Author: Livia Kohn

Mysticism and Meaning: Multidisciplinary Perspectives

This exciting new volume investigates the question of meaning of mystical phenomena and, conversely, queries the concept of “meaning” itself through insights afforded by mystical experiences.It brings together researchers from three different countries, representing highly disparate fields, including philosophy, psychology, history of religion, and semiotics. The point is to address the meaning of mysticism through a pertinent, up-to-date multidisciplinary approach. The editor’s introduction probes questions of complexity and perplexity as well as the reasons why problematizing mysticism leads to even greater enigmas. The thirteen chapters work along two main threads. One provides the contextual framework for the continuing fascination of mysticism, presenting historical traditions and personal accounts of mystical experiences; the other focuses on multidisciplinary investigations of the phenomenon of mysticism. A must-read for anyone wishing to expand their understanding of mysticism and its meaning.

Author: Alex S. Kohav, ed.2019290 PagesISBN: 978-1-931483-40-7Cite

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Ecofamilism: Women, Religion, and Environmental Protection in Taiwan

Ecofamilism proposes a new analytical framework, moving beyond ecofeminism, based on Western feminism and Christian theology, to illuminate Taiwanese women’s motivations and how they understand their role in the environmental movement. Based on extensive interviews with women founders, leaders, and members of six non-governmental, often religious-based, organizations from 1990-2015, the work presents contemporary issues in Taiwan from the perspectives of social anthropology, geography, inter-religious cooperation, and global ethics. Ecofamilism offers a new way of approaching life in contemporary Asia, engaging more precisely with while authentically portraying the experiences of Taiwanese women—whose gender roles are ancillary to motivations of family, religion, and society. Its key concept of ecofamilism pairs the notions of ecology and family while drawing on Chinese religio-cultural traditions of responsibility to the family to illuminate ecologically responsible positions toward society, environment, and all living beings.

Author: Wanli Ho2016240 PagesISBN: 978-1-931483-33-9Cite

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Daoist Priests of the Li Family: Ritual Life in Village China

Along with Jones’ moving film “Li Manshan: Portrait of a Folk Daoist” —watch here: https://vimeo.com/155660741—this engaging and original book describes a hereditary family of household Daoist priests in rural north China. It traces the vicissitudes of their lives—and ritual practices—over…

A World of Their Own: Daoist Monks and Their Community in Contemporary China

Joining the life of a small Daoist community temple, the author examines its structure, inhabitants, surrounding community, and gods. She outlines the individual’s choices, training, and path, then discusses the greater Daoist community in terms of pseudo-kinship structures and gender issues. The book is full of amazing detail and reliable, on-the-ground information: a must for anyone interested in the true face of religiosity and spiritual practice in China today.

Author: Adeline Herrou2013280 PagesISBN: 978-1-931483-25-4Cite

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Empowered Writing: Exorcistic and Apotropaic Rituals in Medieval China

Empowered Writing explores the inherent powers of Chinese talismans, petitions, registers, and holy scriptures, presenting a systematic study of their exorcistic and apotropaic properties. The book divides into three parts: tallies, petitions, and scriptures—all inherently empowered since they originate from the very same primordial energy as Dao, the heavens, and highest gods. Tallies emerge as certificates of legitimation, used both in the imperial government and in religion. Petitions and registers, on the other hand, are writings addressed to higher ranking spirits to control demons, disease, and misfortunes. Scriptures, third, contain power even in their physical presence: entrained with superior spiritual beings, they can exorcize evil spirits and negative energies. This feature holds also true in Buddhism, where the readers of sutras can count on the support of unseen guardian buddhas and bodhisattvas. Using a vast arsenal of original sources, the book traces the unfolding and transformation of empowered writing from the Warring States period through the Six Dynasties, closely examining the different kinds of writing, their uses, and interpretation as well as relating uniquely Daoist features to imperial and Buddhist usages. The book is path-breaking in its endeavor and stunning in its depth of analyis. It is a must for all China historians and scholars of religion.

Author: Stephan Peter Bumbacher2012220 PagesISBN: 978-1-931483-23-0Cite

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Supplement to Cosmos and Community

This book supplements the main work, Cosmos and Community, by providing additional translations of texts on Daoist rules in five groups: 1. Materials pertaining to the early communities of the Celestial Masters. 2. Works addressed mainly to lay followers, linked with the major medieval schools. 3. Guidelines for medieval monastic organization and behavior. 4. Variant lists of rules in texts from the middle ages through the Ming. 5. Complete Perfection texts that specify modern monastic ways.

Author: Livia Kohn2004260 PagesCite

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Cosmos and Community: The Ethical Dimension of Daoism

Cosmos and Community is the first English study of Daoist religious ethics. Based on original translations of primary sources, it presents a thorough comparative analysis of various kinds of Daoist rules, divided into four major kinds: prohibitions, admonitions, injunctions (behavioral guidelines), and affirmations (positive prayers). They all serve to place the practitioner firmly into the overarching goodness of Dao. The book also presents extensive translations of original sources, ranging from the 3^rd to 17^th. The work is essential for anyone interested in Daoism, comparative ethics, or Chinese history.

Author: Livia Kohn2004290 PagesISBN: 978-1-931483-02-5Cite

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Flowers in Chinese Culture: Folklore, Poetry, Religion

Flowers and blossoms are intricate and dainty, beautiful and transient. Marking the passing of the seasons while flourishing in radiant splendor, they open our hearts to beauty, provide creative inspiration, and connect us to the divine. Each culture has its own unique symbolism and lore associated with its flowers. Flowers in Chinese Culture presents the subtle and potent relevance of thirty flowering plants in Chinese Daoist culture, exploring religion, literature, folklore, and sayings. A delight to behold, it is a treasure trove of learning and insight.

Author: An Lan Zhang2015135 PagesISBN: 978-1-931483-30-8Cite

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Tao of Sustainability: Cultivate Yourself to Heal the Earth

At the crux of our current environmental crisis lies humanity’s perceived separation from nature. We simply will not take care of the natural world if we do not believe we are an integral part of it. In Tao of Sustainability the author presents the traditional Daoist path of self-cultivation as a framework for bringing humans back into a sustainable relationship with the Earth. Tao of Sustainability also explores how our health, both mental and physical, is impacted by nature, drawing on research in the fields of Green Exercise, Nature and Forest Medicine, and Ecopsycology. Part philosophy, part meditation manual, part nature awareness guide, The Tao of Sustainability offers numerous pathways towards reconnecting with nature and the Dao through mind, body, and spirit. Drawing from a variety of disciplines and traditions, from Daoism to Stoicism, Ecopsychology to Buddhist mind training, the visual arts to movement (tai chi, qigong)—this book provides numerous ways to reconnect with the natural world.

Author: Gregory Ripley2016220 PagesISBN: 978-1-931483-31-5Cite

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The Eight Immortals’ Revolving Sword of Pure Yang

First in a Western language, this offers a thorough account of the Daoist mindset as activated in the contemporary world. Its three parts cover Master Wu’s personal journey, a detailed and illustrated description of the lives and powers of each of the Eight Immortals as well as concrete practice instructions of the unique sword technique associated with them. It opens both the practice and the intricacies of contemporary Daoist worldview to the outside world, using a cheerful narrative style and an internally revolving mode of presentation in conjunction with numerous practical details and beautiful illustrations.

Author: Baolin Wu, Michael McBride, Vincent Wu2011220 PagesISBN: 978-1-931483-19-3Cite

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