Taoism: An Essential Guide

139 Pages·2011·65.56 MB·English

by  Eva Wong

Rooks ny Fva Wont |

ne TAOISM

An Fssential Guide

ig

The Pec Te Eva Wong
Sows Tait Moco

lide of he Lit Jaca

Tin etal Guide
Tschings ofthe Lae

SHAATALA,
Faso 6 Landon
20
Contents

Hist of Whatrotions acd ates

Pane Ove Misvaxy oF Taons

1 Shusmanie Origine (3000-H0U nox
he Lagenany Ya LL 7 Shavinsbn i Viteale China
Dates of Shara ih Clie Society H"The Sham anie
“Tradition of Soulless China 18/7
fn Late: Deel
Fouthes Readings 1

sey of Shamnaniem

ots Thoin I?

2. The Classica! Pevied (700-290 nex)
‘The Paliusal andl Histinial Baeigrounel of the Spring and
Autuoun Pesiod 2) {Classical Trot in the Spang and
Avtunu Peis: Lao tas and the Tatts ohiag 22 The
Teachings of the Tuote cig 25/ Ue Pilea aad
Historica Fnekground of the Warsng States Period 25
‘Classieal Tons in the Warring Sates P

Busther Reodings 29

20
6

The Teamsformation of Laie from Philosophy
info Organized Kaligion [20 ners cx} 7

a Tat Religion

The Beg-anings of Rel sees?
nga 2a

‘pun 33) The Gelden

Pusther Reasings

1 RljstcalTaoisn (0-00 04) 4
el Sane ng Taos 48/1
rs of ShargeeWing Teun 56! Sho
ie Chin Dyas

Shang
The Teschins
ing" 31 The Lega

ater Dateien

urther Reselngs OF

The Development of Alehemieal Tasion
(Bun 209 en)
he Beginnings of Alchemy 67 # The Teachings of te

Tso tang chi (Triple Unity} 68 /"The Teach of

Ko Mung’s Mac-pintae (Whe Sage Wo Embraces
Simplicity) 71'The Separation of Tntesoal and Extensal
[Alchemy 73 Ths Height of Dewelopunen of lena
Nebeiny 76

Barthes Readings 79

The Synshesis of Tanism, Buddhist, sa
Confucianism (1000 ex present) al
ine Philosophical Synthesis 81 / The Religions Syoshesi

86/ Variations of the Sytless andl the Rise of Sects in

cist 88 / A Rew Syutlesis of Confucianism, Zee

Buddlise, ane Taoist Internal Alchemy 91

Further Readings 95

Magical Tanin, The Way of Power ow
Risie Beis of apical Tsun 8 Principal Pras
Magical Fst iy Magical Tad (157 Facer
Wash uit Magia Fae 117
utter Realngs 118
Demat Hasan he Way of See w
A Biel Histon of Dssnationsl aie: £0 Pancipal Ides
ff Divination) ais 124 Banas sf Disuation 1397
Celestia’ Disntioss Teve! Tusa 4 Testa
Disivstion Fengshat 157/000 Foun Danton 1
“Wodhou Diviuaional Ease HP

oF Readings 13
Ceremonial Tanisn: The Way of Devetin Hs
The Main Heatures of Ceremonial Tacs 148 Tho Tavist
Deities 146,/TheAliumitrative Srvetire of the Tote

Celestial Rosh 159 "Twist Posts ane Ceremonies 182
Seets ns Ceremontl acim 164 burtase Wars a

(Conan Tots 130
Farther Readings

Enteral Alexersieal Taoism; The Was
asic Wess of loteanal Sieben 172 Major Sabo i te
TLamigaage of Inteal Alieiy [73 Steps inthe Alchemival
Process 17 f Approaches to Tvtemal Ahem 183 / Perther

Words on Incennal Alensical Tain 187
Parthes Resags 18
[Action and Karma Taoism: ‘The Way of Right Action 190

istovieal Predesestors af Setion and Kantas Taisen 190 /
Principal Belief in Action and Kaimis Tats 193 7 The
Significance of Astin and Kazma Tiostn i That
Spistality 194

