Customer Reviews (2)

Lots of Great Info!
If you're interested in information on the eight immortals, you'll have to look long and hard to find more information than packed into this slim volume.Think of the immortals as being cultural figures as well known and diverse as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy (or, for Thomas the Tank engine fans, as different as Thomas, Gordon and Henry), and you'll have a sense of the role the eight immortals play in Chinese culture.

Also, the introduction has the best discussion I've seen of the difference between philisophical taoism (which is the form best known in the West) and religious or mystical taoism.

Highly recommended if you're interested in the eight immortals and/or learning more about mystical taoism.

The eight immortals celebrate diversity
The eight immortals of Chinese myth are detailed here. There are several group tales along with some folktales focusing on each of the individual immortals. The eight immortals are of special appeal to modern audiences asthey embody diverse aspects of society, then and now. There is a warriorimmortal, a student immortal, a crippled immortal and an androgynousimmortal ("sometimes male, sometimes female)who seems to me to be alittle gay! There is also a woman immortal, and while only one woman out ofeight, it was still a statement at the time to have her included in thegroup. There are a lot of stories of the eight included here that you areunlikely to find elsewhere, and Martin Palmer provides some background forthe setting of the stores in his introduction that helps the reader betterunderstand them in context. My only complaint is I would have liked moreabout their evolution as a group over the centuries. Overall a good readfor people interested in Chinese folklore and positive representations ofdiversity in legends. ... Read more

Product Description
Essays in Chinese Religion ... Read more

Product Description
This book makes explicit the mind-body connection by teaching the art of reading one\'s own body and mind in terms of the Taoist five elements (Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, and Metal), followed by specific ways to address imbalances--based on how the five elements are also expressed in the world around us. ... Read more

Book Description
1891. The Sacred Books of the East series, comprising fifty volumes, has translations of key sacred texts of Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Zoroastrianism, Jainism, and Islam. The series was edited by the famous linguist Max Muller, who also produced many of the translations and were the foundational documents for the new discipline known as the comparative science of religions. The Sacred Books of China; The Texts of Taoism Part I contains: The Tao Teh King and The Writings of Kwang-Tze Books I-XVII. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing. ... Read more

Book Description
This fascinating volume provides a concise, illustrated introduction to five of the great religious traditions of the world--Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Shinto.Buddhism, one of the world's great religious traditions, attracts millions of modern-day followers. Hinduism, one of the most ancient of all belief systems, is increasingly well known in the West through expatriate Indian communities. Taoism has been an important influence on Western thinking, especially through the impact of the Tao Te Ching. Confucianism, less metaphysical in its principles, emphasizes family values and the role of the individual within the state. And Shinto, distinctively Japanese in character, is the most animistic of the great religions, based on a belief in numerous individual spirits. The contributors explore a great variety of topics within these religions, including: the life of the Buddha; karma and rebirth; inspiring teachers and gurus; the life of Confucius; sacred Taoist texts; the epics of the Ramayana and Mahabharata; holy landscapes, shrines, and festivals; enlightenment; and--for all the faiths--the spiritual and ethical teachings, art and architecture, sacred writings, ritual and ceremony, and death and the afterlife.Also included are extracts from or summaries of historical texts, with author commentaries that explain the significance of each piece and place in its full context. Authoritative and accessible, Eastern Religions provides a gateway for all those in the West who wish to move one step closer to the spirit of the East. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

an unusual introductory text
This Oxford publication seems best suited for a comparative world religion course.I found it in search of material for a unit on comparative world religion in my Sociology of Religion course, but I can only use it to deepen my understanding -- for a course text I need a 1-volume world religion overview. EASTERN RELIGIONS is unorthodox in that it has the glossy pages and color photos typically found in a large-format textbook, but instead is in a 5" X 7.5" handbook format.It is 550 pages long, but with plenty of great photos, including reproductions of artwork, the actual text is nowhere near that long.

The organization of the sections is both the strength and the weakness.Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and Shinto are covered, and for each there is a section on 1) Origins and Historical Development, 2) Aspects of the Divine, 3) Sacred Texts, 4) Sacred Persons, 5) Ethical Principles, 6) Sacred Space, 7) Sacred Time, 8) Death and the Afterlife, and 9) Society and Religion.

