This study presents the first complete translation of Liu Chuxuan's (1147-1203) commentary on the Yellow Emperor's Scripture of Hidden Contracts (Huangdi Yinfujing Zhu). Liu Chuxuan numbers among the famous seven disciples of Wang Chongyang, who is Quanzhen Daoism's founder and one of the most revered figures in religious Daoism. Today one of the two surviving Daoist sects, Quanzhen Daoism was a revolutionary religious movement when it began in the days of the Jin-dynasty. Liu Chuxuan's commentary constitutes an important document for the history of Quanzhen Daoism. First of all, it is one of the few surviving commentaries on a classical Daoist scripture written by a proponent of early Quanzhen. Secondly, Liu Chuxuan's commentary provides insight into the central ideas of internal alchemy, a theory of self-cultivation promoted by early Quanzhen Daoism. On top of that, the commentary's eclectic nature elucidates an important trait of Quanzhen Daoism. It integrates sources from the three different religious traditions of China: Daoism, Confucianism and Buddhism. This eclecticism reflects on a general tendency of Chinese culture in the days of the Jin-dynasty. The "unification of the three teachings" was prevalent in the entire society and, until this day, comprises an important aspect of Chinese thought.

An anthology of English translations of primary texts of the Quanzhen (Complete Perfection) school of Daoism.

By the eleventh century, communities of religious practitioners in China had developed a theory and practice of meditative self-cultivation that combined the so-called Three Teachings. By the seventeenth century, Wu Shouyang created a synthesis of the various lineages of this “inner alchemy,” combining it with elements from Buddhism and Confucianism. By the late nineteenth century, his writings had become bestsellers in the genre and his became the standard account of this tradition. This first book-length English-language study of Wu Shouyang’s life and works introduces his remarkable life and formulates answers to fundamental questions about this important tradition.

My book contains grammatical mistakes, and for that I am deeply sorry. This is the first book in a series, which is intented to examine the links between Shotokan Karate and the three teachings - Daoism, Confucianism and Buddhism. The book deals with Heian Shodan (aka Pinan Shodan) and the rest of Heian katas. We can learn a lot from the Chinese origins of Karate. Daoism (Taoism) in particular has been forgotten in modern times, as a tool for understanding Karate and improving it. There are very practical conclusions that we can come to, using Daoism. In order to achieve that, we must develop a deep understanding of the Heian katas using Chinese philosophy. The book explains how Yin and Yang and the Five Elements (Wuxing) theories are connected to the Heians. We especially concentrate on the Wood Element, which is the element of Heian Shodan, and has profound implications on the kata. Topics from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are brought up, including the relations between the basic katas and the organs and meridians. Then we turn to Emotional Karate, and observe the psychological benefit, that one could derive from Karate. Karate can contribute to our mental well-being. And our state of mind, as proven, effects our body - including chronic pains. After understanding the distinguishing qualities of Heian Shodan, we can understand why it is a particularly good kata for releasing a repressed anger. As for other issues: Some techniques are presented, in order to improve the kata and our benefit from it. We also learn how other katas may recuperate Heian Shodan. A mathematical formula of the five Heians is suggested, with an application to Heian Shodan's movements. Other Shotokan katas are also mentioned - as well as specific Karate moves and stances. Finally, we warn about excessiveness, and explain how to prevent it. By the way, several interesting topics are discussed: the far and the relatively modern history of Karate and of other martial arts, our Karate ancestors and even Chinese and Japanese characters and words. In conclusion, although the book deals with Chines philosophy, it has many very applicable sides.

This important work focuses on early Quanzhen (Complete Perfection) Daoism, a twelfth-century Daoist religious movement and subsequent monastic order. Emphasis in this first study to approach Quanzhen from a comparative religious studies perspective is placed on the complex interplay among views of self, specific training regimens, and the types of experiences that were expected to follow from dedicated praxis. On the basis of historical contextualization and textual analysis it is demonstrated that in its formative and incipient organized phases Quanzhen was a Daoist religious community consisting of a few renunciants dedicated to religious praxis. The study proper is followed by a complete annotated translation of a text attributed to the founder, which represents one of only two early Quanzhen texts translated to date. Subsequent appendices address issues of dating and contents of the early textual corpus as well as technical Quanzhen religious terminology.

The Literati Path explores the life and teachings of the Ming author and alchemist Lu Xixing (1520-1601). It begins by examining his biography, religious community, alchemical doctrine, and methods of practice. Lu was special in that he embodied the literati tradition of self-cultivation, engaging in the alchemical arts without ever leaving his habitual life. He did not abandon his family, was never ordained, and had no connection to Daoist or other institutions. He learned internal alchemy from books and through spirit-writing seances where he met Lü Dongbin and other immortals. Next, the work expounds the cosmological doctrines at the foundation of internal alchemy, including those found in the Yijing and the Cantong qi, and outlines the universal ebb and flow of yin and yang as the basis of the immortal elixir. It moves on to describe just how the practice serves to overcome destiny, modeling techniques on biological gestation and creating a new being deep within. It explains major alchemical concepts as applied by Lu Xixing and systematically describes his path to immortality, all the while questioning the validity of his reputation as a sexual alchemist. Shedding fascinating new light on the religious life of Ming literati and providing a first access to a unique take on internal alchemy in late imperial China, The Literati Path to Immortality is a must for anyone interested in traditional Chinese religion and culture!