Home
Webmaster Resources
Bookmark SWS.com
-
Beyond the Star Wars Movies
Bookshelf

Timeline


Star Wars Merchandise
Bargains
Master Replicas
eBay


Star Wars Community

Links
Star Wars Freebies
Conventions/Events

Star Wars For Fun
Fun Stuff
Star Wars DVDs
Random Thoughts
"Not So" FAQ

Select Photo Gallery

Star Wars Select
About Us
Contact Us
Submissions
Link to Us
Site Map





StarWarsShop.com - More Product. More Exclusives.

 

The Force and the Dao


By
Adam Lenhardt
Email: lenhardt@cg-realms.com

April 23, 2004

While brushing up on Chinese history, I found reference to a philosophy called Daoism. Being the ignorant but curious person that I am, I researched further about a Chinese philosophy not really talked about in the United States. What I found (Besides the fact that it was/is the second to Confucianism in influence) were interesting parallels to the Force.

Compare this quote from the Encarta entry: "Through spontaneous compliance with the impulses of one's own essential nature and by emptying oneself of all doctrines and knowledge, one achieves unity with the Dao and derives from it a mystical power." to this quote from A New Hope: "The Force is an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us... penetrates us... binds the galaxy together." Also Qui-Gon's "Feel, don't think..." line plays into this as well.

The Dao, or Way, is the underlying pattern of the universe, while the Force is the underlying pattern of the Star Wars galaxy. The biggest difference is that to be one with the Dao was to forget all problems and differences and conform to nature, whereas the Jedi sought to at least partially conform the Force to them.

Perhaps a thousand years from now Chinese Daoists with be running around in brown and white bathrobes moving objects with their mind, and protecting the planet, with Laozi, Daoism's founder, their Yoda. Or perhaps, horror of horrors, we'll all be living in some Star Trek incarnation, with no thought of a lightsaber...

Note: This essay was reprinted with the permission of the author.



Back to Fun Stuff 
   
Top

Back to Home