competition, war and Taoism

Margaret Mackenzie fills a gap in WAISdom by calling attention to Taoism, the religion of the Chinese who were dissatisfied with Confucianism. The Communist government banned it as incompatible with the official ideology, while praising Confucius as a promoter of civic virtues. Another reason for the ban was that Taoism was the religion of many secret societies. Tao Te Ching by Tao Tzu is the most important work of Taoism.  Does any WAISer have information about the present status of Taoism in China.?  Chinese militarism, most recently manifest in the parade of 3,000 troops in Hong Kong, suggests that Taoism is completely out of tune with the present government.  Can anyone tell us if Taoism survives in Chinese colonies abroad, such as San Francisco's Chinatown?

Margaret writes from the historic Swiss town of Rapperswil, located on a peninsula jutting into Lake Zürich.  It is now a holiday resort, and I assume that Margaret's audience consisted chiefly of tourists.  I don't know how the local people would react to Taoism, since the area was the scene of bitter Protestant-Catholic hostilities.  Zürich was Protestant, while Einsiedeln with its famous monastery was and is strongly Catholic. I have mixed feelings about Einsiedeln, since the monks would not let me see its famous library on the grounds that it was private.  They probably dismissed as one more tourist. I was directed to a hall where they show a movie about the history of the shrine. 

Margaret writes: "Your posting about victory and defeat reminded me of chapter 31 of the Tao Te Ching, which as I'm sure you know is of  uncertain authorship and date--at least 800 BC, but probably much more ancient as an
oral tradition.  This is the translation by Gia Fu Feng and Jane English. 
 
Good weapons are instruments of fear; all creatures hate them.
Therefore followers of Tao never use them.
The wise man prefers the left.
The man of war prefers the right.
Weapons are instruments of fear; they are not a wise man's tools.
He uses them only when he has no choice.
Peace and quiet are dear to his heart,
And victory no cause for rejoicing.
If you rejoice in victory, then you delight in killing;
If you delight in killing, you cannot fulfill yourself.

On happy occasions precedence is given to the left,
On sad occasions to the right.
In the army the general stands on the left,
The commander-in-chief on the right.
This means that war is conducted like a funeral.
When many people are being killed,
They should be mourned in heartfelt sorrow.
That is why a victory must be observed like a funeral.

I have just used this in an introductory show I had here in Rapperswil--written in Chinese, German (translation by Richard Wilhelm, which I won't attach) and English on paintings I did for it".

RH:Taoism favors the left.  What does that mean? The right hand signifies authority. Can someone remind us of the argument as to whether ecclesiastical blessing should be give with then right or left hand? Was the Fascist/Nazi/falangista salute given with the  right or left arm?