The definitive guide to understanding Taoism--no matter your background or faith Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching is the second most translated book in the world, and the practice of religious Taoism is on the rise in China, where adherents currently number in the hundreds of millions. Yet there remains a remarkable lack of reliable information about Taoism for curious westerners. Taoism For Dummies provides comprehensive coverage of Taoism's origins in China's Chou Dynasty, its underlying quietist principles, its emergence as a major religion, various interpretation of its core texts, including both Eastern and Western interpretations, key Taoist concepts, and much more. It also provides a fascinating glimpse of Taoism in contemporary China. * The ideal guide for readers interested in this influential religion, as well as those taking an introductory course on Taoism or Chinese Religion * A valuable source of insight for those with an interest in modern Chinese culture and beliefs

InhaltsangabeIntroduction 1 Part I: Navigating the World of Taoism 7 Chapter 1: An Introduction to Taoism 9 Chapter 2: What Is Taoism? 19 Chapter 3: Don't Believe Everything You Think 31 Part II: Looking At the Development of Taoism 45 Chapter 4: Classical Taoist Philosophy 47 Chapter 5: The Development of Institutional Taoism 73 Chapter 6: Types of Taoism in China Today 91 Chapter 7: Go West, Old Tao, Go West 109 Part III: Examining Important Taoist Concepts 133 Chapter 8: What Is the Tao, and What Does It Mean to Follow It? 135 Chapter 9: Doing Everything by Doing Nothing 157 Chapter 10: For Every Yin, There Is an Equal and Opposite Yang 177 Chapter 11: Blue Heaven, Yellow Heaven: The Belief in a New Age 193 Chapter 12: Writing What Can't Be Spoken: The Many Texts of Taoism 207 Part IV: Exploring Taoist Practices 225 Chapter 13: Remembering to Keep Forgetting 227 Chapter 14: Seeking the Path to Immortality 241 Chapter 15: Internal Cultivation through the Discipline of Alchemy 259 Chapter 16: Martial, Gymnastic, and Healing Arts: T'ai-chi and Ch'i-kung 277 Chapter 17: Cosmic Renewal and Other Rituals 291 Part V: The Part of Tens 305 Chapter 18: Ten Common Misconceptions about Taoism 307 Chapter 19: Ten Bits of Advice for Acquiring Taoist Wisdom 315 Chapter 20: Ten Places to See Taoist Stuff Happening Today 323 Part VI: Appendixes 331 Appendix A: Glossary 333 Appendix B: Resources 347 Appendix C: Pronunciation Guide 353 Index 357

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