Religion 131: Taoism

Sweet Briar College

John Goulde

Course Description: This course will introduce the student to the history and development of Taoism in the countries of China, Korea, and Japan. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the diversity of Taoisms that have appeared in East Asia and the religious, philosophical, ritualistic and socio-political impact they have had in the three countries surveyed.

Requirements : 1. Attendance at all classes and active participation in the discussion of the material prepared ahead of time; 2. Completion of one three-hour take-home mid-term examination and one three-hour take-home final examination; 3. Completion of one expository research paper approximately 15-18 pages on a topic related to the course. Readings for the course will be taken from the following required texts and from photocopied articles and books placed on reserve in the library.

Books for Purchase at the Book Shop

Books on Reserve (RES) and Books in the Reference Room (REF)

Topics and Readings

Taoism at its Source in China
 Introduction to the course/Defining the terms: "Taoism" "Taoist Thought", etc. The Use of Taoism in American Pop Culture

Philosophical Taoism vs. Religious Taoism?
 Wu, 1-7; Kohn, 1-7; Nathin Sivin, "On the Word 'Taoist' as a Source of Perplexity" (photocopy).

Overview of Taoist History and Literature
 Anna Seidel et. al, ˜Encyclopaedia Britannica?: "Taoism" (photocopy and REF); Laurence Thompson, "Taoism: Classic and Canon", taken from Denny, F. edit. The Holy Book in Comparative Perspective, Chapter 10 (photocopy and RES), Stephen Bokenkamp, "Taoist Literature Part I: Through the T'ang Dynasty " from The Indiana Companion to Traditional Chinese Literature ( photocopy and REF)

The "Tao" of Taoism according to Lao Tzu
Wu, 8-77; Kohn, 11- 29, Handouts on Lao-Chuang

The "Tao" of Taoism according to Chuang Tzu
Wu 78-140; Kohn, 29-32; Handouts on Lao-Chuang

Five Phase Theory / Five Phase Correspondences and Lieh Tzu's Feathered Men
Wu, 180-218; "The Creation, Structure, and Working of the Universe" from Sources in Chinese Tradition, Vol 1 ( photocopy) 

The Fangshih ( local experts) Applications of Cosmologies
K. Dewoskin, Doctors, Diviners and Magicians of Ancient China (photocopy). Wu 141-154; Michael Loewe, "Oracles and Divination: China" (photocopy); Sarah Rossbach, "Feng Shui" (photocopy)

History of Taoist Organizations
Michael Saso, "Historical Origins" from The Teachings of Taoist Master Chuang ( extract photocopy)

The Yellow Turbans and the Way of Heavenly Masters
Wu, 155-179 ; Howard Levy,˜Yellow Turban Religion and Rebellion at the End of the Han ˜ (photocopy) 

Neo-Taoism/ Confucianism/ Buddhism
Kohn, 63-92, Davis and Wu, An Ancient Chinese Treatise on Alchemy entitled Ts'an T'ung Ch'i (photocopy) 

The Quest for immortality and the appearance of Taoist communities
James Ware, Alchemy, Medicine and Religionin China (photocopy); Isabelle Robinet, "Metamorphosis and Deliverance from the Corpse in Taoism˜ History of Religion, University of Chicago, 1979 (photocopy)

The Highest Clarity Community: Holding to the One and Worship of the Gods
Poul Andersen, The Method of Holding the Three Ones (photocopy and RES) Livia Kohn, The Five Precepts of the Venerable Lord ( photocopy); James Webster, trans. The Kan Ying Pien (photocopy and RES)

The Ling Pao Reform, Talismans, Magic. T'ang Ritualism
Judith Boltz, ˜Not by the Seal of Office Alone? Chapter 7 in Religion and Society in T'ang and Sung China

The Appearance of Inner Alchemy (neidan)
Thomas Boehmer, ˜Taoist Alchemy: A Sympathetic Approach through Symbols" in M. Saso and D. Chappell, Buddhist and Taoist Studies Vol 1(photocopy); Kohn

The Complete Perfection Community
Rolf Homann, trans., The Pai Wen P'ien or the Hundred Questions (photocopy) Herbert Franke, Der Tempel der reinen Vollendung in Hsiu-wu, ein Betrag zum Chuan-Chen-Taoismus der Chin-Zeit , Monumenta Serica Vol 44, 1994 (photocopy); Florian Reiter, Uberlegungen zur Bedeutung des Buddhismus fur den Chuan-Chen-Taoismus im China, Monumenta Serica Vol. 42, 1994 (photocopy), Tour the Baiyunguan: Powerpoint Presentation.