The strength of this approach, from a sociological standpoint, is that religious practices receive as much attention as religious doctrines and beliefs.For instance, Dipavali, the Necklace (or Festival) of Lights, which was recently celebrated, is covered in the Sacred Time sub-section of the Hinduism section.For instance Laozi, fabled author of the Tao te Ching, is worshipped as a god by Taoists in China, which I'm sure is news to many in the West who read the Tao te Ching as philosophy and are informed that Laozi may never have existed as a singular historical person at all.The reader learns of the Three Teachings tradition of China, which combines Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism.Here's where the strength becomes a weakness, though -- the China expert has to write the Taoism and Confucianism sections separately, and so while some of the material overlaps (for instance qi, yin and yang), it remains unclear exactly how they are (or were) combined in the everyday life of the Chinese people, let alone how they combine with Buddhism which has a separate author altogether.And the Chinese "popular religion" is mentioned as well, but never explained at all, because it doesn't fit the framework.

Credit where credit is due:the Hinduism section is written by Vasudha Narayanan, Professor of Religion at the University of Florida, the Buddhism section is written by Malcolm David Eckel, Associate Professor of Religion at Boston University, the Shinto section is written by C. Scott Littleton, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at Occidental College in Los Angeles, and the sections on Taoism and Confucianism are written by Jennifer Oldstone-Moore, Assistant Professor (of what the book jacket does not say) at Wittenberg University in Ohio. ... Read more

Book Description
A tradition of intentional and initiatic dreaming, stretching from present-day dream-interpretation booklets back to ancient Sumerian and Egyptian practices, connects the Sufism of Ibn Arabi, medieval Kabalah, hemp-inspired Taoist scriptures, Afro-Brazilian spirit cults, and early Christian “angel alphabets.” Shower of Stars pulls from this history specific methods of inducing prophetic or “true” dreams, with the purpose of achieving non-ordinary consciousness through autonomous openings to the world of the imagination. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

very interesting
especially if you're interested in comparative religion. and i dont just mean sufism and taoism, there was some real cool comparisons to very ancient religions. its one of those books that (perhaps unintentionally) reinforced by beliefs that all religions arein essence the same, or came from the same source. it also introduced me to the Uwaysi tariqa and istikharas which i found fascinating.

Regarding the "Sufi" material...
786
Confessions of a former PLW/Hakim Bey fanantic:
Interesting to see that this item was composed for presentation to the Ibn Arabi Society; it has nothing to do with Hazrat Ibn Arabi, nothing to do with Sufism in any substantial manner, nothing to do with Owaysiyyah, ect.Herein is contained pages of only PLW/Hakim Bey's philosophical whims and fancies, with no relation to the pursuit of real understanding the profound matter at hand.We appreciate PLW's razor-sharp intellect and wonderful ranting style, but he is describing the items of Sufism from the outside only; he does not enter within. PLW/Hakim Bey's works should not be recommended to anyone seriously interested in the Sufi Path and/or Islam, as PLW is not even interested in sincerely elucidating their traditional approach to the subject.

WAKE UP AND DREAM
In his usual style of scholarship mixed with social commentary, Mr. Wilson has written a book which is a jewel of great price. The sub-title [not shown on this site]"DREAM & BOOK" is characteristic of his approach as he analyzes mystical literature and the dreams of the practitioners of Taoism & Sufism. Ecstatic dreaming and automatic writing are both ways in which the 'unmanifest' may be experienced - one allows the practitioner to 'enter into' the 'other realm', while the other brings this world into our own. These initiatic dreams and oracular drawings when performed with purpose form the basis of a mystical language where with we may embellish our own Great Works. In this regard see Mr. Wilson's 'collegue' Hakim Bey, especially Bey's "Aimless Wandering: Chuang Tzu's Chaos Linguistics". [For some reason this is not available on this site, try abe.com]. Finally the comparison of Taoism and Sufism is wonderfully and plainly disclosed with the depth of a discerning writer and poet. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Excellent intro to Taoism
I have not found any book that discusses philosophical taoism and the Tao Te Ching as effectively as Mr. Welche's book.

The section on the development of Taoism as a religion can be taken as a cautionary tale on how a philosophical system can be (and often is) changed beyond recognition (and ruined) by turning it something that will be accepted by the masses.

The last page of the section on the Tao Te Ching that describes why philosphical taoism didn't succeed as a religion because of its ambiguity, darkness and uncertainty hit the nail on the head!Philosophical Taoism doesn't offer easy answers--or immortality.

