From a Taoist Perspective: If We Must Die, Why Exist at All?

Faced with the question, “If we must die someday, why exist at all?” many people become lost in confusion about the meaning of life. Yet Chinese Taoism, with its core philosophy of “following the Way of Nature,” has long provided a clear answer to this confusion. It does not evade the inevitability of death, but places greater emphasis on “following the Way” within life’s finite span, transforming existence itself into a practice of resonating with nature.

1. Life and death are cycles of the Dao; existence is nature’s gift

Daoism holds that life and death are not opposing endpoints and beginnings, but natural cycles within the operation of the Dao. The expression “emerging from birth and entering death” in the Tao Te Ching does not signify a journey from survival to destruction. Instead, it reveals the essence that life originates from nature and ultimately returns to it—much like the seasonal cycles and the growth and decay of plants. Death is merely a transformation of life’s form, not the complete extinction of existence.

This “cyclical perspective” dissolves the fear of death and endows “existence” with a more fundamental meaning: Our lives are not accidental products, but opportunities for experience bestowed by the Dao. Much like Zhuangzi’s concept of “transformation of things,” the metamorphosis between the butterfly and Zhuang Zhou is fundamentally life’s flow within natural laws. Since existence is nature’s gift, we need not dwell on “why we exist,” but rather contemplate “how to honor this gift” by fulfilling life’s purpose within the cycle.

2. The value of existence lies in self-perfection through “following the Dao”

Daoism never pursues the illusion of “eternal life,” yet places extraordinary emphasis on the quality of life embodied by “long life and enduring vision.” Here, “long life” does not mean physical immortality, but rather the continuation of life’s value achieved when the spirit harmonizes with the Dao. The core of realizing this value is “following the Dao.”

The Dao embodies natural laws and the essence of life. The Daodejing emphasizes that “Man follows the earth, the earth follows heaven, heaven follows the Dao, and the Dao follows nature,” signifying that humanity’s purpose lies in aligning with nature and refining the self. For instance, Daoism’s advocacy of “cultivating the self and nurturing the spirit” isn’t about evading death, but about maintaining clarity and vitality within life’s finite span through restraining desires and following one’s true nature. When our words and deeds align with the Dao, existence ceases to be a mere “waiting for death” and becomes a practice of creating value in every moment.

3. Transcending Individual Life and Death: Existence as the Continuation of the Dao

The brilliance of Daoist thought lies in integrating individual existence into the holistic operation of the Dao, liberating life and death from personal gains and losses. The metaphor of “the fire continues after the wood is gone” in Zhuangzi’s “The Great Master” aptly illustrates this: wood may burn out, but the flame endures; individual lives may end, yet the influence we leave in the world and our harmony with nature become part of the Dao’s continuity.

This transcendence endows existence with a greater significance: every act of kindness, every effort to protect nature, infuses vitality into the operation of the Dao. Just as Daoist practitioners seek “unity with the Dao,” not for personal immortality, but to become practitioners and transmitters of natural laws through their cultivation. Even after the physical body perishes, this spirit attuned to the Dao merges with nature, becoming a guiding light for future generations—this is the most fundamental value of “existence”: not to cling to oneself, but to allow the Dao to continue more fully through us.

In truth, Daoism never directly answers “why exist,” for within its vision, existence itself is the inevitable manifestation of the Dao. Death is not the opposite of existence, but a link in the cycle that allows life to return to its source and complete its cycle. We need not dwell on the inevitable outcome of death. Instead, we should spend our limited time in harmony with nature, perfecting ourselves and passing on the spirit of the Dao. When every moment of existence walks hand in hand with the Dao, life no longer requires additional “proof of meaning,” for it is itself nature’s most beautiful gift.