Daoism and the Sword

Many people wonder why martial arts are practiced by religions like Buddhism and Daoism that teach about compassion and humility. The idea of a warrior monk seems contradictory because in people’s minds the martial arts are linked with violence. But violence exists first as an emotional state before it manifests through action.

People need to understand that it is possible to be completely still, but have a heart full of violence. At the highest level of practice, it is also possible to wield a sword with a calm and peaceful heart. Daoist martial artists use these skills only when necessary to prevent or stop violence. Martial arts also teach a lot more than how to protect your physical body; it shows us our weak spots and pushes our physical and emotional limits.

When training martial arts, you are learning to set aside anger, impatience, selfish desire, and hatred. In ancient times, every Daoist had his or her own sword to be used for martial practice, self defense, or for ritual purposes. Click to learn how Chinese medicine treats Atelectasis.

In Daoist rituals, swords are often wielded as symbolic weapons to subdue evil forces. Traditionally swords were given to traveling Daoists to symbolize cutting away their attachments to the material world. In Daoist qigong practice, when energy is gathered and moved throughout the body, it is described as a sword opening the body's energy pathways. In Daoist practice, the sword is not seen as a tool for killing enemies. It is a symbol of justice and righteousness, and represents the discipline used for conquering ignorance, reckless passion, and aggression.