Crossroads of the Way: An Introduction to the Dao 道 (Tao)

"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, 

And sorry I could not travel both  

And be one traveler, long I stood 

And looked down one as far as I could  

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair, 

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;  

Though as for that the passing there  

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay  

In leaves no step had trodden black.  

Oh, I kept the first for another day!  

Yet knowing how way leads on to way, 

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh  

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I —  

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference."

"The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost (1874-1963)

Introduction to the Way

The Way, is the core tenant of philosophical Daoism (Older: Taoism).  It takes as its namesake the Chinese character 道 (dao4) meaning way or path.  As a whole, the etymology of the Chinese word Dao (older: Tao)  conveys the idea that the Way is a course of action that leaders take when they find themselves at a crossroads (for a detailed linguistic discussion of the etymology of 道 see below).  It is  a fundamental perspective of Daoism is that THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY – a way forward, a way upward, a way over, a way around, a way through, or a way out of any situation or circumstance.  The Way is a myriad network of trails and tracks, connections and crossings, potentials and possibilities.  It is a set of steps and solutions, an array of openings, options, and opportunities, from wherever we find ourselves to wherever we want to go, from wherever we are now, to wherever we want to be in any area of our lives.  No matter what we have done, what has happened to us, or how we ended up where we are, there is no situation or circumstance in life that cannot be changed, improved, or overcome because we can ALWAYS change the way we look at, think about it, and feel about it.  By doing so, we change our experience in this world.  No matter how stuck we feel, no matter how deep the rut, no matter how dark the hole, THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY – this is the viewpoint of Daoist philosophy. Nothing is impossible.  No obstacle is impassible. We only need the vision to see it and the determination to act upon that vision.  It is our opportunity and our privilege as long as we draw breath to find a way, to become a wayfinder, a problem solver, a solution creator, a trailblazer, a guide on the path of life, not just for ourselves, but for our families, our friends, and all within our sphere of influence – that is leadership – that is the Way. 

Etymology & Explanation

The character 道 has a fascinating evolution, which sheds invaluable insights into its meaning and implications for life.  The character is a compound ideogram (multiple pictures that convey an idea and its meaning through the association of its elements).  In modern script, the character has been standardized with a “head” or “leader” 首 over a “footpath” 辶 connoting walking, motion, or action.  Simply put, the Dao refers to "the Way of a leader" or "the Way of leadership" – but there is more to it than that.   

The elements of “head” or “leader” are composed of a vertical “eye” 目 under a large set of antlers, depicting a big buck or an alpha male (some interpreters have also proposed that tribal chiefs wore elaborate animal headdresses as status symbols or totemic tokens).  The alpha male is the leader of the herd and its primary duties are to protect and provide.  It is constantly on the lookout, scanning the horizon for danger while choosing a path to lead its herd to the most fertile and abundant areas.  It is no wonder ancient Chinese observers absorbed these characteristics into their concept of leadership.

Early forms of “footpath” 辶 show a “crossroads” or intersection of paths 行 with the antlered deer head 首 in the middle.  In addition to the alpha male deer head in the middle of a crossroads, some early variants added either a hand reaching up 又 or a simplified foot 止 emphasizing taking a step or a course of action.  All of these elements are shown below in their earliest graphic forms  

Eventually, the right side of the crossroads dropped out, as did the hand.  The foot element was combined with the left side of the crossroads.  Below is a sample evolution from the earliest Bronze Inscription forms (pre-6th century BCE) on the left to the modern standardized script on the right.  

The combined association of all these elements reveals that there was a difference between a "road" 路 and a "Way" 道.  Roads were things that everyone used but a "Way" specifically refers to the vision a leader possesses when choosing a course of action at a crossroads. As with the English word "way" it refers to an approach to getting things done, a means of arriving at an intended destination, and a mindset – for how we see things determines how we choose our course of action.  

Inherent in the Way, then is leadership – whether we are leaders of many or simply leaders of ourselves.  How we choose to see, the vision we have at the crossroads of decision and action is the hallmark of leadership. ~ DCB