A New Interpretation of Chinese Taoist Philosophy : An Anthropological/Psychological View - Softcover

You-Sheng Li

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0973841001 ISBN 13: 9780973841008

Publisher: Taoist Recovery Centre, 2005

Synopsis

This is a new interpretation of Chinese Taoist philosophy from the view of anthropology. psychology, and social biology. The idle life of ancient egalitarian society is regarded as the Taoist ideal, and to bridge the gap between Taoist wisdom and the daily life of ordinary people in modern society, human nature, freedom, happiness, death/immortality are elucidated on six levels, namely, the biological, social, cultural, intellectual, spiritual, and cosmic levels. The introduction of the concepts, genetically coded primary and man-made secondary societies, basic human nature and peripheral potentials, and the unique angle from the spare time of self-enjoyment shed considerable new light on some common issues like the cultural difference between the East and the West. The author believes the world has now entered a new era after the Cold War ended, and we need a new way of life. The ancient wisdom of Chinese Taoist philosophy provides a good choice, since it emphasizes the value of naturalness and simplicity, which are well complementary to the Western philosophy of materialism. Furthermore, the modern world with a powerless United Nations as a platform for countries to work out their difference at various levels is pretty much like the political situation of China from 2200 to 476 BC when human nature was highly respected in politics and in life, and it eventually gave birth to Chinese Taoist philosophy. Early Taoist writers pursued a style of combining literary art with philosophical exploration to achieve a special humorous and relaxing effect. To follow those examples, the author tried to create an artistic mood in line with Taoism for reading.

For this book, though excellent as it is, a very limited number of copies were printed, and only a few copies have been sold locally. Its new approach to an old topic will always make a good buy to those who are interested.

This paper back book has 243 pages, 17 illustrations, 15 chapters with bibliography and a brief index.

The following is the Table of Contents from the book:

A Few Words About this Book to Guide the Reader

The Chinese Names >P> Chapter 1 The Pre-Understanding Phase in Human History

Chapter 2 The Essence of Taoist Philosophy

Chapter 3 The Primary and the Secondary Society

Chapter 4 The Founders of Taoist Philosophy: Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu

Chapter 5 Great Yu as a Branching Point in the Course of Chinese Cultural Evolution

Chapter 6 Spare Time and Social Pyramids

Chapter 7 The Multiple Level Operation of Our World

Chapter 8 Human Nature

Chapter 9 Death and Immortality

Chapter 10 The Taoist Concept of Freedom Chapter 11 Enjoym

ent and Happiness

Chapter 12 Life Cultivation

Chapter 13 Aesthetics

Chapter 14 The South and The North

Chapter 15 Social Implications

Key Terms
Chapter Summaries
Bibliography
Index

About this title

About the Author:

You-Sheng Li published two short stories in the late 1950s and early 1960s, which were remarkable achievements for a young student, since there were very few publications under the strict Communist rule in China. As a physician and a researcher in the field of medicine, You-Sheng Li published more than 30 papers in medical journals and received two awards for his research but kept a life-long interest in social science and literature.

You-Sheng Li graduated from the best medical school in China and received his Ph. D. from University of Cambridge, England. He came from a family of Chinese traditional medicine and spent his childhood in a relatively isolated countryside, which helped him to get familiar with Taoist thought and life style, since both Chinese medicine and rural areas are deeply influenced by Taoism. Since 1999, You-Sheng Li has been pursuing his interest in literary by joining writing groups and taking related courses. He self-published A New Interpretation Chinese Taoist Philosophy in 2005 and first introduced the concept of genetically coded primary society and man-made secondary society. It provides a powerful new perspective to understand Chinese culture and understand the cultural difference between the East and the West. The Chinese version of the same book was published in February 2009 by Xianzhuang Book House, Beijing. He also published in some English magazines such as Empty Vessel and Humanist Perspective. In 2008 and 2009, he published a series of Chinese essays in a web academic journal Xuedeng explore the extensive implications of the genetically coded primary society in sinology and related areas. His website: taoism21cen.com.

Review:

In a sunny summer day, I indulged myself in the book by Dr. You-Sheng Li: A New Interpretation of Chinese Taoist Philosophy. Sometimes I looked at clouds in the blue sky through the window, as if I was occupied with the thought but at the same time it seems there was no thought at all in my mind. I appeared that I rode on those clouds, and followed the author into the time and space of this newly interpreted Chinese Taoist philosophy. The shining edges of the clouds seemed to reflect in colours the author s new angles, new views, and new conclusions. It let me to wander in them, enjoying the depth of the author s thoughts, and meanwhile I was enlightened and inspired. Floating clouds send out profound insights; the star light shows the root of Tao.

I think, this book gives a new interpretative system, a unique in the field of Taoist studies. It is not only, as the author points out, an anthropological/psychological view, but also represents a new area and a new method in comparative studies of different cultures. It is a brand new modern interpretation of Chinese traditional culture. Due to his cross-culture life experience and training in natural sciences, he contributes significantly to the research and understanding of Chinese Taoist philosophy, and his creative achievement deserves my admiration.

By Dullstone (Zhuoshi), an editor of a Chinese notable magazine, the original article titled Floating Clouds Send Out Profound Insights; the Star Light Shows the Root of Tao is in Chinese.

--Publication on the Internet

Thank you for writing your book, A New Interpretation of Chinese Taoist Philosophy. I would like to write a long detailed letter of what it meant to me. But my eyes of seventy eight years aren t that good even with glasses. I have read some books on Taoism including Workbook for Spiritual Development of All People by Hua-Ching Nie , Thomas Cleary, Eva Wong. They are about Tao Teh Ching. My favourite is by John C. H. Wu. I read a passage a day from it. They were like going to school. Sitting in class is one thing, going outside, another. Not so with your book. Everything made it meaningful......

Your insight into primary and secondary society was very interesting to me. .....

I don t think you need a new edition but a companion novel or novels would be welcome additions. I would like to tell you how much I enjoyed your book. I still am..... Thank you again, I appreciate your book very much.

A reader J.E.

--A letter the author received and kept in file

Comments by two readers:

Your book is a fine change from other recent yearnings about Tao. Thank you for writing it and telling us a little about yourself. I cannot say which part I liked the most but your references to primary and secondary experience of society are valuable.

By W.H. J. T.

I too believe that Taoism is the most apt life philosophy for the 21st century. However, I believe that it is important to adapt the philosophy to our current level of awareness. While many of the traditional ritualized Taoist practices were appropriate to the Chinese culture during the early rise of Taoism, today we need to develop a "New Taoism." This life practice, while grounded in the wisdom of Lao Tzu, Chuang Tzu, and other early philosophers must strive to develop and encourage practices that are sympathetic to humanity in the 21st century. While truth is universal and infinite, our experience of that truth is temporal and influenced by the culture and prevailing attitudes of our time. I look forward to visiting you site often.

By W. C.

--A letter and comments the author received from the readers

About this edition

• Publisher: Taoist Recovery Centre
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0973841001
• ISBN 13: 9780973841008
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 243
• Editor: You-Sheng Li
• Illustrator: You-Sheng Li