Sex, Health, and Long Life: Manuals of Taoist Practice [Paperback]

Thomas Cleary (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2, 1999

     The benefits of sexual bliss were not lost on the ancients, who knew well its powers to enhance health, concentration, and peace of mind. These ancient Chinese Taoist texts explain the transformative effects sex can have when properly and wisely practiced, demonstrating Taoism's emphasis on cultivating life's "three treasures"—vitality, energy, and spirit—in all the activities of daily life.

     

     The texts are part of the famous Mawangdui finds, Han Dynasty tombs that yielded the richest cache of ancient medical manuscripts ever found in China. The first three texts, Ten Questions, Joining Yin and Yang, and Talk on Supreme Guidance for the World, deal with physical health and sex lore, including diet, exercise, sleep, and techniques of lovemaking. The last two, A Course in Effectiveness and A Course in Guidance, concentrate on the psychological factors of good health and well-being, especially the reduction of stress and cultivation of wholesome social relations.

     

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

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

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The benefits of sexual bliss were not lost on the ancients, who knew well its powers to enhance health, concentration, and peace of mind. These ancient Chinese Taoist texts explain the transformative effects sex can have when properly and wisely practiced, demonstrating Taoism's emphasis on cultivating life's "three treasures"-vitality, energy, and spirit-in all the activities of daily life.

The texts are part of the famous Mawangdui finds, Han Dynasty tombs that yielded the richest cache of ancient medical manuscripts ever found in China. The first three texts, Ten Questions, Joining Yin and Yang, and Talk on Supreme Guidance for the World, deal with physical health and sex lore, including diet, exercise, sleep, and techniques of lovemaking. The last two, A Course in Effectiveness and A Course in Guidance, concentrate on the psychological factors of good health and well-being, especially the reduction of stress and cultivation of wholesome social relations.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 124 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala (March 2, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 157062433X
• ISBN-13: 978-1570624339
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.3 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #786,465 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Thomas Cleary is the preeminent translator of classic Eastern texts, including The Essential Tao, The Essential Confucius, The Secret of the Golden Flower, and the bestselling The Art of War.

Customer Reviews

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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Different view of classical China, June 4, 2005

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wiredweird "wiredweird" (Earth, or somewhere nearby) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sex, Health, and Long Life: Manuals of Taoist Practice (Paperback)

As always, Cleary creates an enjoyable English rendering of important Chinese classics. These are very new classics - that's not an oxymoron, they were discovered by archaeologists only in the early 1970s. That's why I find it slightly maddening that Cleary gives so little information about the authors, origins, and approximate dates of the material. Fortunately, the translations stand well on their own, despite lack of historical context.

The first three of these varied works discuss sex as a tool for ehancing health and ensuring long life. They state the theory, based in traditional Chinese medicine and ideas of "chi," then go on to list specific yoga-like exercises. These are aimed wholly at male readers, discussing how to absorb the yin principle from its source in the female partner. No similar directions appear instructing women in how to bolster their energies. Perhaps as the source of power, it wasn't needed; perhaps women's well-being was not a topic of interest.

Still, the male reader is instructed in how to excite and recognize each phase of the woman's pleasure, and is instructed to use these sexual exercises only with consenting and aroused partners. The woman's pleasure is of interest mostly as a required part of the formula for the man's benefit, but is addressed nonetheless.

The last two pieces in this collection address effectiveness and guidance in the world. The word "guidance" seems to be used in a specific and non-obvious sense, as some complying with The Way - I'm left to wonder how another translator will render the term. Outside of that, these pieces are brief and enjoyable writings in familiar Taoist format: oblique and mystical, but generally joyous in the unity and strength of The Way. They suggest rather than tell, and invite the mind to wander away from the text insearch of personal meaning.

Any reader interested in Taoism should take a look at these. Readers interested in alchemy should also pay attention, seeing how Chinese thought differed from Western ideas.

//wiredweird

PS: This book's content also appears as one section of a larger collection, Cleary's "The Taoist Classics, Volume I."