Ecofeminism in the "Tao Te Ching": Natural Symbolism, Gender Critique, and Cultural Reinterpretation

This study explores the philosophical and cultural representation of the feminine principle in Laozi’s Dao De Jing from an interdisciplinary perspective that integrates feminist theory of alterity and ecofeminism. Special attention is paid to the analysis of gendered symbolism—such as the motifs of mother, female, and softness—and their philosophical significance within Daoist thought. The research aims to uncover the hidden mechanisms of symbolic elevation and simultaneous marginalization of the feminine, as well as to examine how such symbolism informs conceptions of subjectivity, nature, and power. The study seeks to interpret feminine imagery not merely as rhetorical devices, but as essential elements of the ontological and ethical model proposed by Laozi. Employing an interdisciplinary methodology, the work combines textual analysis of the Dao De Jing with tools from feminist philosophy, hermeneutics, and comparative cultural studies. The scientific novelty of this research lies in the fact that it presents, for the first time, a comprehensive analysis of the Dao De Jing through the lens of feminist theory of otherness and ecofeminism, focusing on gendered symbolism and the philosophical meaning of the feminine. The study demonstrates that feminine imagery in Daoist thought performs not only metaphorical but also ontological functions, offering an alternative model of power based on fluidity, softness, and the capacity to sustain harmony. At the same time, it reveals an internal contradiction between the symbolic exaltation of the feminine principle and the actual exclusion of women as historical subjects. The conclusion underscores the need for a critical reevaluation of such imagery from an intercultural perspective and highlights its potential for shaping a new ethic of nonviolence, interconnectedness, and equality.

Dao De Jing, Laozi, Taoist thought, Ecofeminism, Gender Symbolism, Patriarchy Critique, Nature and Gender, Non-dualistic Ontology, Maternal Metaphor, Cultural intertextuality