Further Readings 19%
Panel cTaorsr Paaorsces,
12, Meditations 18
Terms of Taoiot Megatv 198) Barth Words Last

iio 21
Hureies Reoetses 211
1 Teelniqa

Feshngues of Esser Strngshenin

Iotensil Stag) bye 2F47 Techoaigues that Wark Beth
Visto! anal Penna Ste uaye 222 The Use of Tesh
ard Fonds 227
Further Readius 229

14. Rites of Purtication, Ceremony, ane Talismansie Mage 73

Rites of Purification 23) #Cstennay 253
25 Tien

Barthes Readings

Trois Altar

Aversnnxs
1. Dynasties af Chine
2. Map of Chima

Readings

| List of Ihistrations and Tables

igus 1.1. Toe Poor of Yo 1S
Ling pac eis heme
Ts thace nants i le bly

2 Shang-ch'ing adept visualizing a star pater 60

Danes at fight 6)
Wie Poryang 69

Aleverical femace and cauldrons 70

The baraice sal san the aly 78

ool 84

Kitch tlie

sf yectection WH

42. Caestal Teachers talisman invoking wssior cities 105

Talisman ase én endow a sword with power 11)

Ling-2a0 talismas and dees of pn for Diag vit

‘spirits and mulevolet ghosts TZ

Bigue 73.
Pigure 74
Figore 5
Figure 76,
Figiee

Figure 78,

‘Mudtas used fodestoy evil spss 113
Maas use tu cdestcy evil spirits 113
Koclun taianas of exerci 124
Kurlan taawase of hesing 116
Hyere 8. Pues, pation af the divinationch ats 130

Figure #2, The Wek! Dingrn
=

Figere 8.8 The hair Hesses am Later Heaven pe kina
fue 84. Derietias a ths nha assem 35

Tse 82. ‘The lin Cebestnl Sterns sti "Bechee ereetnal
Bawshes 1

Higune 85, Saopls astwdlgicl chat 135
Pyne 86. Cacmsaric compas 139

Ligue 8. Somplegeomasticrhan! Hi)

Vigare 9.1. Masha Lav-el, he highest deity she Tues

Figure 8.2. The Tree Pure Ones Ma

Figure 93, Thejede Emacisr 150
Figaie 84, The Wiather Lanes ofthe West 15

Figuts 9.5. The Mother ot she Busi al Secs 182
Figuie 6, Uli Celestial Lael of the Crest Begining — 153
Pique 97. tavortal LeTurwspin 156

Figme 98. The spits ef min, wa ond thunder 13

igure 99. Cermeng sending apelin ro the deities 168
(aie 91, Tew Sacted Festivals 165

Figure (31. Those eisthentes 724

Figure 132 The bem pestuse 225

Figure 4. ATioist sll 236

Fig
Piguie M1. Kuno talisnan af healing 241
Figure M4 "Three Ken-tun talismans 242
Mapot China 256

162, Lingepau talismans ot protection 248)
Tatroduction

May srarie wit wiprnienen, at leat oaeein thei ie

the uegs to venture beyona the expe sword ofthe mcndace ite
the world ef the spirit, "These jones inco the epinusl word ofter
take es inta g universe we normally ela wok enesonter in our daly
ives, and allow ts 0 fens af > eainasens Uta

have not before knw,
Tis backs «guide ta the spitual landscape of Toism. I it you
tthe sages who

serote the Tis text, be atrekvce! to the varios seis of Tao'st
‘thinking, and get a feel far whe it neat patie law sm to

will encomuter events in the vstowy of Taam,

"The sputual landscape of Taoism isa kaleidenc pe of sales
sonnel, I ise Taal of sleoes and stiles, Te ean be friendly sxe
iiacive, ne st the sine tine aullenging ane dergecous. In this
book. you will be traveling thnough the spintnal Ioonin of Taoism