As for the previous reviewer who said this was the worst book he had ever read, I would love to see his reading list.That kind of extreme statement presents for me an mindset totally incapable of comprehending what Mr. Welch was presenting--especially in the first two sections.

Yes, the book was written in the 50's--nothing better has been written as an introduction to the subject since.

A valuable introduction
That Holmes Welch set himself a formidable task in offering a brief general introduction to Taoism is testified to by the lack of any other serviceable attempts on the part of Western writers to codify the vague, mystical, and powerful formulations of Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching.

Welch's short book contains 4 parts. In the first part, he explains that the ambiguous nature of the ancient Chinese characters, compounded by the oftent inscrutable and paradoxical writing style of Lao Tzu himself, makes definitive translation and interpretation of the text impossible.

In the second part, he offers his own informed and wise interpretation of the the Tao Te Ching, explicating three inter-related central concepts: (1)the doctrine of 'wu-wei' (spontaneity and non-interference in action), (2)the concept of 'pu' (original human nature (literally 'the uncarved block'), the way of the newborn child as an ideal counterposed to the adult corruption introduced by society), and (3)the mystical experience of the 'tao', or 'way' of the universe through meditation.

In the third part, Welch lays out the bizarre history of the development of Taoism since Lao Tzu, its intersections with other religions, and its devolution into arcane practices of asceticism, alchemy, hygiene, and geomancy.

In the final section, Welch offers a reading of the relevance of Lao Tzu's teachings to the present day (c. 1950s) that now seems pretty dated and hackneyed.

I recommend the first 2 parts as a valuable and illuminating companion text for anyone reading the Tao Te Ching.

Possibly the worst book I've ever read
When I first encountered this book nearly 30 years ago there were very few English language books about Taoism available for the non-specialist, general interest reader. Fortunately, there are now far more and far better choices available.

It doesn't take long for the reader to realize that Welch regards Taoism and the Tao Te Ching with condescension and contempt. Aside from many factual errors, nearly every page yields some interpretation that is patently absurd.

Throughout the book Welch disdainfully references the fruits of Taoist meditation and self-cultivation as mere "trance". I noted at least one instance where Welch left out the last lines of a translation from the Tao Te Ching to make his point stronger, but in so doing he totally distorted the meaning of the passage.

Welch's grasp of the most fundamental of Taoist terms and concepts is laughably childish and shallow. For instance, Part II, chapter 1 of this book is entitled "Inaction"--his translation of "Wu Wei". Therein Welch constantly accuses Lao Tzu of passivity and pacifism. As a scholar, you'd think Welch would know that Taoist temples are filled with images of warrior dieties and that they display swords and other marital implements and regalia as symbols of the conflict inherent in society and nature. Some of China's greatest military strategists were, of course, Taoists and Taoist philosophy is the foundation of many of the Chinese martial arts. Wu Wei would be far more accurately translated as "non-interference". Taoists are certainly aware that perhaps only in death is there "inaction".

Curiously, for a general book about Taoism, Welch devotes almost all of hisattention to (mis)interpreting Lao Tzu and the Tao Te Ching. There is little discussion of other essential figures such as Chuang Tzu and Lieh Tzu. Welch fails to acknowledge the extent to which Taoist philopshy and sensibilities have influenced and permeated every aspect of Chinese life and culture.

Welch's most astonishing statements are to be found in Part Four, in the latter part of this book:

"We [Americans]believe...that it is good to be vigorous, progressive, and forward looking, Lao Tzu believes it is good to be weak and to look inwards andbackwards. We believe that what America needs is dynamic, aggressive leadership. He prefers leadership that is listless and passive. We believe in keen competition. He believess in dull indifference. We believe in education. He considers it dangerous."

Welch therefore perfectly reflects the triumphalism, materialism, reductionism and positivism that permeated the zeitgeist of the 1950's. The world is a very different place now. Whatever the reason, Welch was unable to understand Taoism. It is unfortuante that he chose to write about a topic of which he had no useful understanding or insight and to thereby pass his ignoranceand bias on to his readers. It is unfortunate that his book is still in print to contribute further misunderstanding and distortion of Taoism and the Tao Te Ching.

Unfortunately, I have not encountered any book that provides a really good introdcutory overviewof Taoism.Eva Wong's: The Shambhala Guide to Taoism has a good deal useful information. It unfortunately lacks a discussion of basicTaoist concepts.

