Taoism For Dummies

Learn to: Explore the origins of Taoist philosophy and religion Grasp the multiple interpretations of Taoism today Find out about Taoist practices and customs The friendly guide to understanding the rich history and modern practice of Taoism! Exploring the philosophy, practices, and scriptures of one of the world's major religions — and one of the oldest — Taoism For Dummies provides a comprehensive introduction to this fascinating and influential religious tradition. Whether you're a student of religion or just curious about Taoism, this fun and friendly guide explains in plain English the fundamental concepts of Taoism, explores in depth the origins and multiple interpretations of the religion, and goes into detail about what it means to be a Taoist. Start with Taoism 101 — learn the fundamentals and debunk the main myths about Taoism Follow the evolution of Taoism — find out how Taoism has developed from Classical Taoist philosophy to institutionalized religion to western Taoism Unlock important Taoist concepts — explore the Tao, yin and yang, and wu-wei Learn about the many texts of Taoism — delve into the Tao Te Ching, as well as other texts from the rich body of Taoist scriptures Explore Taoist practices — find out how followers bring Taoism into their daily lives Open the book and find: The origins of Taoism Taoist attitudes toward life The life and teachings of Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu Types of Taoism in China and the West today How to understand the Taoist concept of doing everything by doing nothing A look at the Taoist practices of alchemy, meditation, t'ai-chi, and martial arts Advice on acquiring Taoist wisdom Ten common misconceptions about Taoism

Introduction  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

Jonathan Herman , PhD, is the Director of Undergraduate Studies and Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Georgia State University in Atlanta, where he teaches courses in Taoism, Confucianism, Buddhism, Shinto, world religions, comparative mysticism, and critical theory in the study of religion. He has written extensively on various aspects of Taoism, Chinese religion, and modern religious issues.