(Om your jouraey, you will ee shamans dresved i aval skins dan
ing the patrerns ofthe starsat they y to the sky and tunnel beneath
te eats sou wil sce talismans displaying symbols of power that are

designed tu heal, protect, and sare off malevolent spirits; you will
see people sitting, stancing, wr lepyig in unusual postures, eulteat
ing the breath cf Life and longevity you will see enentul “apestiies,

images of deities and immortal, huge brass caulehune, als with
sticks of incense
hy, yo wil

an alps burning etemal Boones, Qh this
etched an amo stick, hes

as, the smb
of change, uted by siners zo umeypret the pattern exerts in hy
st aid oh

seas; son wil algo ae ondinany pewple seeding tc
3, teaohang Ve yom

nd Relping, eters wheat ke

{han thesetiess va ei hea the ln cng or ese als snd dams,
Hie sil ancl weledous soued af Aes avd slew. shat me tices
‘thang to the Beat ot 9 ence block You wil Ia the silence uf
2 edition hil, the sat gat of feet allay on the Mags ob
montis closers, ard the écesienal sonnd af el amid the ytle
cf Feawes, all these ace fexcures un te spins lane spe of The
fara cdo aceumnlated over theuserss af gems
{hats chcnged Aunsan eamaeionsness, ued yet Deen hanged I

Ts book is 9 side, and a guide dies Gm a textbook or an
anthology of translated text,

Fintwat based en the personal exaerionre of sonieone

who bu tvcled the terrain; one cannot site a guits about ohare
‘one has not been to, Ivosstion contained ina geide fet based
‘on bask knowledge alone bill on experience.

Second, a trie guide has a perspective swe does noe prsterd to be
objective. What (seen is never indepesden of the cbs:
guide to the spiritual mcseaps of ois, this book shews things
That [ave experienced and enjoyed.

‘Third, a trac guide does rt pretend

fe be complete, Ang land

‘ape, physica or spiritua, i ich beyaore’ imagination. This oak is
meant to give you enough information te get sted. isa map and
held guide to a teritors iti aot the Lowery ise

Finally, a guide alerts Lnwelers to possible dangers, Phe spiral
Imdscape is hot attractive and fo idling, and travelers nced to be
aware of hazards along the wey. Therefore, throughout the book, |
shall point out which are the safest paths and whieh are the hazard
‘us routes in Use spits tera of Taoism,

‘This book i diver! ine three parts: History of Thoism, Systems
‘oF Taoisn, and Taoist Practices,

of wisn triton an be
nt a bia hist of ain

1s Soapetant ts len the stn
eu te origins, Pet One pe

We begs br Taohing 2? haw the sharnans af anciul Chica led
les the foundations at Kas, Seva Tanase ycans age, before
here woe the idea ef the Tare cl Ftine a pilose ats sl
srauat*Inl leaeers wn offing to the sks, en, waa
Heys, nul rivers co renew the bond eticen Iamnanity iad the
sored power, They danced raveuaents uf power that teak then ta
tat realns 1 gala baessledge aad isch, Ye ean shill ee sua
af chow prt ves today in Tee celiginse Seremanisy at the

sneiiig mediarion” and exes of stem heal,
Nest we tum to the Cees Patiel—that $980
sey betvzen the eight! ad third centuries tev. Dus ig this tte
lived some of the yrestestphilewnphes af Chine Lactew, Corda
Chuang, Stites, aud Voncea, ‘Tete era gave

us, Meni
us the Tao-te ching ands plsiawaphy of nenaetion (iit) aml
Thannenioustvirg. ‘The livete ebing as stl the mos! wie
lated Chinsse book, an for man Westemers the luck thal se
‘hum their East ghinipse of ois

