Yeats and Taoism (1): to Maria Motxobe Legarreta (Essay‪)‬

This essay explores the connections between some of the metaphysical beliefs reflected in the work of W. B. Yeats and the main ideas of Taoist philosophy, paying particular attention to the links between Yin Yang theory and the system of the Gyres developed by Yeats. A brief introduction to the principles of Taoism will be followed by an exploration of A Vision, Yeats's s central philosophical work, which began to take shape in 1917. This will be followed by a brief mention of some examples of Yeats's s work which predate the development of his Gyre theory but suggest the use of related ideas. Two poems written at the time of the composition of A Vision will be considered then in some detail--'An Irish Airman foresees his Death' (written in 1918) will be analyzed in relation to Taoism's approach to mortality, and 'The Second Coming' (written in 1919) will be considered in the light of the connections between Yin Yang theory and Yeats's historicism. This will be further followed by some suggestions of other elements in the work of Yeats that are reminiscent of Taoist imagery and beliefs, focusing on his poetry. Then, a conclusion will be drawn, bringing together all the issues addressed in the essay. Throughout, references will be made to sources of Taoist influence available to Yeats, with an emphasis on the main Taoist texts: Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching and Chuang Chou's Chuang Tzu. TAO AND YIN YANG