Taoism and Self Knowledge

Catherine Despeux, Ph.D (1976), Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales, is honorary professor of Chinese thought. She has published and edited monographs, translations and articles on Chinese Buddhism, Taoism and Medicine, including the edition of Médecine, religion et société dans la Chine médiévale. Les manuscrits médicaux de Dunhuang, Paris 2010. Jonathan Pettit, Ph.D. (2013), University of Hawaiʻi-Mānoa, is an Assistant Professor of Chinese Religions. He has published articles on early medieval notions of geography and Daoist ritual. He has also written articles on early Republican redemptive societies. His work focuses on the production, circulation, and reproduction of early Daoist scriptures.

"Stuckrad’s book is a useful reference guide for twentieth-century notions of the soul and related themes such as nature, animism, consciousness, energy, and vitalism."– Dominic Zoehrer, University of Vienna, in Religious Studies Review 45.4 (December 2019). "The volume at hand—a good translation of an expanded version of the French title published in 2012—directly opens the gate to an impressive image of the religion that thoroughly explains its fundamental and timeless impact on Chinese life and thought. The book is a thorough, reliable, and all considered, well-readable presentation of an eighteenth-century text and its history."– Barbara Hendrischke, University of Sydney, in Religious Studies Review 45.4 (2019).

• List of IllustrationsIntroduction1 Chinese Inner Alchemy and Body Maps1 From Anatomy to the Taoist Construction of the Body: Diagrams of Yanluozi (Tenth Century)2 The Synthesis of the Yanluozi Diagrams in the Commentary on the Classic of the Difficulties (Nanjing 難經) (Late Thirteenth Century)3 The Body as a Mountain (Early Thirteenth Century)4 The Chart of the Inner Landscape (Neijing tu 內景圖) in the White Cloud Temple (1886)2 Different Versions of the Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection (Xiuzhen Tu)1 The Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection (Xiuzhen tu) in Guangzhou (1812)2 The Booklet Manuscript of the Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection (Xiuzhen tu) in a Private Collection (19th Century)3 Diffusion of the Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection according to the Colophons of the Booklet and of Two Copies found by Zheng Hong4 The Engraving at the White Cloud Temple by Meng Zhicai in 18735 Copies of the Plate of Tianjin (1882, 1910, 1920)6 The Complete Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection (Xiuzhen Quantu 修真全图) from Mount Wudang (1888 or 1924)7 The Chart for Achieving Cinnabar by the Ninefold Revolution (Dancheng jiuzhuan tu 丹成九轉圖) of Moli 莫厘 (1918) 658 The Complete Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection (Xiuzhen Quantu 修真全圖) of Chengdu (1922)9 The Copy of the Hall for the Lengthy Cultivation (Xiuyuan Tang 修远堂) (1936)10 The Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection, Engraved in 1984 at Beijing’s White Cloud Temple11 The Register and Chart on the Cultivation of the True Origin (Xiuchi Zhenyuan Tulu 修持真元圖籙) of the Tiger and Dragon Altar (Longhu Tang 龍虎堂)3 A Description of the Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection1 Pictographic Elements and Inscriptions2 Pictographic Differences with Other Body Charts in the Taoist Canon3 The Main Texts4 List and Localisation of the terms on the Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection4 The Main Alchemical Loci Inscribed in the Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection1 The Microcosmic Body Becomes an Athanor2 The Main Body Orifices and Places of Transmutations3 The Cinnabar Fields4 The Three Passes on the Back5 Other Important Loci6 The Eight Marvelous Vessels (Qijing bamai 奇經八脈)5 The Body, World of Deities According to the Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection1 The Hells2 The Paradises3 The Celestial Palaces4 The Hun 魂 Souls and the Po 魄 Souls in Inner Alchemy5 The Inner Gods in the Yellow Court Tradition6 The Inner Gods of the Yellow Court Tradition Integrated to the Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection7 The Deities Related to the Numinous Treasure and the Thunder Rites6 Alchemical Methods According to the Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection1 The Three Stages of the Process2 The Union of Opposites3 The Fire Phasing7 Thunder Processes Illustrated by the Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection1 Schools Related to the Thunder Rites2 The Northern Dipper and the Setting in Motion of the Inner Heaven3 Processes Associated with the Thunder4 Elements of the Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection Linked to the Correct Method of the Heart of HeavenConclusionBibliographyIndex