‘The kiston of Taciem took an intovestng tum between the Ex
and seventh centuries 6x: a “ona of aim that combined sigs
ard covntion perged. Under the faiuence ofa charac 51 teal
leates, Chang Tiorling, "isn became a religion, Chan’ descen
dats complstea she testoniation of Laois froma philosophy to
can oxganized cligion, cwating a stern af vitals, Pgs, ond a
priesthood. Others, inspired by Ciaang’s tore of Taoism andl ime
pressed hy Buddhism’ growing collection of seripeures, cory
ge muaber of “sacred texts wal claimed that these wil
ttansmited by the deities, These seriprures are some of Une oldest
texts in the Thoist canon:

‘While the peasants fellowed the popula welgious eaders and en
luvsted their welfare te lalisosis and amulet, the mide class a
nobility were altinete to another kind of Taoism. Axounad
ff ha thud concurs ca 9 ablewaan hy te wars of Wei Hust
1 fone the Shaugyebng ‘igh Parst ac wt nf Twin "Te
Shang-liug practtionns iu

ch images odes, vue te
slots wares, drew asians, and eslonesd inte g mists

sath the sate! posers. AF ah this ve arly

Iacist ahr, Alchemea! Thom is eonee

ith culteating
Fal, longesty al inne, ac ire mea exten ae
internal hes, The Sear st Pcetnal Melwany beleved te
rmonal’s soe id be attains ane

sd hess I em

Fe ml eve tt bight
of its Geselnponert in che scent and ight centres ot. i
Seloel el Inter Alen tlt helcve ingens xe

al sul
stomces a ell st Tongesity ne tomcat sual be attain
raesormicg bc std ring Henn wth. The begining of sternal
lee eoull he traceé to thet iad ext Gi. Honore, th
nent did not ceane into ste eur nti extennal allem
srvnd the cents eentony ce, Aleaesseal Toots in-xlwesl he iea
bof hor intel energy, and wis tesponstble for giving Taser it
reputation as saat af heal ana kangen

Finally ne look at the sythess of lasses Tai plas =
teanal alchemy, Bacalhises, and Cootuianiss, By H

seventh vere
tiny ef, alchemical “Lass fad sunk ila @ guagmice el esokeic
fwuanology and abused practices ec of the erpty jag ame
tealizng that spintual develapent sexuied bolance ul physical
Fnealth anc suctl clarity, sages lke Wang Chtng-yang, Chen

ian Fat Tany-pis bey fo teach a lon of Taam that advocated
"he ealivation of both body end mind, Inspired by the Confucian
philosophy of the original nasa of goodness ane the Zen tec
niques of sting the vad a synthesis of the thre phibsophies—
Confucianism, Buddhism. and Lasier—was seach. this fore of
Tasisnnis foun inthe teachingvol two majo Toot sect today

‘oxplets Realy School (CWtsw ceen} aad

il en tien Fach

Het is cress wife ths i
sts seetines called sels Ici teaching stew eas
OS yin Tiss, the Way of Pose, the oklest fore of Tain

rene Hn ns eles

graced tte. In Maga! Thode
re fn ness todas nd crn iru al chameled
: JE Mlagival Lace

Vinee objects ter protcction and sealing

jams poser am be hs
sol

Tis palo Lins Hae Tea oe on Westerns

ATnouded i astery and wisdstanding Fs ae the most J
ig a ph elles

Pisin Tis the Way of Sei, ba 4

ing te wong hs univ and vs ne pattems of change

Gelestal sivinaton i based wr alos sad the cheer of He

san, moon, and tis eres ial cvoation is bases on eat scence
fad the oasrvaion of the features of ndloums. Dssinacinal Tio
iam believes that seeing sex! wndeitacaing ebe pats of the uni
etse wil help us live in harmony with change. and to live in
ts to line second to the principles of the

tae
Ceri Tn, the Wer of Prolion, ss that the de
Gf bursty gel by acted poner By pestnng the
omect erases, uty eater ta 8 boad wth Hie svered
cris an cst lesungy ad potato fw the. tlayie
nd rua ttt Yo ths fom of Tao. Th «clea
Uinton beeen prattoner and te, In Cena This,
the pactonnr is peso ned per the ctemonis, the
belcwers the fuvoal oo et the lender ofthe ones [a
pret nao belore the ed poe
intemal Tan, Ue Way of nfton, adv
fees changing tae and beds «aetain beats, Hogesey, and oy
totality, Contre! fa i's bias i 3 low Hae tee

