Man vs. Nature IV; What is the Tao?

The Tao, or 'path' or 'way' is an important factor in the way Ancient Chinese philosophies were crafted. In a general sense, the philosophy of the "Primordial Sinarum" is really that of the Way of things. Their basic inquiry is more of 'how's; how should things be made or applied, etc. . But such practical inquiries are not just limited to mere 'how's and 'what way's, because from primarily having such questions in mind, they will be able to formulate the 'why's; the causes of things.

Like the idea of the Tao, which is primarily generated from a practical drive of how one should live out his/her life. In doing things so, for the people or for the nature, human beings will be able to formulate the basic cause of things, which is the Tao. However, even if the Ancient Chinese philosophies, namely Confucianism and Taoism, mentioned and were able to centralize their viewpoints to that of the Tao, the said philosophies have different interpretations of it. 

We can see the difference between the Confucian 'Tao' and to that of Lao Tzu's: the Taoist 'Tao', by means of understanding the definition as well as the promulgator of such. Unlike the Confucian Tao, the Taoist Tao is not incorporated to human beings, nor their cardinal virtues. If Confucius would say, one needs to do/observe this and that (e.g. propriety and filial love) in order to follow the Tao, Lao Tzu, oppositely, would prefer one not to do anything, and let the nature do its Way; not learn anything and humble his/her self down; in that way he/she will attain the good.

Confucius then speaks of the Tao as something that is formulated through human means like that of the virtues. For him, once the virtues are adhered by the people, the Tao would be present. But Lao Tzu, on the other hand, refuted such idea, because for him the Tao naturally flows everywhere. Such Taoist idea of the Tao then can never be totally grasped by the human beings, not even their values. For him, the people cannot do anything about the Way of Tao, because it is how all the things go, and human beings are just what they are; too little and limited to formulate a Way.

Nevertheless, the point here is that, both of them, Confucianism and Taoism (and many others) was able to use the idea of the Tao to be their main precept. For what should be the Tao is still debatable, if that would be that of the limited yet competent humans, or the everlasting yet eccentric nature. You decide.