Well, let me tell ya, if you ever sat down and watched them fancy anime shows, you might notice somethin’ real interestin’. A lot of them, they ain’t just about fightin’ and all them magical things, nope. Some of ’em got a lot to do with Taoism. Now, I ain’t a scholar or nothin’, but I’ve seen enough to know that them Taoist teachings, they seep into a lotta them shows. It’s like a quiet little whisper in the background, you know? Just like how we do things around here, but they put it all in them flashy cartoons. Ain’t that somethin’?
First off, you got to know that Taoism is all about goin’ with the flow of things. It’s about balance, harmony, and lettin’ nature take its course. Now, I ain’t no expert, but I reckon a lot of them anime creators know a thing or two about it. Take Hell’s Paradise, for example. That show got a magic system all tangled up in Taoist ideas. It ain’t just about killin’ demons and whatnot—there’s this deep sorta spiritual journey goin’ on, like the folks in the show are tryna figure out the natural order of things. It ain’t simple, that’s for sure. You can tell they’s mixin’ Taoism with other bits of philosophy too, like Buddhism, but them Taoist ideas really stand out.
Now, I know you might be thinkin’, “What does Taoism got to do with all this anime stuff?” Well, lemme tell ya—Taoism ain’t just about sittin’ cross-legged and thinkin’ deep thoughts. It’s about how things move and how we move with ’em. Same thing goes for these anime worlds. You got your characters, they go through struggles, learnin’ about themselves, and tryin’ to find peace. That’s real Taoist stuff right there. Ain’t no rush to get things done. Things happen when they happen, just like the seasons change, you know?
Then there’s them shows like Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Dragon Prince. Now, don’t get me wrong, them shows are full of adventure and battles, but you’ll see all kinds of Taoist themes poppin’ up. The way them characters use their powers, it’s all about balance—like how the water, earth, fire, and air all work together. Same with Taoism, it’s all about harmony between opposites. You can’t have fire without water, and you can’t have the wind without the earth. It’s like how we farmers know, you can’t have a good crop without rain and sun, both gotta come together.
And don’t forget about the spiritual side of things, neither. A lotta them characters are on journeys to discover themselves, and that’s real Taoist thinking. They’re tryin’ to find peace, but in the process, they also gotta fight and struggle. It’s just like Taoism says, you can’t have light without dark, and you can’t have peace without conflict. Them heroes in the anime, they gotta fight their own inner demons just like how Taoism talks about fighting your own desires and fears to find that peace inside. Ain’t no quick fixes, no shortcuts. You gotta go through the struggle to get to the good stuff.
Now, Taoism don’t just pop up in the action-packed stuff. Oh no, you’ll see it in the quiet moments too. Take a look at them peaceful monks in some of these shows, or how characters stop to think, lookin’ at the world around ’em. It’s all about that deep reflection, that connection with nature. Just like in real life, where we stop and smell the flowers, them characters stop and listen to the wind, or watch the clouds roll by. It’s real calm-like, and you can feel the Taoist influence in them slow, thoughtful moments.
And don’t get me started on how Taoism got around to the other parts of the world. Even in them Korean dramas, you’ll see a bit of Taoist influence. It ain’t as loud as Confucianism or Buddhism, but it’s there, tucked into the culture. Just like how we farmers got little pieces of old ways passed down through the years, these ideas travel and stick around, changin’ shape but always stayin’ the same at their core. Taoism, it’s about simplicity and nature. Ain’t no fuss, just lettin’ things be what they are, like a river flowin’ downhill. No need to force it, just go with the flow.
So next time you watch an anime, you might wanna take a second and think about what’s really goin’ on in there. It ain’t just a bunch of folks hittin’ each other with swords or shootin’ fireballs. Nope, there’s a deeper story underneath, about finding peace, balance, and harmony. That’s the Taoist way, and it’s workin’ its way into these shows whether you notice it or not. And if you take a moment to look closer, you might just find yourself learnin’ a little somethin’ about life from them animated characters. Ain’t that somethin’?
Tags: [Taoism, Anime, Hell’s Paradise, Avatar the Last Airbender, The Dragon Prince, Philosophy, Taoist Themes, Balance, Spirituality, Animation, Cultural Influence]
