Together with the writings of Laozi, the Zhuangzi had an immense impact on Chinese culture that matched that of Confucianism. Over the centuries, this classical Daoism has influenced millions of readers and students of philosophy and literature throughout the world.Tsai Chih Chung first tackled portions of the Zhuangzi in his first book published in the U.S., Zhuangzi Speaks, which sold 20,000 copies for Princeton--an astonishing number for a university press--and was the book that brought C.C. Tsai to the attention of American readers. In The Dao of Zhangzi, Tsai Chih Chung brings humorously to life new portions of the Dao--and extends the reach of his early efforts in profound and entertaining ways.As with the previous works, the book will include an introduction by a scholar that will help to place Daoism and the Zhuangzi in historical and cultural context.

    Now Stephen R. Bokenkamp introduces the reader to ancient scriptures never before published in the West, providing a systematic and easily accessible introduction to early Daoism (c. 2nd-6th C.E.). Representative works from each of the principal Daoist traditions comprise the basic structure of the book, with each chapter accompanied by an introduction that places the material within a historical and cultural context. Included are translations of the earliest Daoist commentary to Laozi's Daode jing (Tao Te Ching); historical documents relating the history of the early Daoist church; a petitioning ritual used to free believers from complaints brought against them by the dead; and two complete scriptures, one on individual meditation practice and another designed to rescue humanity from the terrors of hell through recitation of its powerful charms. In addition, Bokenkamp elucidates the connections Daoism holds with other schools of thought, particularly Confucianism and Buddhism.This book provides a much-needed introduction to Daoism for students of religion and is a welcome addition for scholars wishing to explore Daoist sacred literature. It serves as an overview to every aspect of early Daoist tradition and all the seminal practices which have helped shape the religion as it exists today.

    The ancient Chinese people developed a sophisticated science of astrology that continues to have profound influence in China today. Rooted in the fundamentals of Taoism, it evolved into a system vastly different from Western astrology. Rather than determining personality by the time of the year in which you are born, in Taoist astrology it is the year itself that determines your character. The years form a twelve-year cycle of signs, each named after an animal. Additionally, your personality depends on which of the five traditional Taoist elements you are born under--water, wood, fire, earth, or metal. This makes for a cycle of sixty unique signs. Taoist Astrology includes information for each sign's personality, compatibility, child-parent relations, and rising and falling fortunes during the twelve-year cycle. Discussions of yin and yang, Confucianism and Buddhism, Taoist alchemy, and the connection between Taoist astrology and Western astrology give you all the background you need for understanding one of the oldest systems of divination known to humanity. Taoist Astrology differs from other books on the subject by grounding its concepts in the ancient traditions from which it originated.

    Welcome home.This intuitively inspired version of the Tao te Ching, a Chinese classic that appeared thousands of years ago serves as a new guide reminding us of how to release the distractions and embrace the essentials of life.