The Tao Te Ching continues to be publishedin an astonishing number oftranslations. Many of them are very poor translations. I've noted that many newer translations have a new age, politically correct flavor that may be stylish but is very inaccurate. A good and venerable translation is that of Lin Yutang and should be readily available inexpensively from used book dealers. The scholarly translation by Ellen Chen is useful but may be too daunting for the casaul reader.

Though not exhibiting any depth of scholarly knowledge, the books by John Blofeld are worthwhile as they contain a good deal of charming anecdotal material from his experiences visiting Taoist monasteries before the communist revolution in China. Blofeld provides a delightful glimpse of a world that is tragically gone forever.

A brief monograph by Julius Evola entitled, Taoism-The Magic, The Mysticism, is worth acquiring. Evola is a metaphyscian and esotericist rather than an academic sinologist. His insights into Taoism in this very short work are excellent.

Best book on Taoism I've ever read!
This book is great, the perfect introduction to the lay reader who isn't a student of philosophy.Welch is extremely knowledgeable, and it's obvious that he's researched the subject extensively.Mix this with his down-to-earth, conversational, and often amusing style and you get a winner!He explains this nebulous, dynamic system called Taoism comprehensibly. (Which is saying something, as you know if you've studied Taoism before!!) I'd recommened this book to anyone--you won't find a better one on Taoism!

Best Intro to Lau Tzu Available
If you are new to Lao Tzu, this is the book to begin with.Glad it's back in print.Much of the book is about the religion called "Taoism"--it's complex history.It is interesting in itself, but has little to do with Lao Tzu.Still, the first part of this book (about the Tao te ching) and the last chapter (about Lao Tzu in the modern world) are clear, common-sensicaland often beautiful expositions to the philosophy. I first read the book thirty years ago, and none of the texts I've read in the intervening years have come close to its clear exposition, and appropriately graceful and witty exposition. ... Read more

Book Description
The Tao, or the Way, has been one of the principle influences on Chinesecivilization and culture over the last 5,000 years. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

starts very well but becomes clearly sectarian
This started very well.It's worth reading, a good overview of how taoism developed, lucid explanations of some of the more arcane/theological ideas (like "the three pure ones").It's accessible but still scholarly.

But then, when he gets to internal alchemy, he suddenly shifts into an obviously sectarian point-of-view with several fanatical opinions that he starts passing off as some sort of ultimate truth.For example, he basically says anyone, even a chinese, who is in the west operating under the title "taoist master" is by definition a fraud.That one would have to go to the far east and spend many years looking for a real master among the lonely mountain crags, blah, blah, blah.In other words, this holy practice isn't for the likes of you and me, brother and sister.I read later that this guys is some kind of initiate into a particular taoist sect.

I can think of two people from the east who are operating as taoist masters in the west: Master Ni Hua Ching and Mantak Chia (both of whom offer books through amazon) and are very well respected.

My question is: through what omniscience does mr. Wildish claim to know about every master living in the west?Is he saying if he and his friends don't personally know the man or woman, they must be no good?This is ridiculous.

That mars the book seriously.If you are trying to write as a scholar you should also adopt the rules of scholarship and stick to what you can know and leave the sectarian baloney to other people.

Still, if you can put up with that sort of thing, it's worth reading.

Pretty good for such a small book...
Wildish does an admirable job of trying to convey the history, development and basic principles of Taoism in this very slim book.He has used Eva Wong's material as his main source - this is evident by his use of "ching" as opposed to the more 'standard' "jing" found in many Taoist texts.He also uses dates found in Wong's books.

The book combines a useful blend of history and philosophy to convey the general ideas behind Taoism.There are also some short sections on external and internal alchemy including some very basic information on Qigong.

This is far superior to "Simple Taoism" and would be a good starting point for someone who is curious about Taoism.The next step would be Wong's work and perhaps Schipper's "The Taoist Body". Grigg's "The Tao of Zen" has some great historical work as well.

Mr. Wildish tried to give a decent introduction to Taoism.
Mr. Wildish TRIED to write an introduction to Taoism, but he made several errors.

Page VII: The Author states "Taoism predates christianity by 400-500 years.

Taoism goes back more than 5,000 years. Predating both Judaism, and the offshoot religion "christianity".

Page 4: "The legendary Yellow Emperor is regarded as a founding father of Chinese civilization, and is said to have lived between 2697 and 2597 BCE."

These dates are in error (about 200 years before the birth of the Yellow Emperor) The Yellow Emperors treatise on internal medicine was allegedly written in 2445 BCE.

