Books on Taoism

Overview
Chinese culture is a culture of ideas. The secret of Chinese success has been an ability to assibilate and even embrace what would be, to a less advanced civilization, divisive ideas and beliefs. At the core of Chinese thought are a group of concepts which have proven to be general enough to be inclusive and insightful enough to prove eternally useful. What the future of China's beliefs will be on the competitive stage of world history, no one can tell. Here are some texts which speak to people today with the same force as the Iliad, the Bible, the Epic of Gilgamesh and all other great works of human thought and dreams

KP025 A Perfumed Garden
by Idries Shah
On Amazon 380.00 down to 40.00 PLUM price $12.95, Hardbound

A book of Sufi teaching stories that itself delves into the meaning of teaching and learning. Great stories and very insightful comments on the nature of teaching including those times it is impossible to teach without the student experiencing a fundamental change.

KP018 The Philosophy of Tai Chi Chuan
by Freya and Martin Boedicker
$14.95 PLUM price 13.45, 98 pages, Hardbound,

Mr. Boedicker has already made a contribution to the martial arts by producing one of the most beautiful books in English on the Wu style of Tai Chi with his teacher Ma Jiang Bo —regrettably now out of print. This new survey book is a nice introduction to the cultural and philosophical backgrounds of Martial Arts and Chinese culture in general showing through commentary and selected translation a "taste" of many seminal sources for the wisdom embodied (literally, to make a pun) in not only Tai Chi but all martial movement. Sources draw from that old boy Lao Tzu, the niceties of the Book of the Mean, the twin suns of military tactics Sun Bin and Sun Zi, the magical Lieh Zi and others. A bit of an anodyne for the flood of "kick ass" writings in martial arts.

I Ching
Don't even ask if we have a collection of Chou I books. There are some good ones, many bad, some very bad. The I Ching is not for the faint hearted but it is a storehouse of amazing observations and insights by a people struggling to understand their place IN the universe not above it. Here are some of the books we think deserve special attention by interested parties. There are not many. There will be more. But we think quality counts and quantity nods.

KC045 The Complete I Ching
by Alfred Huang
$19.95 PLUM price 17.95, 252 pages, Hardbound,

Without a doubt one of the best translations and complications of the I Ching on the market today. Huang's story is very interesting. He was introduced into the Ching's deeper meaning while imprisoned. He decided to do his own translation because he found that the Western translations, though good, didn't have enough "hope." He relates his work to previous translators like Wilhelm and Blofeld but gives alternative names for many of the Kua and excellent background on their names and meanings. A very thorough book with much ancillary information that will keep the I Ching enthusiast going for quite some time. Highly recommended.

KP021H ("hurt book") The Pocket I Ching
by Richard Wilhelm, Cary F. Baynes with simplification by W. S. Broadman
paper, 130 pages, 1987, read our introductory article on this book

This simplified pocket edition concentrates on the original core writing of this book, one of the oldest in history and the basis of Chinese culture. Though some may have a problem with the sometimes divination use of the book it can also be studied as a classic of wisdom pertaining to one of the greatest concerns of human life: change and its many faces.

TAO
There are those who might not see the connection between martial arts and what they think of as the ultimate pacifist religion. But historically, as well as spiritually, Taoism is one of the keystones of classical martial thinking. Throughout a bloody history Taoist generals have distinguished themselves as experts in military strategy, from which even today the world takes lessons. At the same time they developed the concept that the best war is never even fought, that the general who fights and wins is inferior to the general who never has to fight. In these and a hundred other ways the philosophy of Taoism has had a profound impact on the thinking of real martial artists.

KN007 Nourishing the Essence of Life
Eva Wong
$15.95 ours 14.35, 104 pages,

This book presents three classic texts on the nature of the Tao. It examine the macrocosm of the universe related to the microcosm of the human body. We see this reflected in the three levels of Taoist teachings, the Inner, the Outer and the Secret (Xuan). The Outer level deals with Human life in its social and familial setting. The Inner level deals with the energetics of the individual practitioner. The secret level discusses transformations which bring ineffable and unpredictable aspects of cultivation. This is not a critical account of Taoism but a discussion from the standpoint of classical students. It records rituals and aspects or authentic Taoist ritual which might be confusing and a little mysterious to some but that’s Taoism at the cultural level. A very good, slim volume on ancient Taoist practices and beliefs.

Tao Te Ching (Dao De Jing) KT050 Tao-Te Ching
Translated by Richard John Lynn
$24.95, 244 pages, harbound,

Professor Lynn is the chair of the Department of East Asian Studies at the University of Alberta. This text is a translation, highly annotated, of the famous Wang Bi commentaries along with the core text of the Tao Te Ching. Wang Bi's comments (3rd century) are often considered essential to an understanding of the TTC.

"The Dao that can be described
in language is not the constant Dao;"

Tao Te Ching (Dao De Jing) KT043 TaoTeChing
Translated by Red Pine
$14.95 softbound, 180 pages

In this well-recieved version Red Ping not only translates the Tao but "corrects some errors" previously associated with it. This version also has a face-to-face Chinese text and selected commentaries from many scholars throughout the last 2000 years.

"The Way that becomes a Way is not the Immortal Way."

KT014 Taoist Meditation
Methods for Cultivating a Healthy Mind and Body
Translated by Thomas Cleary
$12.95, 130 pages, softbound,

KT013 Taoist Body
Kristopher Schipper
$27.95, 279 pages, softbound,

Now this is an important book ! Prof. Schipper is presently one of the world’s experts on Taoism. Unlike so many who have written on Taoism he studied from the inside, becoming a Tao Shih (Taoist Priest) in the process. Taoist Body is about real Taoism, not the coffee house variety where "everything goes". It discusses ritual, lineage, beliefs and philosophy. The chapter on the Inner Landscape is worth the price of the book. He challenges many misunderstandings and myths about the study while giving a thorough and fascinating account of Taoist trasditiona and its continuity through history. His book explores Taoist priesthood and its meaning. Very good work.

Note: There is only one available distributor for this book so expect a little longer wait when ordering.

KT015 Taoist Yoga
Charles Luk(Lu KuanYu)
$12.95, 240 pages, softbound,

Often referred to as "Taoist Yoga," this is a fine text on the art of Chi Kung. One of the first ever written and widely available in the English language. Still a classic it contains not only some instruction but, more importantly, a properly respectful attitude that this (Chi Kung) is something more than a New Age exercise for the Spa of the Future.