In Taoism, the Five Precepts (Chinese: 五戒; pinyin: Wǔ Jiè; Jyutping: Ng5 Gaai3) constitute the basic code of ethics undertaken mainly by lay practitioners.
According to the Zhengtong daozang (1445)[full citation needed], the five basic precepts are: Their definitions can be found in an excerpt of Zhengtong daozang (1445)[full citation needed]: Laozi said: "The precept against killing is: All living beings, including all kinds of animals, and those as small as insects, worms, and so forth, are containers of the uncreated energy, thus one should not kill any of them."
[a] As for a monk or nun, he or she should never marry or practice sexual intercourse with anyone.
"[c] Laozi had said: "These five precepts are the fundamentals for keeping one's body in purity, and are the roots of the upholding of the holy teachings.
For those virtuous men and virtuous women who enjoy the virtuous teachings, if they can accept and keep these precepts, and never violate any of them till the end of their lifetimes, they are recognized as those with pure faith, they will gain the Way to Tao, will gain the holy principles, and will forever achieve Tao — the Reality."