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Six juan in six vols. 8vo, orig. wrappers, stitched. [China]: Yan gu zhai ???, [1832 50]. The first (and possibly only) edition of a Qing-era anthology of Daoist works detailing the theory and practices of spiritual and corporeal longevity, published sometime between 1832 and the end of the Daoguang reign in 1850. WorldCat shows only one other copy in North America, at LC. The pursuit of everlasting life through rituals, ascetic practices, alchemy, geomancy, and so on has been a dominant theme in Daoist practice. The texts include: 1. LUO, Hongxian ??? & CAO, Ruoshui ??? Wan shou xian shu ???? [The Immortals Book of Everlasting Life]. Printed illustrations. Four juan bound in four vols. [China]: 1832 (date of colophon). A practical guide for channeling the flow of qi ? within the human body. This art of channeling daoyin zhi fa ???? is also referred to in the Preface as anmo ??, a term used today for massage therapy. Described as the esoteric teachings of Luo Hongxian (1504 1564) by the work s editor, Cao Ruoshui, this book begins with prescriptions of dietary and sexual discipline for spiritual and physical well-being. The bulk of the work (Vols. 2 and 3) is illustrated guides for various Daoist calisthenic exercises or qigong ??, including the famous Eightfold Brocades (baduanjin ???) sequence still widely practiced today. Yogic postures and breathing techniques are accompanied by recipes of medical concoctions, all working together to heal various illnesses: back pain, skin infection, indigestion, nocturnal emission, internal qi obstructions, and so on. The final volume deals with Daoist philosophy. Note that in the Jiangsu University copy of this work digitized on ctext.org, the first work has a separate title page that is missing in our copy. In both copies, however, the Preface is cut off abruptly after the second page. 2. WU, Shouyang ??? Xian fo he zong ???? [The Joining Lineages of Daoism and Buddhism]. One juan in one vol. [China]: Shu ye tang ???, n.d. This is a collection of excerpts from the longer work of the same title written by Wu Shouyang (1573 1644?, Daoist name Chongxuzi ???), a famous Daoist teacher in the Quanzhen ?? lineage and the founder of the Wuliu ?? lineage. In a series of doctrinal dialogues, Wu defends the underlying unity of Daoism and Buddhism. 3. ZHANG, Sanfeng ??? Zu shi yuan yao pian ????? [The Primordial Essence of the Old Master]. Edited by Zhang Lingji ??? & Zheng Lingmi ??? One juan bound in one vol. [China]: Ao xue shan fang ????, 1826 (date of Preface). A collection of spiritual songs attributed to the legendary Daoist master Zhang Sanfeng, who was likely born sometime around the 13th century and was reportedly alive and active well over 200 years later. The songs include instructions for meditation, ascetic practices, subduing demons, and cultivating the "inner medicine." According to the Preface, this is a selection published in 1826 by two of his latter-day disciples, Zhang Lingji and Zheng Lingmi. The anthologist, who is identified only by the name Yunyanjushi (literally, the Lay Practitioner Cloud-Stone) on the title page of the first volume, did not leave a Preface explaining why he had chosen to bring these works together. Curiously, the second and third works contain publishers information different from that on the title page of the anthology. While the circumstances around the publication of this anthology are puzzling, these discrepancies at least seem to be consistent across extant copies. Fine set.
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