Taoism
The Dao and its classical interpreters.
- DaoismThe Chinese philosophical and religious tradition of the Dao, the Way.
- Quanzhen DaoismThe Daoist monastic order of “Complete Perfection”, founded by Wang Chongyang, centred on inner alchemy and the unity of the three teachings.
- Wang ChongyangFounder of Quanzhen Daoism, who taught inner alchemy and the unity of the three teachings.
- Qiu ChujiQuanzhen master who travelled to Chinggis Khan and made the order the leading Daoist school of northern China.
- NeidanDaoist inner alchemy: the refinement of the body’s essence, energy and spirit to return to the Dao.
- LaoziTraditional author of the Daodejing, the classic of the Way and its power.
- ZhuangziDaoist philosopher of freedom, perspective and spontaneity.
- Wang BiProdigy of the “Learning of the Mysterious” and the classic commentator on Laozi.
- DaoThe Way: in Daoism, the nameless source and pattern of all things.
- DeVirtue or power: the efficacy of one who embodies the Dao.
- Wu weiNon-forcing action: acting in accord with the Dao, without striving.
- ZiranNaturalness or spontaneity: being “so of itself”.
- The Tâo Teh KingJames Legge’s translation of the Daodejing, the eighty-one short chapters on the nameless Way, its power, non-forcing action and the sage ruler. Legge’s notes are learned but read the text through Confucian and Christian eyes.
- The Writings of Kwang-zeLegge’s complete translation of the thirty-three chapters of the Zhuangzi, with its stories of the butterfly dream, Cook Ding and the useless tree, and its arguments on perspective, freedom and the equality of things.