Page 17: Mr. Wildish misnames one of the three treasures as Ching. The three treasures are Jing, Ch'i, and Shen.

Page 98: Mr. Wildish misnames the Conception, and Governing Qi vessels as the Directing and Tu meridians. Qi Vessels and meridians are NOT the same.

If you want to study Taoism; please see my Taoism listmania list, or even better; buy a copy of "The Shambhalla Guide To Taoism" by Eva Wong; Two Bears.

Wah doh Ogedoda (We give thanks Great Spirit) ... Read more

Book Description
The teachings of Taoism, China's great wisdom tradition, apply to every aspect of life, from the physical to the spiritual—and include instruction on everything from lifestyle (a life of simplicity and moderation is best) to the work of inner alchemy that is said to lead to longevity and immortality. Here, Eva Wong presents and explains three classic texts on understanding the Tao in the macrocosm of the universe and the microcosm of the body that provide an excellent overview of the three traditional levels of the Taoist teachings—Outer, Inner, and Secret. The Outer teachings are concerned with understanding the Tao as manifested in nature and society. They are easily accessible to the layperson and consist of the Taoist philosophy of nature and humanity, advice on daily living, and a brief introduction to the beginning stages of Taoist meditation. The Inner teachings familiarize the practitioner with the energetic structure of the human body and introduce methods of stilling the mind and cultivating internal energy for health and longevity. The Secret teachings describe the highest level of internal-alchemical transformations within the body and mind for attaining immortality. ... Read more

Product Description
This Elibron Classics book is a facsimile reprint of a 1891 edition by the Clarendon Press, Oxford. ... Read more

Book Description
Existing in China alongside Confucianism and Buddhism throughout the centuries, Taoism has had a major impact on Chinese intellectual and spiritual life. This concise guide offers an engaging introduction to the precepts, history and practices of Taoism, in a well-designed and attractively illustrated volume that includes dozens of color photographs.The book illuminates Taoism--its main beliefs and rituals, the key sacred texts, the status of the religion today. We learn that the term Tao("Way") signifies the natural pattern underlying all cosmic change and transformation, the way in which qi (life force) is endlessly created and dissolved to form the myriad phenomena of the universe. Focusing on one's development as an individual and on establishing harmony with nature, Taoism teaches that to achieve order and harmony in one's own life and in the cosmos, one must learn to perceive the Tao in nature and to act--or refrain from acting--in accordance with it. The idea of strengthening oneself through attunement with natural forces is also applied to the preservation of the body through the quest for longevity. Oldstone-Moore also illuminates the history of Taoism, ranging from its founding by Laozi, who is believed to have written the Tao Te Jing, the main text of Taoist thought, to the religion's decline in the early twentieth century, due to the impact of anti-religious movements, the most radical of which was Chinese Communism, to its recent resurgence. Elegantly designed and beautifully illustrated, this volume would make a wonderful gift for someone interested in Eastern religion or Chinese culture. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Tao to enlightenment, peace and harmony
Taoism is an indigenousphilosophy and religion ofChina over two thousand years.The Chinese word tao carries the meaning of a pathway, a way of life, a discipline, a method to follow closely and reason.In Taoism, it means a doctrine, teaching, rule of conduct and valuable speech.In recent decades, Taoism has gaining attention in the West.
Taoism, written by Jennifer Oldstone-Moore is a good introduction to the basic elements.It traces the origins and historical development, beliefs, practices, holy texts and sacred places of Taoism.She introduced Lao Tzu and his text, Tao Te Ching (The Classic of the Way and its Power, Chuang Tzu, Hua-na-tzu and Lieh Tzu in the philosophical side.Then, she brought out the religion side of the sects of Celestial Master, Chuan-chen, and Cheng-i.The pantheon of Taoism is full of gods and immortals from deified Lao Tzu, Tai-shang Lao-chuan (Lord Lao Most High to Huang Ti, Hsi Wang Muu, Kuan-ti and the Eight Immortals.She included a few important sacred texts such as Tao Te Ching, Chuang-Tzu, Huai-nan-Tzu, Lieh-tzu, Pao-pu-tzu , Tai-ping Ching and Tao Tsang.She pointed out the ethical principles of flexibility, humility, embracing the feminine side and taking no action contrary to nature (wu-wei).She named the "Five Sacred Peaks" and other Mounts with their associations with different sects of religious Taoism such as Mount Mao ( Shasng-Ching Sect), Mount Lung-hu (Celestial Master) and Mount Wu-tang.
She devoted a chapter on the concept of time.The Chinese calendar is both lunar and solar with nodes or breaths and the years are organized into cycles of sixty with the combination of `Ten Heavenly Stems' and `Twelve Earthy Branches.It also corresponds with the Chinese Zodiac of 12 animals.She gave a brief description on the Chinese festivals in the year.
Of interest is the chapter on Death and the Afterlife.It explains hun, P'o and Chi and the Ten Tribunals of Hell which is structured as the Chinese imperial bureaucracy.Taoism also believes in immortality with the individual techniques of meditation, exercise and herbs.It is known as internal alchemy.External alchemy is the laboratory transformation of chemicals into pills to halt the decay and deterioration of the physical aging body.
The last chapter is about society and religion.It gives a big picture on how Taoism influences the Chinese culture in philosophy, architecture, medicine, arts, painting, calligraphy, and poetry.She particularly points out that Taoism values the feminine in the male-oriented culture.
Jennifer did a good job in presenting an overall orientation on Taoism.It is a well organized and highly readable book.A unique feature is that each chapter ends with a passage from a sacred text followed by commentary.This will lead readers to explore further on interest subject.However, there were a few minor points needed to get the record straight.On page 99, second paragraph reads "Taoism's relationship with the present government of the People's Republic of China is uncertain: only the monastic Taoism of the Complete Perfection school is officially recognized.Other Taoist practices are categorized as"supersitions" and are actively discouraged."She did not specify the time frame. A brief descriptive activities on religious Taoism in Mainland Chinacan be found in the book in Chinese published in 2001 titled A Brief History of Chinese Taoism. All sects participate actively in different conferences, one in August 1998 in Beijing.On Page 101, first paragraph said "Two notable Taoist martial arts schools are the Shao-in and Wu-tang".It has to point put that Shao-lin is Buddhist and not Taoist.
In today's global village, many westerners seek spiritual freedom by exploring Eastern tradition.Jennifer's bookwill be of great help and service if she would add a chapter on the development of Taoism in the West especially in America.Readers may follow her "Tao" in the pursuit of enlightenment, peace and harmony.

