Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
In this book, J.J. Clarke shows us how Taoist texts, ideas, and practices have been assimilated within a whole range of Western ideas and agendas. We see how Chinese thinkers such as Lao-tzu and Chuang tzu, along with practices such as Feng Shui and Tai Chi, have been used as a key Western inspiration in religion, philosophy, ethics, politics, ecology and health.
The Tao of the West not only provides a fascinating introduction to Taoism, it also offers a timely insight into the history of the West's encounter with this ancient tradition, and into the issues arising from inter-cultural dialogue. Anyone interested in understanding the key influence Taoism has had on the West will welcome and embrace this book.
Table of Contents
Preface -- 1. 'The way that can be told': introduction -- 2. 'The meaning is not the meaning': on the nature of Daoism -- 3. 'Cramped scholars': Western interpretations of Daoism -- 4. 'The Great Clod': Daoist natural philosophy -- 5. 'Going ramblin without destination': moral explorations -- 6. 'The transformation of things': the alchemy of life, sex and health -- 7. 'The Way is incommunicable': transcendence -- 8. 'The twitter of birds': philosophical themes -- 9. 'Journey to the West': by way of concluding -- Appendix I: Chinese dynastic chronology -- Appendix II. Wade-Giles/Pinyin conversion table -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Name index -- Subject index.