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Early Chinese Mysticism: Philosophy and Soteriology in the Taoist Tradition

by Livia Kohn
Compare to estimated retail price: S$60.36  

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Early Chinese Mysticism: Philosophy and Soteriology in the Taoist Tradition
Early Chinese Mysticism: Philosophy and Soteriology in the Taoist Tradition

Taoist tradition reshaping Chinese mystical thought.

If you're intrigued by the confluence of philosophy and spirituality, "Early Chinese Mysticism" presents an insightful exploration into how Taoism carved a unique path amidst the cultural interplay with Buddhism. Livia Kohn meticulously unravels the continuity and evolution of mysticism in China, challenging the notion of a historical gap and offering a rich perspective on the subject that could deepen your understanding of Eastern philosophy and religious practices.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

Early Chinese Mysticism: Philosophy and Soteriology in the Taoist Tradition

by Livia Kohn
Compare to estimated retail price: S$60.36  

The item you've got your eye on is secondhand. You probably already know that, but just in case!

The estimated retail price shown next to any listed item represents the first-hand prices we've seen elsewhere, or the estimated original retail price of a comparable item of the same quality, construction and material offered elsewhere in new condition.

Condition guide

Book Condition Guide

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ISBN: 9780691020655
Authors: Livia Kohn
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Date of Publication: 1991-10-23
Format: Paperback
Related Collections: Religion, Philosophy
Related Topics: Taoism
Goodreads rating: 4.25
(rated by 20 readers)

Description

Did Chinese mysticism vanish after its first appearance in ancient Taoist philosophy, to surface only after a thousand years had passed, when the Chinese had adapted Buddhism to their own culture? This first integrated survey of the mystical dimension of Taoism disputes the commonly accepted idea of such a hiatus. Covering the period from the Daode jing to the end of the Tang, Livia Kohn reveals an often misunderstood Chinese mystical tradition that continued through the ages. Influenced by but ultimately independent of Buddhism, it took forms more various than the quietistic withdrawal of Laozi or the sudden enlightenment of the Chan Buddhists. On the basis of a new theoretical evaluation of mysticism, this study analyzes the relationship between philosophical and religious Taoism and between Buddhism and the native Chinese tradition. Kohn shows how the quietistic and socially oriented Daode jing was combined with the ecstatic and individualistic mysticism of the Zhuangzi, with immortality beliefs and practices, and with Buddhist insight meditation, mind analysis, and doctrines of karma and retribution. She goes on to demonstrate that Chinese mysticism, a complex synthesis by the late Six Dynasties, reached its zenith in the Tang, laying the foundations for later developments in the Song traditions of Inner Alchemy, Chan Buddhism, and Neo-Confucianism.
 

Taoist tradition reshaping Chinese mystical thought.

If you're intrigued by the confluence of philosophy and spirituality, "Early Chinese Mysticism" presents an insightful exploration into how Taoism carved a unique path amidst the cultural interplay with Buddhism. Livia Kohn meticulously unravels the continuity and evolution of mysticism in China, challenging the notion of a historical gap and offering a rich perspective on the subject that could deepen your understanding of Eastern philosophy and religious practices.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.