a fine academic introduction
This book very ably introduces Taoism to people who have an academic interest in the subject (as I do).

The text is brief and succinct, including the best brief history of religious Taoism that I've yet read. If that's what you're after, this is likely one of the better books you'll find. (BTW, like most scholars the author doesn't really distinguish between religious and philosophical Taoism much.)

The illustrations are fine, although you really should go to a busy Taoist temple if you get a chance because no amount of illustrations can compare to that experience. If you're primarily interested in Taoist art or liturgy, this is not a book I'd recommend.

The scriptural excerpts are well chosen, well explained, and very brief.

In short, if you are planning to go beyond the Taoism information in common introductions to world religions, or planning to study Taoism in some depth, this is a fine book. I personally was very pleased with it. On the other hand, if you've read two or three scholarly books on Taoism, there's probably here for you, unless you're looking for an overview to tie together what you've read. Of course, if you're hoping to practice Taoism or apply Taoist philosophy to your life, this is not really what you're looking for.

Short, to the point - a good academic overview of Taoism
This book, just over 100 pages of actual content, is first and foremost an academic look at religious Taoism. /Taoism/ provides a broad (but not very deep) overview of the history, beliefs, sacred places, peoples, and texts, and so forth. A lot of territory is covered, just not in great detail. Excerpts sprinkled throughout the book provide nice exposure to some classic Taoist texts. The whole thing is pretty lightweight and a breeze to read - I finished the book in an hour or so of reading.

As I said, this is primarily an academic look at Taoism, and it is mostly interested in the religious beliefs therein. The author is careful not to judge the religion or get into messy contrasts with Western religions, which I think is a fairly safe approach. However, this is definitely not a book to read if you are interested in details on the principles of Taoism as they might be applied in your daily life. /Taoism/ is a good place to start when researching the religious side of the followers of the Tao, but that's about it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

the dualism exposed
This is the best book on Taoism that i've read. Illuminates beautifully that seemingly murky yet wonderfully simple philosophy; full of wit, great examples and metaphors, inspiring and original ideas, and above all theslippery glint of truth, like catching sight of a fast fish moving in astream. (hmm...) His appropriately 'flowing' style is all the more flowingdue to the fact that these are talks that he gave, recorded by Mark Watts. ... Read more

