Taoism for Dummies

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.

Cover -- Title Page -- Table of Contents -- Introduction -- Part I: Navigating the World of Taoism -- Chapter 1: An Introduction to Taoism -- Chapter 2: What Is Taoism? -- Chapter 3: Don't Believe Everything You Think -- Part II: Looking At the Development of Taoism -- Chapter 4: Classical Taoist Philosophy -- Chapter 5: The Development of Institutional Taoism -- Chapter 6: Types of Taoism in China Today -- Chapter 7: Go West, Old Tao, Go West -- Part III: Examining Important Taoist Concepts -- Chapter 8: What Is the Tao, and What Does It Mean to Follow It? -- Chapter 9: Doing Everything by Doing Nothing -- Chapter 10: For Every Yin, There Is an Equal and Opposite Yang -- Chapter 11: Blue Heaven, Yellow Heaven: The Belief in a New Age -- Chapter 12: Writing What Can't Be Spoken: The Many Texts of Taoism -- Part IV: Exploring Taoist Practices -- Chapter 13: Remembering to Keep Forgetting -- Chapter 14: Seeking the Path to Immortality -- Chapter 15: Internal Cultivation through the Discipline of Alchemy -- Chapter 16: Martial, Gymnastic, and Healing Arts: T'ai-chi and Ch'i-kung -- Chapter 17: Cosmic Renewal and Other Rituals -- Part V: The Part of Tens -- Chapter 18: Ten Common Misc…