Books

edited by Livia Kohn and Robin R. Wang Internal Alchemy: Self, Society, and the Quest for Immortality.

Internal alchemy (neidan) has been the dominant system of Daoist spiritual practice since the Song dynasty, when it was defined as the complex integration of multiple forms of Daoist self-cultivation. Its practitioners transform body energies into subtle levels of spirit and pure cosmic being, hoping to find illumination by returning to the fundamental order of the cosmos and in the process reconcile physiological training with intellectual speculation.

N. J. Girardot Myth and Meaning in Early Daoism: The Theme of Chaos (Hundun).

Myth and Meaning in Early Daoism examines some of the earliest texts associated with the Daoist tradition (primarily the Daode jing, Zhuangzi, and Huainanzi) from the outlook of the comparative history of religions and finds a kind of thematic and soteriological unity rooted in the mythological symbolism of hundun, the primal chaos being and principle that is foundational for the philosophy and practice of the Dao as creatio continua in cosmic, social, and individual life.

James Miller The Way of Highest Clarity: Nature, Vision and Revelation in Medieval China.

The Way of Highest Clarity was a Daoist religious movement that flourished for a thousand years in medieval China. This book explains its chief religious ideas and practices through three key texts, translated into English for the first time.

Livia Kohn Meditation Works in the Daoist, Buddhist and Hindu Traditions.

Meditation is the inward focus of attention in a state of mind where ego-related concerns and critical evaluations are suspended in favor of perceiving a deeper,subtler, and possibly divine flow of consciousness. A method of communicating with hidden layers of the mind, it allows the subconscious to surface in memories, images, and thoughts while also influencing it with quietude,openness, and specific suggestions. It has an overall beneficial and often healing effect and has made major inroads in Western society, both in spiritual and healing contexts. Doctors increasingly recommend it for stress relief, pain management, and the alleviation of psycho-somatic conditions. More...

Livia Kohn, ed. Daoist Body Cultivation.

Daoist Body Cultivation is a comprehensive volume by a group of dedicated scholar-practitioners that covers the key practices of medical healing, breathing techniques, diets and fasting, healing exercises,  sexual practices, Qigong, and Taiji quan. Each presentation places the practice in its historical and cultural context and relates its current application and efficaciousness. Ultimately aiming to energetically transform the person into a spiritual and trancendent being, Daoist cultivation techniques have proven beneficial for health time and again and can make an important contribution in the world today. Daoist Body Cultivation provides a deeper understanding of the practices in their cultural and historical contexts, bridging the gap between healing and religion and allowing both scholars and practitioner to reach a deeper understanding and appreciation.

Suzanne Cahill. Divine Traces of the Daoist Sisterhood.

Divine Traces of the Daoist Sisterhood presents unique materials on the lives and religious quests of Daoist women in medieval China. Translating and discussing religious women's biographies, the book explores the social context, ideals, and specific techniques of their practice, relating the stories to overall Daoist themes and contemporaneous political events. It elucidates the underlying threads of women's divine careers and brings out both the deep human interest and humor of the stories. Through Suzanne Cahills efforts, the women of medieval Daoism receive a new and clear voice, to be heard across cultures and millennia.

Livia Kohn in cooperation with Stephen Jackowicz, Health and Long Life: The Chinese Way

A powerful presentation of Chinese health practices, this unique work brings together the wide variety of Chinese medical and spiritual methods in one integrated volume. It provides not only a basic description, but also discusses relationship of Chinese healing to contemporary Western science and religious Daoism.

Louis Komjathy, Title Index to Daoist Collections
Finally, a combined and standardized index for all collections of Daoist texts! Including a straightforward and easy-to-use numbering system for all collections beyond the Zhengtong daozang: the Dunhuang manuscripts, Daozang jiyao, Daozang jinghua, Daozang jinghua lu, Zangwai daoshu, and the Qigong yangsheng congshu.

The Index has two parts. First, it presents separate title indexes to the seven Daoist collections, listed in Chinese characters and arranged in the order of appearance and with consecutive numbers. Second, it has an alphabetical index to the titles in all collections, arranged by pinyin romanization and including also commonly used abbreviations.

Easy to use, the Index gives access to all Daoist texts collected over the centuries and provides a clear, standarized way of referring to them. Find your Daoist texts in an instant! A must-have for all engaged in the scholarly study of Daoism. More,,,

Livia Kohn, Daoism and Chinese Culture

A textbook for use in classes on Daoism, Chinese history, and world religions. Short and concise survey of the main forms, beliefs, practices, and developments of the Daoist religion, beginning with the ancient philosopher Laozi and ending with the practice of Daoism in the U.S. today. Arranged chronologically in four major parts focusing on ancient thought, religious communities, spiritual practices, and modernity. Includes discussion of overall historical developments, related features of Chinese religion and culture, as well as comparative issues in the study of religion. Illustrations, map, historical chart, index with glossary. More....

Catherine Despeux and Livia Kohn, Women in Daoism
Expanding on the authors' previous research, including the 1990 book Les immortelles de la Chine ancienne, this work outlines the status and roles of women in the Daoist tradition from its inception to the present day. It divides into three major parts-"Goddesses," "Immortals and Priestesses," and "The Female Body"-detailing the historical development and general role of Daoist women and focusing on the different ideals women stood for as much as on the religious practices they cultivated. Not only a thorough treatment of the tradition itself, the volume also contextualizes the position of women in Daoist in relation to that in Chinese culture and compares it to that in other religions. It emphasizes the degree to which women in Daoism were considered and treated as equal yet separate, matching the worldview of yin and yang in mainstream Chinese culture yet offering a valuable alternative to the family-centered path of women in the Confucian universe. The volume is comprehensive and highly informative; it provides a much needed addition to our understanding of women in traditional cultures and our view of the role and importance of the Daoist religion. More...