Book Description
This excellent essay was originally prepared at the request of Denis Twitchett, editor of the Cambridge History of China, in anticipation of publication in the second volume of that work to be devoted to the T'ang dynasty (618-907). While that project was experiencing delays, the essay became widely circulated among those interested in the history of Taoism, and has subsequently been published independently. The work sheds light on Taoism, China's great indigenous religion (if we see Confucianism as ethics and Buddhism as imported) during this vibrant and glorious period of Chinese history; without these insights, we can have only limited understanding of an important aspect of China's social, political, and of course, religious life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

What's going on in our world - in a nutshell
Well-written, easy to read spiritual guide.Whatever you believe, this book will suggest an alternative reason for the world's unexplained mysteries, and provide a practical way to overcome life's obstacles.It contains an enormous amount of research, and puts the pieces together in a unique way. You might not agree with everything at first, but it sure presents these controversial subjects in a new light.Never read anything like it. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Greta Nagel, author of The Tao of Teaching, turns the spotlight of Taoist wisdom on the seemingly insoluble problems of parenting. As in her previous book, the text is divided into 81 chapters, like the Tao Te Ching itself. Each chapter has a heading from the Tao, followed by a page or so of explication, and these passages in turn are followed by real-life illustrative stories from four families Nagel interviewed. The family stories help to flesh out the philosophical bones, showing how real individuals solved (or sometimes failed to solve) their problems. As you would expect from a book based on Lao-Tsu, there is great emphasis on calmness, flexibility, listening closely to others and respecting your own capacity for common sense and good judgment. The whole exercise will seem a bit earnest to some people, but the format is user-friendly, and the basic lessons (e.g., "Tranquility is more important than perfection" and "When you don't know, say so") deserve repetition. Especially by parents. --Richard FarrBook Description
Applying the ancient yet timeless 81 principles of Taoism to parenting, The Tao Of Parenting features instructive anecdotes from four families to demonstrate how Taoist teachings help parents raise good, healthy children. The stories are just as diverse as the families who tell them (a blended family featuring children from separate marriages, a couple with different cultural and ethical backgrounds, a single parent of twin boys, and a couple with different parenting techniques learning to compromise). Some of the Taoist principles used by these families include:* "Do Not Think of Self".Shows the rewards parents receive by making their children their number one priority* "The material is fleeting, the spiritual is everlasting". Demonstrates the rewards of caring for those in need* "Do Not Be Authoritarian".Shows how to foster self-reliance and responsibility in children while supporting their efforts, rather than controlling their every move* "Follow the middle road; it is the heart of knowing". Offers the benefits of parents being neither too permissive or too strict, but rather adjusting the rules for each child and each circumstanceThere are many more valuable lessons in this special book which can be used by parents of all faiths to help guide their lives and those of their children. ... Read more

Book Description
This reference book on Taoism, one of the major spiritual traditions of China, includes in its coverage both Taoist philosophy and Taoist religion. An introduction provides overall insight into Taoist development through the ages, while the dictionary itself is comprised of 275 entries that define Taoist concepts, scriptures, deities, practices, and personalities. Includes an extensive bibliography. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A very timely and valuable book
The book is unparalleled in a Western language. As it is intended for the serious researcher i do regret it does not carry one single Chinese character. It also could have included more on Chinese TraditionalMedicine, as there is a growing interest in the West, and as the knowledgeabout Chinese medicine is still extremely limited, mainly due to the factthat most practitioners do not know Chinese, neither the spoken language,nor the classical Writings. If anybody reading this can inform me about apractioner knowledgeable in Chinese language it would be very kind if youcould let me know. The author seems to have very extensive practical andacademic knowledge of Taoism. Greetings in de Dao,

Fang YuQing

An essential English-language reference book.
The Historical Dictionary series published by Scarecrow Press includes some very fine works.Perhaps the best two are W. H. (Hew) McLeod's volume on Sikhism and this one by Julian F. Pas in cooperation with Man Kam Leungon Taoism. As a single volume desk-top quick reference it is unsurpassed. Pas utilizes his well-honed skills as a bibliographer to guide the readerthrough basic terms, concepts, and eras toward the works in which they arepresented or treated in more detail.Illustrations, charts, and bits ofcalligraphy are few but well selected.A user-friendly and reliable guide. ... Read more