Seven Taoist Masters: A Folk Novel of China (Shambhala Classics) [Paperback]

Eva Wong (Translator)

Book Description

Series: Shambhala Classics | Publication Date: October 26, 2004

History and legend are interwoven in this folk novel that both entertains and instructs. Written by an unknown author, Seven Taoist Masters is the story of six men and one woman who overcome tremendous hardships on the journey to self-mastery. These characters and their teacher, Wang Ch'ung-yang, are all historical figures who lived in the Southern Sung (1127–1279) and Yuan (1271–1368) dynasties. Wang is regarded as the greatest patriarch of the Complete Reality school, a highly purified branch of Taoism having a strong affinity with Zen Buddhism. The novel brings to life the essentials of Taoist philosophy and practice, both through the instructions offered by Wang—on topics such as the cultivation of mind and body, meditation techniques, and overcoming the obstacles to enlightenment—and through the experiences of the characters.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Chinese --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala (October 26, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590301765
• ISBN-13: 978-1590301760
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #320,171 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Primer of 'Singular Path' Northern Taoism., October 19, 2004

By 

Brian A. Glennon "BAG" (South Boston, Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Seven Taoist Masters: A Folk Novel of China (Paperback)

A training manual written in the form of a story, the book: 'SEVEN TAOIST MASTERS: A Folk Novel of China' (c. 1990) translated by Eva Wong, introduced the reader to a blend of myth and history to both entertain and teach, in the form of lectures, the Taoist philosophy of Wang Ch'ung-yang and Ch'iu Ch'ang-ch'un. History had recorded that the disciple "Ch'iu Ch'ang-ch'un was befriended by Kublai Khan and was appointed court high priest during the reign of the first Yu'an Emporer" (p.xvii). And Wang Ch'ung-yang lived during the Sung (1127-1279) and Yu'an (1271-1368) dynasties.

Wang Ch'ang-yang (the rebirth of yang, or the rejuvenation of mind & body) was regarded as one of the greatest patriarchs of the school of True Reality (or the school of Complete Reality) and his students, the seven Taoist masters, were of the Northern School of Taoism, that branch of Taoism which advocates the 'singular path', where enlightenment and immortality are achieved through meditation and chi-kung exercises, it is the closest to Buddhism and Ch'an meditation of the Taoist sects. Ch'iu Ch'ang-ch'un, one of the seven masters, founded the Lung-men (Dragon Gate)sect of Taoism.

SEVEN TAOIST MASTERS presentd a mix of myth and history in the most appealing way to the reader conforming to the Taoist pedagogy of story telling to instruct as more accessible in an intuitive reading than as analytic reading of a text. The main character, Wang Ch'ung-yang, was approached by two immortals, Lu and Chung-li Ch'uan, dressed as beggars, who had to convert mortals into Taoist immortals before the flowering of the immortal peach so that the Empress of Heaven wouldn't have to eat it alone. While Buddhism emphasizes reincarnation, Taoism strives for immortality, by means of internal alchemy, the actual transformation of body & soul through various Taoist efforts and personal sacrifices of the apprentice.

So in the SEVEN TAOIST MASTERS, the experiences of Wang Ch'ung-yang are used as a vehicle to describe the attitudes and situations for Taoist training and the obstacles usually encountered on the road to enlightenment. The seven Taoist masters each represent seven different approaches to the Tao, and each master must negotiate an obstacle in their own way on the path to enlightenment. In this particular theology of Taoism is the belief that destiny can be changed by the actions of people, reward and retribution will be given according to one's behaviour.

The book, SEVEN TAOIST MASTERS, contained a number of typographical and grammatical errors, such as "propserous" (p. 89), and "emerge" for merge throughout the work, and a number of ancient Chinese woodblock illustrations; yet overall, this is an excellent introduction to the Northern School of Taoism using a primer originally written for the training of Taoists priests. Also, please read TAOIST MASTER CHUANG (c. 2000) by Michael R. Saso, to gain further insight into the life and training of a Taoist disciple.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars excellent insight, April 27, 2000

By 

greglor "greglor" (Baltimore, MD United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Seven Taoist Masters: A Folk Novel of China (Paperback)

This book offers an excellent insight into Taoist philosophy. In a series of tales about the seven taoist masters, it shows how each of these 6 men and one woman have attained enlightenment, and the snares that they had to pass to reach it. From these tales we can come to understand Taoist philosophy, and contrast it with Buddhist philosophy (in the interactions between Buddhist and Taoist masters). The stories are interesting, and full of meaning on many levels. This book is a much better beginning point to understand Taoism than the Tao of Pooh.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars this was a lot of fun!, September 6, 2001

By 

Kurt K. Gilman - See all my reviews

This review is from: Seven Taoist Masters: A Folk Novel of China (Paperback)

This book givers credence to the Toaist practice of painless teaching through storytelling. It was a joy to read and the depth of the stories became clear once the reading was completed. If you are looking for an entertaining read with a little Toaist history, this book fills the bill quite nicely.