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Taoism and Self Knowledge
The Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection (Xiuzhen tu)
Series: - Sinica Leidensia, Volume: 142
Author:
Translator:
Catherine Despeuxâs book Taoism and Self Knowledge is a study of the Internal Alchemical text "Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection." It begins with an analysis of pictographic and symbolic representation of the body in early Taoism after which the author examines different extant versions of the "Chart" as it was transmitted among Quanzhen groups in the Qing dynasty. The book is comprised of four main parts: the principal parts of the body and their nomenclature in Internal Alchemy, the spirits in the human body, and the alchemical processes and procedures used in thunder rituals and self-cultivation. This is a revised, expanded edition of the original French edition Taoïsme et connaissance de soi. La carte de la culture de la perfection (Xiuzhen tu) Paris, 2012.
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 HawaiÊ»i-MÄnoa, 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.
Jonathan Pettit, Ph.D. (2013), University of HawaiÊ»i-MÄnoa, 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.
"Stuckradâs book is a useful reference guide for twentieth-century notions of the soul and related themes such as nature, animism, consciousness, energy, and vitalism."
â Dominic Zoehrer, University of Vienna, in Religious Studies Review 45.4 (December 2019).
"The volume at handâa good translation of an expanded version of the French title published in 2012âdirectly 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."
â Barbara Hendrischke, University of Sydney, in Religious Studies Review 45.4 (2019).
â Dominic Zoehrer, University of Vienna, in Religious Studies Review 45.4 (December 2019).
"The volume at handâa good translation of an expanded version of the French title published in 2012âdirectly 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."
â Barbara Hendrischke, University of Sydney, in Religious Studies Review 45.4 (2019).
List of Illustrations
Introduction
1 Chinese Inner Alchemy and Body Maps
â1âFrom Anatomy to the Taoist Construction of the Body: Diagrams of Yanluozi (Tenth Century)
â2âThe Synthesis of the Yanluozi Diagrams in the Commentary on the Classic of the Difficulties (Nanjing é£ç¶) (Late Thirteenth Century)
â3âThe Body as a Mountain (Early Thirteenth Century)
â4âThe Chart of the Inner Landscape (Neijing tu å §æ¯å) in the White Cloud Temple (1886)
2 Different Versions of the Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection (Xiuzhen Tu)
â1âThe Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection (Xiuzhen tu) in Guangzhou (1812)
â2âThe Booklet Manuscript of the Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection (Xiuzhen tu) in a Private Collection (19th Century)
â3âDiffusion of the Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection according to the Colophons of the Booklet and of Two Copies found by Zheng Hong
â4âThe Engraving at the White Cloud Temple by Meng Zhicai in 1873
â5âCopies of the Plate of Tianjin (1882, 1910, 1920)
â6âThe Complete Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection (Xiuzhen Quantu ä¿®çå ¨å¾) from Mount Wudang (1888 or 1924)
â7âThe Chart for Achieving Cinnabar by the Ninefold Revolution (Dancheng jiuzhuan tu 丹æä¹è½å) of Moli è«å (1918) 65
â8âThe Complete Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection (Xiuzhen Quantu ä¿®çå ¨å) of Chengdu (1922)
â9âThe Copy of the Hall for the Lengthy Cultivation (Xiuyuan Tang ä¿®è¿å ) (1936)
â10âThe Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection, Engraved in 1984 at Beijingâs White Cloud Temple
â11âThe Register and Chart on the Cultivation of the True Origin (Xiuchi Zhenyuan Tulu ä¿®æçå åç±) of the Tiger and Dragon Altar (Longhu Tang é¾èå )
3 A Description of the Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection
â1âPictographic Elements and Inscriptions
â2âPictographic Differences with Other Body Charts in the Taoist Canon
â3âThe Main Texts
â4âList and Localisation of the terms on the Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection
4 The Main Alchemical Loci Inscribed in the Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection
â1âThe Microcosmic Body Becomes an Athanor
â2âThe Main Body Orifices and Places of Transmutations
â3âThe Cinnabar Fields
â4âThe Three Passes on the Back
â5âOther Important Loci
â6âThe Eight Marvelous Vessels (Qijing bamai å¥ç¶å «è)
5 The Body, World of Deities According to the Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection
