China promoting Taoism's influence abroad

The bronze statue of Laozi (or Lao-tzu, Lao-tse 604-531 BC) in Laojunshan Mountain Laozi Culture Garden in Luanchuan County in Luoyang City, central China's Henan Province

NANYUE, Hunan, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- China hosted a high-profile International Taoism Forum here on Sunday in an effort to spread the religion's influence on the world stage.

In a message to the forum, senior Chinese leader Jia Qinglin urged the 500 participants from more than 20 countries, including China, the United States, France, Spain, Germany, Italy and Japan, to explore the essence of Taoism and make Chinese culture more attractive in the world.

Jia, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said that the event represented a blessing to the pursuit of prolonged world peace and common prosperity.

"Taoism is an important part of traditional Chinese culture as well as valuable properties of human civilization," said Jia, also chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Taoism, a philosophical and religious tradition that originated in China, seeks to establish harmony between human beings and the principle of the universe, which is called Tao.

There are about 50,000 Taoist priests and more than 5,000 religious sites on the Chinese mainland.

The forum is held at Hengshan Mountain of central Hunan Province, a scenic site renowned for Taoist culture.

This year's topics highlight Taoists' concerns about the present world and their desire to help society solve existing problems with Taoist wisdom. The focus is how to integrate Taoism philosophy with social reality.