The Tao

Legend of the Five Rings card from Dawn of the Empire

Card Type

Holding

Gold Cost

2

Gold Production

2

Keywords

Unique

Card Text

w: Produce 2 Gold.
Elemental Open, w: Straighten all Rings.

Legality

Age of Enlightenment (Lotus), Rain of Blood (Diamond)

Deck

Dynasty

Printings

Rules Q&A

• Q: Does it fulfil the rule of relevance to bow the Tao during battle to straighten all rings? I personally don't think so and thus it can't be used, but the other members of my playgroup were adamant that it could be done and would only accept an official ruling to believe otherwise.
  So who's right here?
  A: You are right. Your friends might find it helpful to re-read the Rulebook section on the Rule of Relevance.
  The only way this would meet Relevance would be if the Tao or the Rings were in the battle itself somehow, or a card at the battle's status somehow changed due to the rings being unbowed - gained or lost stat points, became untargetable, something like that. Martin Lund, "Rules for 4 Decemeber 2004", 9 Dec 2004
• Q: I'm sure I know the answer but I would like to make sure. The ring put into play at the start of the game does not count towards an enlightenment victory right? Thanks!
  A: According to the Oracle, the Ring does count for Enlightenment.
  House of Tao: After all players reveal Strongholds: You may search your Fate deck for a Ring and put it into play. This counts as putting it into play by its own text. After you put a Shadowlands card into play: Remove all your Rings from the game. Alex Jones, "House of the Tao", 28 Aug 2013
• Q: Hello !
  With the coming out of the new L5R database the Oracle of the Void, I found out that now both Strongholds House of Tao and The House of the Tao read :
  After all players reveal Strongholds: You may search your Fate deck for a Ring and put it into play. This counts as putting it into play by its own text.
  The question is : As rings are written, they must be put into play from your hand to count for enlightenment. In this case the ring is not put into play from the player's hand, but according to the stronghold's text, counts as if it were. So, I am a bit lost.
  Does the ring put into play through the Stronghold ability counts for enlightenment ?
  A: Yes, the Ring that either House of Tao puts into play will now count for Enlightenment. Brook Cunningham, "House of Tao", 28 Feb 2012