Based on Lee’s prior research on Daoism (Lee, 2003; Lee, 2004; Lee, Han, Byron and Fan, 2008; Lee and Hu, 1993; Lee, Norasakkunkit, Liu, Zhang and Zhou, 2008), this article first introduces Laozi, Dao, De and Daoism in relation to harmony. Then, Daoist harmony is elaborated in the following areas: (1) the yin-yang oneness, (2) the way it is (natural), (3) wei-wu-wei (or nonintervention), (4) water-like characteristics, (5) love for peace, and (6) tolerance and appreciation of differences. The article concludes with a suggestion for harmony with the external world as well as with fellow human beings.
Author Bio(s)
Yueh-Ting Lee is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Toledo Ohio. He received his Ph.D. at State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook and completed his postdoctoral training and research at the University of Pennsylvania. He has authored and co-authored approximately 80 refereed journal articles and produced several scholarly books including: Leadership and Management in China: Philosophies, Theories and Practices (Cambridge University Press, 2008); The Psychology of Ethnic and Cultural Conflict (Praeger, 2004); Personality and Person Perceptions across Cultures (Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers, 1999); and Stereotype Accuracy: Toward Appreciating Group Differences (American Psychological Association, 1995). His research was funded by various federal and state agencies. As a social psychologist and cross-cultural/ethnic scholar, he has also taught courses in psychology and cultural and ethnic studies for years in American higher education. In addition to teaching, research, and administrative services, Dr. Lee has been invited to do consulting and training for multinational corporations and public agencies both in the USA and in China regarding cultural competency, differences appreciation, and conflict management. Email: YT.Lee@UToledo.edu
Honggang Yang earned his Ph.D. in applied anthropology from the University of South Florida. His Master of Jurisprudence was in sociology and social psychology from University in China. He also studied in the Institute for Management and Leadership in Education at Harvard University. In the early 1990s Dr. Yang worked at the Carter Presidential Center of Emory University. He taught in the Antioch-McGregor program in conflict resolution in Ohio. As a professor of interdisciplinary studies at Nova Southeastern University, his specialties include reflective practice, peacemaking among helping professionals, and experiential learning for mid-career students.
Min Wang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Foreign Languages at the National University of Defense Technology in Hunan, China. She received her postgraduate training and education from the Central South University in Changsha, Hunan. Her research interests include, but are not limited to, intercultural communication, Technical English translation and teaching, American literature, Sino-US culture, and Chinese Daoism.
Keywords
Chinese philosophy, Daoism, harmony, Laozi, psychology, yang, yin
Publication Date
8-2009
DOI
10.46743/1082-7307/2009.1103
Recommended Citation
Lee, Yueh-Ting; Yang, Honggang; and Wang, Min
(2009)
"Daoist Harmony as a Chinese Philosophy and Psychology,"
Peace and Conflict Studies: Vol. 16:
No.
1, Article 5.
DOI: 10.46743/1082-7307/2009.1103
Available at:
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/pcs/vol16/iss1/5
