La Grande Encyclopédie du Taoïsme

Taoist priest performing Fǎshù ritual with seal, sword, and talismans on altar

Magical Arts: What the Song Dynasty Texts Actua...

Paul Peng

Fǎshù (法术) is not "magic" in the Western sense — it is a classified system of operative ritual techniques with strict textual lineages. This article traces what the sources actually...

Magical Arts: What the Song Dynasty Texts Actua...

Paul Peng

Fǎshù (法术) is not "magic" in the Western sense — it is a classified system of operative ritual techniques with strict textual lineages. This article traces what the sources actually...

Fa Taoist - Cover

Fa: The Tension Between Cosmic Law and Human Me...

Paul Peng

Fa (法) is not simply "law" or "method" — it is the unresolved tension between a cosmic principle no one can possess and a ritual technique that must be transmitted...

1 commentaire

Fa: The Tension Between Cosmic Law and Human Me...

Paul Peng

Fa (法) is not simply "law" or "method" — it is the unresolved tension between a cosmic principle no one can possess and a ritual technique that must be transmitted...

1 commentaire
Taoist Arts Taoist - Cover

Taoist Arts: The Complete Practice Repertoire 道术

Paul Peng

道术 (Dàoshù) is not a synonym for ritual magic. This article traces its precise boundaries in classical Taoist texts, its relationship to divination, and why the distinction matters for practice.

Taoist Arts: The Complete Practice Repertoire 道术

Paul Peng

道术 (Dàoshù) is not a synonym for ritual magic. This article traces its precise boundaries in classical Taoist texts, its relationship to divination, and why the distinction matters for practice.

Wugu Sorcery Taoist - Cover

Wugu Sorcery: Harmful Magic and Its Taoist Coun...

Paul Peng

Wugu (巫蛊) is a form of harmful sorcery using venomous insects and ritual objects to curse enemies. Historically outlawed and feared, it also gave rise to Taoist counter-rite traditions that...

Wugu Sorcery: Harmful Magic and Its Taoist Coun...

Paul Peng

Wugu (巫蛊) is a form of harmful sorcery using venomous insects and ritual objects to curse enemies. Historically outlawed and feared, it also gave rise to Taoist counter-rite traditions that...

Chinese Shamanism Taoist - Cover

Chinese Shamanism: The Spirit Practices Taoism ...

Paul Peng

Chinese shamanism (巫术) is not a primitive precursor to Taoism — it is a parallel system that survived by adapting. This article traces where the two traditions diverge, and why...

Chinese Shamanism: The Spirit Practices Taoism ...

Paul Peng

Chinese shamanism (巫术) is not a primitive precursor to Taoism — it is a parallel system that survived by adapting. This article traces where the two traditions diverge, and why...

Taoist Magic 道法 - Ritual altar scene

Taoist Magic: The Ritual System Behind 道法

Paul Peng

Taoist Magic (道法) is often mistaken for a single set of spells. In practice it spans three distinct domains — self-cultivation, interventionist rites, and divination — each with different aims...

Taoist Magic: The Ritual System Behind 道法

Paul Peng

Taoist Magic (道法) is often mistaken for a single set of spells. In practice it spans three distinct domains — self-cultivation, interventionist rites, and divination — each with different aims...