The Elements of Taoism [Paperback]

Martin Palmer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1997

Learn the basics about this ancient religion which has shaped China for over five thousand years.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Element Books (January 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1862040400
• ISBN-13: 978-1862040403
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,681,587 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm a writer, broadcaster, religious historian, environmentalist (head of a charity linking religions and conservations - www.arcworld.org) and translator of Chinese classics.

I was born in Bristol, England, a city where my family has lived for more than 500 years. My surname, Palmer, suggests that sometime before the Reformation my ancestors were professional pilgrims. They were called Palmers because they brought back palm leaves from the Holy Land to show their clients (who had hired them in order to gain some merit in heaven without actually having to make an exhausting journey themselves) they had done the trip.

I was brought up on a huge housing estate (what Americans call "public housing") on the outskirts of Bristol, where my father was a vicar. I spent every weekend walking the ancient city of Bristol or exploring the churches and pre-historic sites of North Somerset within cycling distance of my house. From this and from a magic godmother who lived on the Quantock Hills in Somerset I developed a love and passion for the history, places, landscape and stories of Britain.

My first job was as an advisor on religious education in schools in Manchester and as part of that I founded, in Salford, the world's first multi-faith education centre. We took around 12,000 children out every year to explore the landscape of inner city Manchester through the eyes of the different faith communities and how they had adapted the landscape to fit with their beliefs and traditions.

In 1983 WWF-UK asked me to write the first book for schools on how different beliefs shape the way you treat the natural world. "Worlds of Difference" became the best selling RE book ever and went into 12 languages. It launched the whole movement of taking seriously the role of faith in the protection of our planet and its nature. In 1986 HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, who was then International President of WWF, asked me to organise the first ever meeting between major faiths and the main conservation movements in Assisi, Italy. In 1995, I launched, with Prince Philip, the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC) which now works with every major religious tradition world wide developing environmental programmes based upon the tradition's own teachings, schools, landholding, investments, festivals etc.

I am an Anglican but not perhaps an orthodox one as my faith has been deeply influenced by both Daoism and Judaism. I speak regularly around the world on a range of topics from the role of stories to the role of faith in conservation. I am an advisor to the Club of Rome and have worked with UNESCO, UNDP, the World Bank as well as with many faith bodies such as the Jinja Honcho (Association of Shinto Shrines of Japan) the China Taoist Association, the Mongolian Buddhist Sangha and the World Council of Churches.

I am married to writer and journalist Victoria Finlay and together we have written one of the most influential books on religion and conservation: Faith in Conservation, published by the World Bank. We live in North Somerset.

(PHOTOS COURTESY OF CLINT RANDALL)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best short introduction to Taoism, July 27, 2000

By 

R. Griffiths "bookchoice" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Elements of Taoism (Paperback)

This is the best short introduction to Taoism currently available for the general reader. It has the great strength of considering Taoism as it is actually practiced in China, rather than constructing a fantasy version, based on what westerners might like Taoism to be about. Palmer is well qualified to discuss the ins and outs of the Taoist quest for immortality and the rites of cosmic renewal, having long been a scholar of Chinese language and religions. After reading Palmer's book, readers will feel more able to cope with the also excellent but more difficult 'Taoism, Growth of a Religion', by Isabelle Robinet, or perhaps J.J. Clarke's 'The Tao of the West'. At any rate, they'll certainly know their Lao Tzu from their Chuang Tzu!

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Tao is older than Taoism, November 7, 2004

By 

OAKSHAMAN "oakshaman" (Algoma, WI United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Elements of Taoism (Elements of Series) (Paperback)

It is not an exaggeration to call this book the best introduction to Taoism, but then the key word is "Taoism" and not "Tao." There is a real difference between the formal religion and its accompanying folk tradition and in philosophical Taoism. Indeed, Lao Tzu was not a Taoist. He did not see himself as the founder of a religion. When it comes right down to it, the term "Tao" had been in use for centuries, if not millennia, before the Tao Te Ching was compiled.

What I found especially satisfying was the connection that is shown between Shamanism (the actual, primordial Siberian Shamanism) and Taoism. You see, the fundamental core essence of Shamanism is belief in two worlds that exist side by side. The spirit world affects our own lesser, material world- and an intermediary is needed to maintain harmony and balance between them. That is also the heart of Taoism- a harmonious union between heaven and earth. Only, in official Taoism, the emperor served as intermediary. Yet the goal of Taoist sage is essentially shamanistic- to obtain union and harmony with the highest, deepest, hidden currents of the universe. When this was achieved, one was in a state of wu-wei, where one's own will and the will of heaven were one and indistinguishable.

The other aspects of traditional Taoism are covered- the moral code, the formal liturgy, the quest for immortality and alchemical path, as well as associated later beliefs in magic and exorcisms. The stories of the great sages and immortals are here. So are the foundation myths of the Three August Ones and the Five August Emperors. The various teachers, schools, and canons that developed over the years are briefly outlined. What jumped out at me was the fact that the original, philosophical core of Taoism should not be confused with the formal religion and folk beliefs that sprang up afterwards.

Of course, the fact that there has been no emperor, no true mediator, on the Altar of Heaven for a century now makes one wonder about the chaos and confusion of our modern world. It was a basic tenet of formal Taoism that if the Mandate of Heaven was not working, then it could not be Heaven's fault- the emperor must not be harmony of the Tao- or an imposter entirely.

I myself await the return of a true Son of Heaven.