 Daoism is pronounced / ˈdaʊ.ɪzəm / , but English speakers disagree whether Taoism should be / ˈdaʊ.ɪzəm / or / ˈtaʊ.ɪzəm / . In theory , both Wade – Giles tao and Pinyin dao are articulated identically , as are Taoism and Daoism . An investment book titled The Tao Jones Averages ( a pun on the Dow Jones Indexes ) illustrates this / daʊ / pronunciation 's widespread familiarity . In speech , Tao and Taoism are often pronounced / ˈtaʊ / and ˈtaʊ.ɪzəm / , reading the Chinese unaspirated lenis ( " weak " ) / t / as the English voiceless stop consonant / t / . Lexicography shows American and British English differences in pronouncing Taoism . A study of major English dictionaries published in Great Britain and the United States found the most common Taoism glosses were / taʊ.ɪzəm / in British sources and / daʊ.ɪzəm , taʊ.ɪzəm / in American ones . 
