In its original meaning, dao (道) is the way or path taken by people. It has three

extended meanings: 1) the general laws followed by things in different spheres,

e.g. the natural order by which the sun, moon and stars move is called the way

of heaven; the rules that govern human activities are the way of man; 2) the

universal patterns followed by all things and beings; and 3) the original source

or ontological existence of things, which transcends form and constitutes the

basis for the birth and existence of all things, and for the activities of human

beings. In their respective discussions of Dao, Confucianism, Daoism, and

Buddhism imbue it with very different connotations. While benevolence,

righteousness, social norms, and music education form the basic content of

the Confucian Dao, the Buddhist and Daoist Dao tends to emphasize kong (空

emptiness) and wu (无 void).