Taoi is a mjor Chinese religio-philosophical tradition.

Though the concept of tao was employed by all Chinese schools of thought, Taoism arose out of the promotion of tao as the social ideal. Laozi is traditionally regarded as the founder of Taoism and the author of its classic text, the Tao-te ching. Other Taoist classics include the Zhuangzi (4th-3rd century BC) and the Liezi.

In Taoism, tao is the force or principle about which nothing can be predicated, but that latently contains the forms, entities, and forces of all phenomena. This natural wisdom should not be interfered with; de, or superior virtue, is acquired through action so entirely in accordance with the natural order that its author leaves no trace of himself in his work. The tradition holds that all beings and things are fundamentally one.

Taoism's focus on nature and the natural order complements the societal focus of Confucianism, and its synthesis with Buddhism is the basis of Zen.