Win the bods 4 fe Founsatin a

jh. Teas Ptemnalehers
xl Taoism sdocates cultivating, gathering, od

Fall the patie oF Taos, ths °

tion tal Karwar Hot os
secur wate mea be eg chaise ork fess th
ditional Chinese Polit al gue ces bre semana snd eth =

6! Gees une reerbation. ter Budeisen soa intduces nto
(China, the belie Kea retnblesian was sacorpan al ie

Finny 8 sees. Action ae Kati Tasiam bees splitted
peter af ethies ov alieh the awash of ny echical Bike
snd well bos

alll

aout Practices

In Pact Thice wt Jak at Bur Nd! po
vation a the bly

tices: rei alien, cui
ed coven, ane the agi ants

‘There ate many forms of ‘aviet meditatin,diffeent sects plac
thang dite styles. Sometimes, even win the same see the
form of mesitatioe changes as the pctitunes advances spt ally.
For example, Shang ebing meditation uses visualizations

practitioner actin a msstical union with the deities Insight med
lation, or internal sixervation, aot er style of Tavis weditatios, 5

sinilar ta Buddhist sipasonse wicditation, fon: of quiet sit
ling, lke Zen metctian, & used by Toots ot the Complete Reality
Selino to still the rv and faethe emotions, There ae a terms
‘of Tavist md ttion ler gathering, cullivating, sme eitculatng inter
nal energy. These types of meditation ane most similar ts Kundalini
yor.

“Tiiom’s pronecupstian with physical health lias inspized che de
velopment of techniques that eultwate hw budy. The Pest hawt of
these techniques is chi-kuna, or the wink ot energy. Some eickung,
techniques ae breathing cxcvcises, others involve nmsaging various
teas of the bod; some ae static postures, ot mike those af halla

aed sone incorponere metas of ica

al seeping, Anotner
dorecharere, This

falutivties sch asst ag standing, walkin
netoesl feu essing the bod as on a
shige esl ty hove hee astra bs oT ivr, he Bu
tlvet, to the Shaglie Tew aks nthe fast erotiay em Designee

for strengiliea aed elas the ied, tenes, std dganients, the
ses were original: wae by Teds ranks to pee Pee
ches Sar leg easier of nave, ot thing eCaabon. Tas hee

I by a
steauchening the museuar ame steleal sytem, Itenal smaral

nigues were Laoats, who ae their value it

ats, such 38 Vacchi elu anal x War clang, ales ells
Iivatieg the benly, These sustews of moveraert ate Gexsed
fore wnbeatly bee pastures and fehtate the matures al

jony i an inagertant past Tao paste. AM Twist cen

ronizs are preceded by rituals af pilca ta ck sighed to cles

resco peronn

The bodies and mush of the patil. C
tor won the dite so ree the bane between burnanity and 8
sied powers Typically a estemeny inveives chanting, smvrcaion
and ather rituslishe pesformances, sch as deveng aun! diem al

The finl category af ost practices i the magical ante."The mest
Using symbats and

popular fonsn practiced tely talisman mag

words of power written ow a strip of paper, ths suage invokes Fhe
hes wu spits ts heal ane profes waresng aff malevolent forces

The preparation and use of ralismanie 2

gut also trust in the knees and sks ower af Tae univers

a

fe roquize nt oly sil

Rach eluples in this gaide is divided into twe sections the Bast
presents am intredctory aezvey of the subject matter the closing
Section contains a list of recommended readings to help yo in yo
exploration of Taoism.

‘This gnide will have bow suevesat #3 ston
11 wil abo lave been sustesshl i tells you that an mvestigation
of Tioism is not what you want—and in that ease, you ean slop