Tantalus \'tan-t 3 l-os\ In Greek mythology, the king of Sipylus (or Phry¬ gia). An intimate friend of the gods, he was allowed to dine at their table until he offended them by repeating their secrets on earth. Another ver¬ sion of the myth held that he killed his son Pelops and served him to the gods. In the underworld he was placed up to his neck in water, which flowed away every time he tried to drink, just as the branches overhead swung out of reach whenever he tried to pick the fruit from them.
tantra Vton-troV In some Indian religions, a text that deals with esoteric aspects of religious teaching. There is considerable tantric literature and practice in Hinduism, Buddhism, and, to a lesser extent, Jainism. Because tantric practices typically represent teachings of relatively late develop¬ ment and incorporate elements of different traditions, they are often eschewed by orthodox practitioners. In Hinduism, tantras deal with popu¬ lar aspects of the religion, such as spells, rituals, and symbols. Buddhist tantric literature, believed to date from the 7th century or earlier, has ref¬ erence to numerous practices, some involving sexual activity, that have no basis in canonical literature.
Tanzania \,tan-z3-'ne-3\ officially United Republic of Tanzania
Country, eastern Africa. It is mostly on the African mainland but also includes the islands of Zanzibar, Pemba, and Mafia in the Indian Ocean.
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Area: 364,901 sq mi (945,090 sq km). Population (2005 est.): 36,766,000. Capi¬ taclass="underline" Dar es Salaam; Dodoma, designated. There are about 120 identifiable ethnic groups; the largest, the Sukuma, are about one-tenth of the population. Languages: Swahili, English (both official). Religions: Christianity (Protestant, Roman Catholic), Islam, traditional beliefs. Currency: Tanzanian shilling. Although most of Tanzania consists of plains and plateaus, it has some spectacular relief features, including Kil¬ imanjaro and 01 Doinyo Lengai, an active volcano. All or portions of Lakes Nyasa, Tanganyika, Victoria, and Rukwa lie within Tanzania, as do the head-
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1872 I Tanzimat ► tapir
waters of the Nile, Congo, and Zambezi rivers. Serengeti National Park is the most famous of its extensive game reserves. Important mineral deposits include gold, diamonds, gemstones, coal, and natural gas. The centrally planned economy is based largely on agriculture; major crops include corn, rice, coffee, cloves, cotton, sisal, cashews, and tobacco. Industries include food processing, textiles, cement, and brewing. Tanzania is a republic with one legislative house; its head of state and government is the president. Inhabited from the 1st millennium bc, it was occupied by Arab and Indian traders and BANTU-speaking peoples by the 10th century ad. The Portuguese gained control of the coastline in the late 15th century, but they were driven out by the Arabs of Oman and Zanzibar in the late 18th century. German colonists entered the area in the 1880s, and in 1891 the Germans declared the region a protectorate as part of German East Africa. During World War I, Britain captured the German holdings, which became a British mandate (1920) under the name Tanganyika. Britain retained control of the region after World War II when it became a UN trust territory. Tanganyika gained independence in 1961 and became a republic in 1962. In 1964 it united with Zanzibar under the name Tanzania and was led by Pres. Julius Nyerere until 1985. The country subsequently experienced both political and economic struggles; it held its first multiparty elections in 1995.
Tanzimat \,tan-ze-'mat\ (Turkish: “Reorganization”) (1839-76) Series of reforms undertaken in the Ottoman Empire to modernize society along secular and bureaucratic lines. The first set of reforms (1839) sought to secularize the government’s treatment of people and property and to reform taxation and military conscription. Later reforms (1856) estab¬ lished a secular school system and a new law code. Efforts to centralize government administration, however, ended by concentrating all author¬ ity in the hands of the sultan, who often abused the power. The consti¬ tution of 1876, while promising democratic reforms, actually was intended to stave off European intervention. See also Abdulhamid II; Young Turks.
tao See dao
Tao Hongjing Vtau-'huq-'jiqX or T'ao Hung-ching (b. 451, Mo-ling, China—d. 536, Hua-yang) Chinese poet, calligrapher, physician, and naturalist. He became a tutor to the imperial court while still a youth. In 492 he retired to a mountain retreat at Mao Shan to devote himself to the study of Daoism. His research in proper eating and living practices led him to write one of the major pharmacological works of China. He also edited and annotated the religious writings of his major Daoist predeces¬ sors, producing Declarations of the Perfected and Secret Instructions for Ascent to Perfection.
Tao-te ching See Daodejing Taoism See Daoism
Taos \'taus\ Town (pop., 2000: 4,700) and resort, northern New Mexico, U.S. Located on a branch of the Rio Grande in the Sangre de Cristo Moun¬ tains, Taos is composed of three villages: Don Fernando de Taos (known as Taos), the pueblo of San Geronimo (Taos Pueblo), and the Ranchos de Taos. An early Spanish settlement, it was the scene of a revolt (1680) of Taos and other Pueblo Indians against Spain and later was an important commercial centre on the Santa Fe Trail. In the 20th century artists and writers moved there, including D.H. Lawrence. Lawrence’s home and that of Kit Carson are historic sites; Carson’s grave is in a memorial state park.
tap dance Style of American theatrical dance using precise rhythmical patterns of foot movement and audible foot tapping. It is derived from the traditional clog dance of northern England, the jigs and reels of Ireland and Scotland, and the rhythmic foot stamping of African dances. Popular in 19th-century minstrel shows, versions such as “buck-and-wing” (danced vigorously in wooden-soled shoes) and “soft-shoe” (danced smoothly in soft-soled shoes) developed as separate techniques; by 1925 they had merged, and metal taps were attached to shoe heels and toes to produce a more pronounced sound. The dance was also popular in variety shows and early musicals.
Tapajos \,ta-pa-'zh6s\ River River, northern Brazil. Formed by the confluence of the Teles Pires and the Juruena rivers, it flows northeast to empty into the Amazon River just above Santarem after a course of about 400 mi (650 km). Though interrupted by rapids, its entire length is navi¬ gable. Several important rubber plantations lie along its banks.