â1âThe Hells
â2âThe Paradises
â3âThe Celestial Palaces
â4âThe Hun é Souls and the Po é Souls in Inner Alchemy
â5âThe Inner Gods in the Yellow Court Tradition
â6âThe Inner Gods of the Yellow Court Tradition Integrated to the Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection
â7âThe Deities Related to the Numinous Treasure and the Thunder Rites
6 Alchemical Methods According to the Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection
â1âThe Three Stages of the Process
â2âThe Union of Opposites
â3âThe Fire Phasing
7 Thunder Processes Illustrated by the Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection
â1âSchools Related to the Thunder Rites
â2âThe Northern Dipper and the Setting in Motion of the Inner Heaven
â3âProcesses Associated with the Thunder
â4âElements of the Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection Linked to the Correct Method of the Heart of Heaven
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
Introduction
1 Chinese Inner Alchemy and Body Maps
â1âFrom Anatomy to the Taoist Construction of the Body: Diagrams of Yanluozi (Tenth Century)
â2âThe Synthesis of the Yanluozi Diagrams in the Commentary on the Classic of the Difficulties (Nanjing é£ç¶) (Late Thirteenth Century)
â3âThe Body as a Mountain (Early Thirteenth Century)
â4âThe Chart of the Inner Landscape (Neijing tu å §æ¯å) in the White Cloud Temple (1886)
2 Different Versions of the Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection (Xiuzhen Tu)
â1âThe Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection (Xiuzhen tu) in Guangzhou (1812)
â2âThe Booklet Manuscript of the Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection (Xiuzhen tu) in a Private Collection (19th Century)
â3âDiffusion of the Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection according to the Colophons of the Booklet and of Two Copies found by Zheng Hong
â4âThe Engraving at the White Cloud Temple by Meng Zhicai in 1873
â5âCopies of the Plate of Tianjin (1882, 1910, 1920)
â6âThe Complete Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection (Xiuzhen Quantu ä¿®çå ¨å¾) from Mount Wudang (1888 or 1924)
â7âThe Chart for Achieving Cinnabar by the Ninefold Revolution (Dancheng jiuzhuan tu 丹æä¹è½å) of Moli è«å (1918) 65
â8âThe Complete Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection (Xiuzhen Quantu ä¿®çå ¨å) of Chengdu (1922)
â9âThe Copy of the Hall for the Lengthy Cultivation (Xiuyuan Tang ä¿®è¿å ) (1936)
â10âThe Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection, Engraved in 1984 at Beijingâs White Cloud Temple
â11âThe Register and Chart on the Cultivation of the True Origin (Xiuchi Zhenyuan Tulu ä¿®æçå åç±) of the Tiger and Dragon Altar (Longhu Tang é¾èå )
3 A Description of the Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection
â1âPictographic Elements and Inscriptions
â2âPictographic Differences with Other Body Charts in the Taoist Canon
â3âThe Main Texts
â4âList and Localisation of the terms on the Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection
4 The Main Alchemical Loci Inscribed in the Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection
â1âThe Microcosmic Body Becomes an Athanor
â2âThe Main Body Orifices and Places of Transmutations
â3âThe Cinnabar Fields
â4âThe Three Passes on the Back
â5âOther Important Loci
â6âThe Eight Marvelous Vessels (Qijing bamai å¥ç¶å «è)
5 The Body, World of Deities According to the Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection
â1âThe Hells
â2âThe Paradises
â3âThe Celestial Palaces
â4âThe Hun é Souls and the Po é Souls in Inner Alchemy
â5âThe Inner Gods in the Yellow Court Tradition
â6âThe Inner Gods of the Yellow Court Tradition Integrated to the Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection
â7âThe Deities Related to the Numinous Treasure and the Thunder Rites
6 Alchemical Methods According to the Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection
â1âThe Three Stages of the Process
â2âThe Union of Opposites
â3âThe Fire Phasing
7 Thunder Processes Illustrated by the Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection
â1âSchools Related to the Thunder Rites
â2âThe Northern Dipper and the Setting in Motion of the Inner Heaven
â3âProcesses Associated with the Thunder
â4âElements of the Chart for the Cultivation of Perfection Linked to the Correct Method of the Heart of Heaven
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
All interested in the History of Taoism, Inner Alchemy, Taoist meditation, Taoist ritual, visual representations of the body, Taoist graphic arts.