The Roles of Taoism in Politics and Chinese Society
Anna Seidel, "Taoist Messianism" (photocopy); Vincent Shih, "Some Chinese Rebel Ideologies, T'oung Pao, 44 (1956), pp.150-226 (photocopy): James Webster, trans, The Kan Ying Ping: Book of Rewards and Punishments, Shanghai, 1918. 

Taoist Rituals/ Taoist Pantheon
Terry Kleeman, "The Expansion of the Wen-Ch'ang Cult", Chapter 2 in Religion and Society in T'ang and Sung China (photocopy and RES); Valerie Hansen, ˜Gods on Walls˜, Chapter 3 in Religion and Society in T'ang and Sung China ( photocopy and RES), John Keupers, " A Description of the Fa-ch'ang Ritual as Practiced by the Lu-Shan Taoists of Northern Taiwan" from (photocopy); Duane Pang, "The P'u-tu Ritual: A Celebration of the Chinese community of Honolulu" from Videotape from BBC

Taoism in China Today
M. Saso, Blue Dragon White Tiger, "Chapter 8: Religion in China Today" ( extract photocopy); Bill Porter, Road to Heaven: Encounters with Chinese Hermits ( extract photocopy and RES); Kenneth Dean, Taoist Ritual and Popular Cults of Southeast China, (extract photocopy)

Taoism in the Arts of China
Stephen Little, Realm of the Immortals: Daoism in the Arts of China 1988 ( RES )

Taoism in Korea
Taoism in Korea : Introduction in the Three Kingdoms' Period

Taoism and Medicine in Korea in the Silla Period - Macrobiotics
Song Hang-nyong, "A Short History of Taoism in Korea" from from Togyo wa Han'guk sasang (Taoism and Korean Thought) ( photocopy)

Lee Jong-Eun, Taoism in Korean Literature" from Togyo wa Han'guk sasang (Taoism and Korean Thought) photocopy)

Taoism and Geomancy in the Silla-Koryô Period
 Choi Chang-Jo, 'Pungsu, The Korean Traditional Geographic Thoughts (sic)" from Togyo wa Han'guk sasang (Taoism and Korean Thought), 1987

Taoist Ritualism in the Koryô
 Peter Yun, The Court Taoist Rituals of the Koryô Dynasty ( photocopy)

Choson Period Alchemical Studies
 Ch'a chu-Hwan, "Kim Sisup and Taoism" from Togyo wa Han'guk sasang (Taoism and Korean Thought) ( photocopy); John Goulde, "Selections from the Haedong chondorok and Haedong ijok" ( unpublished manuscript) 

Taoist Revivals in Korea
 Don Baker, Taoism in Contemporary Korea (photocopy of unpublished article)

Videotape: Tanhak

Roles of Taoism in Korean Society Today
 Don Baker, Inventing the World's Oldest Scripture: The Celestial Amulet Classic (photocopy of unpublished article)

Taoism in Japan: Cultural Background

Paul Varley, Japanese Culture ( photocopy)

Introduction of Taoism into Japan
 Felicia Bock, trans. Classical Learning and Taoist Practices in Early Japan: Chaps 1-4, pp 1-48

Japanese Medical Taoism/Calendrical Theory
 Kohn, 148-159

Yoshinobu Sakade, "Longevity Techniques in Japan; Ancient Sources and Contemporary Studies" in Livia Kohn, Taoist Meditation and Longevity Techniques ( RES)

H. Byron Earhart, "Religious Taoism" from Japanese Religions Handout

Alchemical Studies/ Taoism and Shinto
 Earhart, " The Closeness of Man, Gods, and Nature" in Earhart, Japanese Religion, 

Role of Taoism in Japanese Religious Worlds

"Yamaga Soko and the Origins of Bushido" from Sources of Japanese Tradition, Vol 1 (photocopy)