About Ziran Dao
Ziran Dao is a free, ad-free app for learning to live by the principles of Taoism – not as a religion or an academic subject, but as a practical art of living for a modern everyday life.
Why this site exists
Taoism has been around for more than 2,500 years and holds some of the wisest words ever written about stress, the need for control, and the art of no longer fighting reality. But most of what is available to read is either academically heavy or mixed with mysticism that is hard to relate to.
Ziran Dao tries to find the golden middle way: the depth preserved, the language simple. What you meet here is what remains genuinely useful to a human being today.
What the content is based on
The foundation is Taoism's two classics: the Daodejing, attributed to Laozi, and the Zhuangzi. The emphasis lies on the philosophical tradition (Daojia) – mental models, shifts of perspective and psychological balance – combined with the practical bodily methods developed within the tradition: breathing, qigong and yangsheng.
The quotations are our own renderings into English, always with a chapter reference so that you can easily look up the original and compare it with other translations.
How to use it
One lesson a day is plenty. The journey consists of thirty short lessons, accompanied by eighteen exercises for the mind, the body and daily life. Nothing here is a performance – the app keeps track of where you are, so you can return whenever it suits you.
About the images
The sumi-e style ink paintings were created with AI, one image for every lesson and exercise. They are therefore not historical artworks, but images made specifically for this site.
Your privacy
The site requires no login, carries no ads and does not track you. Your progress, journal entries and saved quotes are stored solely in your own browser – they are never sent to any server. If you clear your browser data they disappear, and no one else has ever had access to them.
Ziran Dao is a personal project with no commercial purpose. If you have thoughts, have found an error or want to suggest something – you are welcome to get in touch.
The content on Ziran Dao is offered for reflection and personal wellbeing. It does not replace medical or psychological treatment. Listen to your body during the physical exercises, and seek care if you are carrying something that needs professional help.