshis, masters of the Tao, and followed by daojiaotus, followers of Taoism who also support the clergy, although it is not common.	monks, nuns.
Human Nature	If humans are in tune with the Tao, their sufferings will cease. Taoism teaches that humans are capable of experiencing immortality.	Man's desire for material things leads to suffering.
View of the Buddha	Some Taoists argue that the Buddha was a student of Lao Tzu, although there is no concrete evidence for it. Most Taoists respect and follow the Buddha's teachings.	Central figure of Zen. believed to exist in another realm and to be able to help humans. Although not heavily relied on in Zen, mostly the practitioner relies on himself or herself.
Place of worship	Taoist monasteries, temples, shrines.	Pagoda, Temple.
Status of women	No distinctions between men and women, as both are seen as manifestations of the Tao.	Women and men hold equal status.
Scriptures	Daozang, a collection of 1400 texts organized in 3 sections which includes the Tao Te Ching, Zhuang Zi, I Ching, and some others.	No dogma.
Concept of Deity	Being manifestations of the Tao, Gods are seen as higher life forms.	believes in "Buddhas" which are immortal and exist in infinite numbers and have nearly every attribute usually given to deities of all religions. opposite what is taught in the oldest teachings (pali canon) validated by later mahayana texts.
View of other Dharmic religions	Taoism has many similarities with Buddhism. Taoists are neutral against other Dharmic religions.	Zen is a Dharmic religion, and sees no contradiction to belonging to more than 1 religion.
Holy days/Official Holidays	Chinese New Year, 3 Day Festival of the Dead, Ancestor Day.	Rohatsu, December 8th, celebrating Shakyamuni Buddha's enlightenment.
Geographical distribution and predominance	China, Korea, to lesser extent Vietnam and Japan.	Japan
Goal of religion	To be one with the Tao.	To gain enlightenment
Views on Other Religions	Taoism teaches that all religions are as anything else; manifestations of the impersonal Tao.	Zen sees no contradiction to belonging to more than 1 religion.
Goal of Philosophy	To gain balance in life.	To free sentient beings from suffering.
Principle	The Tao is the only principle. The rest are its manifestations.	Zazen, the Dharma gate of joyful ease, is the one practice that leads to the realisation of true self/no self.
Means of Salvation	Following the Tao.	seeks enlightenment
Marriage	A social bonding, applicable with clerics as well.	not specified in the sutras, likely varies greatly depending on which school of zen and in which country.
Confessing sins	Sin is not a Taoist concept.	Not discussed
Religious Law	The Tao.	Dharma
Symbols	The Yin and Yang.	Ensō (Zen circle), often executed in one exhale.
Original Languages	Mandarin or Cantonese	Pali, Sanskrit, Mandarin
Sexual Conduct	Sexuality is a natural phenomenon that occurs due to the yin and yang aspects of existence. A balanced, virtuous sex life will lead to enlightenment. The whole topic of sexuality is finely dissected and categorized in the texts.	Do not "misuse" sexuality.

Use of statues and pictures

They can be used as meditation objects, but they are not that common.

As a symbolic reminder, which can be found in sculptures, arts, and architecture.

Place of origin

China

Practices

Philosophical maturity, virtuous conduct, internal alchemy, and some sexual practices.

Regularly visit temple to meditate & to make offerings to the Buddha and donations to monks/nuns.

Life after death

If immortality isn't attained during life, the Tao will continue to evolve and manifest in different forms, in accordance with the entity's general conduct during a state of existence. This applies to all sentient and insentient beings.

Multiple births, ultimate Nirvana

Founder

Lao Tzu

Founded by those who broke away from the original teachings of the Buddha or those who make adjustments to the teachings, during the Third Buddhist Council.

Belief of God

Tao literally means the Way, which indicates the movement of a dynamic existence that is composed of opposing forces. Taoists do not believe in a personal God.

believes in "buddhas" that can live forever and influence man kind in ways similar to the abilities attributed to "god(s)". this information comes from the late mahayana sutras and is opposite the oldest, original teachings (pali canon).

Literal Meaning

To follow the Tao.

zen is the japanese translation of the chinese word "chan" which is the chinese word for "dhyana" which is the sanskrit word for the pali word "jhana" which means "meditation".

Clergy

Taoist clergies are led by the daoshis, masters of the Tao, and followed by daojiaotus, followers of Taoism who also support the clergy, although it is not common.

monks, nuns.

Human Nature

If humans are in tune with the Tao, their sufferings will cease. Taoism teaches that humans are capable of experiencing immortality.

Man's desire for material things leads to suffering.

View of the Buddha

Some Taoists argue that the Buddha was a student of Lao Tzu, although there is no concrete evidence for it. Most Taoists respect and follow the Buddha's teachings.

Central figure of Zen. believed to exist in another realm and to be able to help humans. Although not heavily relied on in Zen, mostly the practitioner relies on himself or herself.

Place of worship

Taoist monasteries, temples, shrines.

Pagoda, Temple.

Status of women

No distinctions between men and women, as both are seen as manifestations of the Tao.

Women and men hold equal status.

Scriptures

Daozang, a collection of 1400 texts organized in 3 sections which includes the Tao Te Ching, Zhuang Zi, I Ching, and some others.

No dogma.

Concept of Deity

Being manifestations of the Tao, Gods are seen as higher life forms.

believes in "Buddhas" which are immortal and exist in infinite numbers and have nearly every attribute usually given to deities of all religions. opposite what is taught in the oldest teachings (pali canon) validated by later mahayana texts.

View of other Dharmic religions

Taoism has many similarities with Buddhism. Taoists are neutral against other Dharmic religions.

Zen is a Dharmic religion, and sees no contradiction to belonging to more than 1 religion.

Holy days/Official Holidays

Chinese New Year, 3 Day Festival of the Dead, Ancestor Day.

Rohatsu, December 8th, celebrating Shakyamuni Buddha's enlightenment.

Geographical distribution and predominance

China, Korea, to lesser extent Vietnam and Japan.

Japan

Goal of religion

To be one with the Tao.

To gain enlightenment

Views on Other Religions

Taoism teaches that all religions are as anything else; manifestations of the impersonal Tao.

Zen sees no contradiction to belonging to more than 1 religion.

Goal of Philosophy

To gain balance in life.

To free sentient beings from suffering.

Principle

The Tao is the only principle. The rest are its manifestations.

Zazen, the Dharma gate of joyful ease, is the one practice that leads to the realisation of true self/no self.

Means of Salvation

Following the Tao.

seeks enlightenment

Marriage

A social bonding, applicable with clerics as well.

not specified in the sutras, likely varies greatly depending on which school of zen and in which country.

Confessing sins

Sin is not a Taoist concept.

Not discussed

Religious Law

The Tao.

Dharma

Symbols

The Yin and Yang.

Ensō (Zen circle), often executed in one exhale.

Original Languages

Mandarin or Cantonese

Pali, Sanskrit, Mandarin

Sexual Conduct

Sexuality is a natural phenomenon that occurs due to the yin and yang aspects of existence. A balanced, virtuous sex life will lead to enlightenment. The whole topic of sexuality is finely dissected and categorized in the texts.

Do not "misuse" sexuality.

Taoism vs. Zen

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