Essays on Taoism and Taoist Alchemy

These two books bring together a collection of fifteen studies on the doctrines, practices, and history of Taoism and Taoist alchemy. Entirely based on original Taoist sources, the essays support their discussions with a large number of quotations from texts belonging to different schools and historical periods, providing access to the language and ideas of the tradition.

The subjects covered in the two books include:

  • a general introduction to Taoist alchemy
  • the history and methods of Waidan (External Alchemy)
  • the relationship between the Daode jing and Neidan (Internal Alchemy)
  • the foundations of Neidan in the Book of Changes
  • the role of meditation practices in the rise of Neidan
  • the main Chinese alchemical text, the Cantong qi (Seal of the Unity of the Three)
  • the teachings of Liu Yiming (1734–1821), one of the greatest Neidan masters
  • the views of ordinary and inner time in the alchemical traditions
  • the Neidan doctrines on human nature and its embodiment
  • the ways of “doing” and “non-doing” in Neidan
  • the relationship between Dao, cosmos, and human being
  • the views of immortality in the Baopu zi (The Master Who Embraces Spontaneous Nature)
  • the complex relationship of Taoism to divination practices

Combining rigorous reading of texts with attention to their doctrinal and historical backgrounds, these studies explore several key themes in the Taoist paths of self-cultivation.

The two books can be purchased independently.

• Download a sample of vol. 1 (PDF) — Download a sample of vol. 2 (PDF)


Essays on Taoism and Taoist Alchemy: Volume 1

by Fabrizio Pregadio
pp. x + 369

ISBN: 978-0985547561 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-0985547547 (hbk)

Pbk: US$ 29.95 • € 25 • UK£ 22.50
Hbk: US$ 49.95 • € 40 • UK£ 38

Contents: See below


Essays on Taoism and Taoist Alchemy: Volume 2

by Fabrizio Pregadio
pp. x + 369

ISBN: 978-0985547585 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-0985547592 (hbk)

Pbk: US$ 29.95 • € 25 • UK£ 22.50
Hbk: US$ 49.95 • € 40 • UK£ 38

Contents: See below



Contents of vol. 1:

Introduction: The Way of the Golden Elixir

  1. Waidan, or External Alchemy
  2. Early Taoist Meditation and the Origins of Internal Alchemy
  3. Creation and Its Inversion: Cosmos, Human Being, and Elixir in the Cantong qi (Seal of the Unity of the Three)
  4. Form, Formlessness, and Ways of Liberation in Taoism
  5. Views of Time in Chinese Alchemy
  6. Discriminations in Cultivating the Dao: Liu Yiming (1734–1821) and His Xiuzhen houbian

Appendix: Taoist Alchemy: An Annotated Bibliography


Contents of vol. 2:

  1. Laozi and Internal Alchemy
  2. The Book of Changes and Internal Alchemy
  3. The Authorship, Date, and Composition of the Zhouyi cantong qi
  4. Destiny, Vital Force, or Existence? On the Meanings of Ming 命 in Taoist Internal Alchemy and its Relation to Xing 性 or Human Nature
  5. Superior Virtue, Inferior Virtue: A Doctrinal Theme in the Works of the Taoist Master Liu Yiming (1734–1821)
  6. Seeking Immortality in Ge Hong’s Baopu zi neipian
  7. Taoism and Divination

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