The Great Encyclopedia of Taoism

Ancient bamboo slips and scrolls on a stone desk, representing Xiangshu studies

Xiangshu Studies: Numbers, Symbols, and Cosmic ...

Paul Peng

Xiangshu Studies decodes cosmic change through trigrams and numbers. Originating in the I Ching, developed by Han’s Meng Xi & Jing Fang, and Song’s Shao Yong. Used in Taoist ritual...

Xiangshu Studies: Numbers, Symbols, and Cosmic ...

Paul Peng

Xiangshu Studies decodes cosmic change through trigrams and numbers. Originating in the I Ching, developed by Han’s Meng Xi & Jing Fang, and Song’s Shao Yong. Used in Taoist ritual...

Bamboo slips and ancient scrolls on a desk, representing the Huang-Lao political philosophy

Huang-Lao School: The Political Philosophy of N...

Paul Peng

The Huang-Lao School, from Warring States to early Han, fused Daoist philosophy with statecraft. It promoted "rule by non-action" and shaped Han governance. Key texts include the Huangdi Sijing.

Huang-Lao School: The Political Philosophy of N...

Paul Peng

The Huang-Lao School, from Warring States to early Han, fused Daoist philosophy with statecraft. It promoted "rule by non-action" and shaped Han governance. Key texts include the Huangdi Sijing.

Sturdy pine trees and standing rocks, representing the School of Immortals

School of Immortals: The Daoist Quest for Longe...

Paul Peng

School of Immortals, a pre-Qin tradition, taught “secure the spirit first” for longevity. Cited in Book of Han. Precursor to Taoist internal and external alchemy.

School of Immortals: The Daoist Quest for Longe...

Paul Peng

School of Immortals, a pre-Qin tradition, taught “secure the spirit first” for longevity. Cited in Book of Han. Precursor to Taoist internal and external alchemy.

A Taoist practitioner standing at mountain temple gate at dawn, representing the original intention to enter the Dao

Dao Yi: Taoist Intention for Spiritual Reentry 道意

paulpeng

Dao Yi is the original intention to enter the Dao and return to true nature. Five progressive stages: Natural, Study, True Knowledge, Transcendence, Supreme. From the Jiaojiao Yishu.

Dao Yi: Taoist Intention for Spiritual Reentry 道意

paulpeng

Dao Yi is the original intention to enter the Dao and return to true nature. Five progressive stages: Natural, Study, True Knowledge, Transcendence, Supreme. From the Jiaojiao Yishu.

Pure land realm with celestial beings enjoying peaceful existence, representing the Realm of Sentient Beings

Realm of Sentient Beings: The Lowest Pure Land ...

Paul Peng

The Realm of Sentient Beings is the lowest of Taoism’s five pure lands. Beings reborn there enjoy blessings (maidens, treasures) but without cultivation will exhaust merit and return to the...

Realm of Sentient Beings: The Lowest Pure Land ...

Paul Peng

The Realm of Sentient Beings is the lowest of Taoism’s five pure lands. Beings reborn there enjoy blessings (maidens, treasures) but without cultivation will exhaust merit and return to the...

Vast emptiness representing the True Abode, the ultimate source in Taoist philosophy

True Abode: The Domain of Supreme Emptiness in ...

Paul Peng

True Abode (Zhen Zhai) in the Liezi is the formless source where all things return after death. It represents supreme emptiness (Tai Xu) and the ultimate goal of Taoist cultivation—returning...

True Abode: The Domain of Supreme Emptiness in ...

Paul Peng

True Abode (Zhen Zhai) in the Liezi is the formless source where all things return after death. It represents supreme emptiness (Tai Xu) and the ultimate goal of Taoist cultivation—returning...