To age with the sun and moon and be renewed by spring and summer, to conserve the seeds of growth in autumn and winter and to be nourished by the eternal breath of the Tao—these are the goals of the Taoist alchemists, the masters of the arts of health, longevity, and immortality.
This book is a translation of a concise Taoist alchemical manual known as the Dragon-Tiger Classic, along with its two most important commentaries. The classic, written in ancient times by an unknown author and published during the fifteenth century BCE, is regarded by contemporary Taoist practitioners as the most complete guide to spiritual transformation. It covers the three forms of Taoist practice:
• External alchemy, concerned with the ingestion of minerals, herbs, and other substances to attain health, longevity, and immortality • Sexual alchemy, in which the practitioner uses the energy of a sexual partner to cultivate his or her own energy • Internal alchemy, the practice of meditation, calisthenics, and yogic postures to cultivate mind and body
An extensive introduction by the translator and the inclusion of two commentaries by traditional Chinese authors aid the reader in understanding this concise, symbolic text.
"Wong's translation is accessible and her scholarship sparkling in this illuminating edition of a Chinese Taoist classic."— Publishers Weekly
Eva Wong is an independent scholar and a practitioner of the Taoist arts of the Pre-Celestial Way and Complete Reality lineages. She has written and translated many books on Taoism and related topics, including A Master Course in Feng-Shui; Tales of the Taoist Immortals; and Taoism: An Essential Guide.
To age with the sun and moon and be renewed by spring and summer, to conserve the seeds of growth in autumn and winter and to be nourished by the eternal breath of the Tao—these are the goals of the Taoist alchemists, the masters of the arts of health, longevity, and immortality.
This book is a translation of a concise Taoist alchemical manual known as the Dragon-Tiger Classic, along with its two most important commentaries. The classic, written in ancient times by an unknown author and published during the fifteenth century BCE, is regarded by contemporary Taoist practitioners as the most complete guide to spiritual transformation. It covers the three forms of Taoist practice:
• External alchemy, concerned with the ingestion of minerals, herbs, and other substances to attain health, longevity, and immortality • Sexual alchemy, in which the practitioner uses the energy of a sexual partner to cultivate his or her own energy • Internal alchemy, the practice of meditation, calisthenics, and yogic postures to cultivate mind and body
An extensive introduction by the translator and the inclusion of two commentaries by traditional Chinese authors aid the reader in understanding this concise, symbolic text.
Praise
"Wong's translation is accessible and her scholarship sparkling in this illuminating edition of a Chinese Taoist classic."— Publishers Weekly
Author
Eva Wong is an independent scholar and a practitioner of the Taoist arts of the Pre-Celestial Way and Complete Reality lineages. She has written and translated many books on Taoism and related topics, including A Master Course in Feng-Shui; Tales of the Taoist Immortals; and Taoism: An Essential Guide.
