Part One Daoxue ...............................................................................................................1
Chapter One Rectification of the Name for Daoxue ......................................................3
Chapter Two The Cultural Roots of Daoxue................................................................11
Chapter Three Evolution of The Traditional Culture and Daoxue............................17
Section One: “Philosophical Breakthrough” in the Spring and Autumn and Warring
States periods..............................................................................................17
Section Two: Historical Conditions and Schools of Thought ..........................................25
Section Three: The Formation and Evolution of Taoist Scholarship ...............................35
Section Four: The Thread of Development in Taoist Learning........................................43
Section Five: Eight Pillars of Daoxue ..............................................................................57
One, Qian (Heaven): The Philosophy of Man, Action and Dao................................................. 60
Two, Dui (Marsh land): Political Administration....................................................................... 60
Three, Li (Fire): Learning in Culture and Art............................................................................. 62
Four, Zhen (Thunder): Medicine and the Learning of Nourishing Life ..................................... 63
Five, Xun (Wind): Religious Folklore........................................................................................ 64
Six, Kan (Water): Social Ethics ................................................................................................. 64
Seven, Gen (Mountain): Inner Alchemy .................................................................................... 65
Eight, Kun (Earth): Alchemical arts and Numerology 方技术数学........................................... 66
Section Six: Synopsis of Taoist Personalities ..................................................................67
Chapter Four The Central Thoughts of Daoxue ..........................................................75
Section One: The Theory of Daoxue................................................................................75
Section Two: The Virtue of Centrality and Harmony ......................................................79
Section Three: Remove Misunderstandings.....................................................................86
Section Four: Taoist Themes............................................................................................94
One, Naturalness and Non-action............................................................................................... 95
Two, Conflict and Transformation............................................................................................. 97
Three, Moving around without stop ........................................................................................... 98
Four, Seeing the Unadorned and embracing uncarved block. .................................................. 100
Five, Femininity, Softness and No Contention......................................................................... 102
Six, Compassion and Valuing Life........................................................................................... 105
-iiSeven, The Way of Heaven is impartial................................................................................... 107
Eight, Taoist Realms ................................................................................................................ 110
Part Two Religious Taoism ..........................................................................................115
Chapter One What is Religious Taoism? ....................................................................119
Section One: A Definition of Religious Taoism ............................................................119
Section Two: The Conditions for the Emergence of Religious Taoism.........................120
Section Three: Characteristics of Religious Taoism ......................................................126
Chapter Two A History of Development of Religious Taoism ..................................135
Section One: The Way of Recipe and Immortality, the Way of Huang-Lao and the
Way of Shamans and Ghosts....................................................................137
Section Two Early Religious Taoism at the End of the Han..........................................147
Section Three: Religious Taoism in the Transitional Period of Wei-Jin........................159
Section Four: The Reform of Religious Taoism and Its Maturity in the Southern and
Northern Dynasties .................................................................................182
One, The Reform of the Way of Celestial Masters by Kuo Qianzhi ........................................ 182
Two, Wei Taiwu’s Abolition of Buddhism and the Decline of the Celestial Masters in the North184
Three, Lu Xiujing established a new Taoism ........................................................................... 186
Section Five: Prosperity of Taoism and Its Becoming a State Religion in the Sui, Tang
and Five Dynasties Periods ......................................................................194
One, Relationship Between Taoism and Politics in the Sui and Tang...................................... 195
Two, Important Taoist Lineages and Scholars ......................................................................... 200
Three, the Characteristics of Taoism in the Sui, Tang and Five Dynasties .............................. 206
Section Six: Proliferation and Innovation of Taoism in the Song, Liao, Jin and Yuan
Periods.......................................................................................................210
One, Taoism in the Song, Liao, Jin and Yuan Dynasties ......................................................... 210
Two, Taoist Sects in China in the Periods of the Song, Liao, Jin and Yuan............................. 218
Section Seven: The Decline of Taoism in the Ming and Qing and Its Secularization .......... 229
One, the Ming Religious Policy and The Secularization of Taoism......................................... 229
Two, General Condition of Taoism and Its Social Context in the Qing Period........................ 236
Three, Taoist Sects in the Ming and Qing................................................................................ 239
Chapter Three Taoist Rules and Observances, Purification and Offering, and
Precepts................................................................................................249
Part Three Taoist Techniques......................................................................................252
Chapter One Meditation, Gymnastics, Breathing Exercises and Arts of Body
Building...................................................................................................255
-iiiSection One: Massage, Gymnastics and Martial Arts ....................................................255
Section Two: Abstention from grains, inhaling and gathering qi...................................260
Section Three: Meditation, Guarding the One and Sitting in forgetfulness......................266
Section Four: Breathing Exercises, Spreading Breath and Embryonic Breathing .............271
Chapter Two Medicine, Drug Ingestion and Nourishing Life...................................277
Section One: Taoist medicine ........................................................................................277
Section Two: Drug Ingestion, cosmetics and food therapy............................................284
Section Three: Daily Routine and Nourishing Life........................................................292
Section Four: Sleep Recipes and Techniques.................................................................302
Chapter Three Nourishing Life through the Art of the Bedchamber ......................307
Section One: The Cultural Origin of Life Nourishment through the Arts of the
Bedchamber..............................................................................................310
Section Two: A General Survey of the Historical Development of Life Nourishment
through the Art of the Bedchamber.........................................................313
Section Three: The Theory, Principle and Basic Contents of the Art of the Bedchamber
as a Way of Life Nourishment................................................................320
One, Choosing the Right Partner and the Right Time to Move................................................ 322
Two, Seasons in Sexual Life and Necessary Knowledge of What to Do and What not to Do . 324
Three, Treasuring Essence and Strengthening Yang: Seven Injuries and Eight Benefits.................... 327
Four, Foreplay and Enjoyment for Both, Let the Heart not be perturbed................................. 330
Five, Coordination of Sexual Impulses and Copulation When Readiness is Apparent.................. 331
Six, Shallow Penetration and Slow Movements, and Cherishing Harmony............................. 334
Seven, Vary Positions and Achieve Best Effects ..................................................................... 335
Eight, Weak Entry and Strong Withdrawal, Protect Essence and Limit Ejaculation................ 339
Nine, Gatherding Qi and Swallowing Saliva, Reversing Essence and Repairing the Brain......... 340
Chapter Four Outer Alchemy and Techniques of Yellow (Gold) and White (Silver)
.................................................................................................................343
Section One: Historical evolution of Outer Alchemy ....................................................343
Section Two: The Thread of Thought and Theoretical System of Alchemists....................353
Section Three: Operational Procedures for Alchemical Drugs and the Chemical
Reactions Involved ................................................................................371
One, The chemical reaction in the making of reverted cinnabar .............................................. 378
Two, The chemical reaction of making yellow and white........................................................ 379
Three, Gold liquid and reaction of water method..................................................................... 380
Four, The Making of Sexual Stimulants such as “Autumn Stone”........................................... 381
-ivFive, The making of medical use alchemical drug ................................................................... 382
Key Words (Chinese – English) ......................................................................................384
Key Words (English – Chinese) ......................................................................................387