Why is the communication ability of Taoism so weak?

The following is my analysis of the reasons for the decline of Taoism in Zhihu. I hope it works for you:

Three reasons:

Taixuan

Taoist theories of "doing good and accumulating virtue", "cultivating self-cultivation" and "enlightenment and becoming immortal" are too mysterious for ordinary people and do not apply to the literati class. For more than 2,000 years, the Chinese nation has been dominated by the Confucianism of the Three cardinal guides and the Five Permanent Principles. When it comes to the level of "God", we avoid talking about it. This is called "Don't talk about Machamp's disorderly gods". Taoism just didn't want to play with you, so it embarked on the road of cultivating immortals. Few people can enter the door, and the followers can't catch up with Master's running.

Too messy

There are too many Taoist immortals, which leads to too many rabbits but can't catch one.

Taoism pays attention to mixing elements, and people can be transformed into immortals. Therefore, there are many Taoist immortals, Guan Gong becomes the gatekeeper, Fan Li becomes the god of wealth ... and so on. Ghost witchcraft, folk belief and ghost worship are all absorbed by Taoism. In addition, Taoism believes that the sun, the moon and the stars, storms, thunder and lightning, mountains and rivers are all dominated by gods, so there are many such gods, which is true.

Comparatively speaking, the theoretical system and spiritual system of other schools are much more rigorous.

go too far

Taoism pays attention to the selection of teachers and apprentices, and the assessment of Taoist disciples is strict. A famous example is that Huang Shigong tested Sean. In order to test his mood, I insulted him first and threw shoes three times for him to pick up. In order to test his toughness and sincerity, he deliberately pushed back the appointment time three times, and after many calculations, he was willing to teach the classics.

The above reasons lead to the scarcity of believers and the lack of lofty ideals, and ordinary people naturally stay away from them. Of course, it's the same sentence. Success is also Xiao He's failure. Everything is a process of mutual transformation. It is because of mystery, chaos and remoteness that Taoism appears clear, true and quiet. It is like a saint, riding a crane, rejuvenating and coming and going freely. ......

Therefore, I think that the current decline of Taoism is only the appearance, the foundation and the hope.