ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Taoism in Japan

Okay kiddo, so Taoism is a way of thinking and living that started in China a long time ago. It believes in things like energy flow and balance in the world. In Japan, they took some of the ideas from Taoism and mixed them with their own beliefs.

One important thing in Taoism is the idea of yin and yang. It’s like two sides of a coin. Yin is dark and quiet, and yang is bright and active. They balance each other out. In Japan, they call this idea inyo, and it’s important in things like martial arts and traditional medicine.

Taoism also talks about “doing without doing," which means sometimes it’s better not to force things to happen. You just let them happen naturally. This idea is popular in Japan and is used in things like Zen Buddhism and tea ceremonies.

In Japan, there are also Taoist temples and beliefs that have been mixed with Shintoism, the traditional religion of Japan. Taoism is a big part of Japanese culture, and you can see its influence in things like art, philosophy, and even everyday life.