Taoism : A New Perspective

The book surveys the history and teachings of Taoism (Daoism) over the course of Chinese civilization, and explores themes and ideas that interest modern minds. The religions of Asia continually fascinate people around the world. During the 20th century, the Taoist (Daoist) tradition of China became well-known. But even at the century''s end, our understandings of Taoism was limited to what scholars of Asia and Western lands had revealed. Few knew of the probing researches also being conducted by scholars of Russia, particularly Evgeny Torchinov (1956-2003). Torchinov, Russia''s leading authority on Taoism, died suddenly before completing the final English edition of his comprehensive introduction, Daosizm: Opyt Istoriko-religioznogo Opisaniia. Here at last is that English edition and we see Taoism through fresh eyes, revealing new insights into the minds and lives of centuries of Chinese Taoists.

The book surveys the history and teachings of Taoism (Daoism) over the course of Chinese civilization, and explores themes and ideas that interest modern minds. The religions of Asia continually fascinate people around the world. During the 20th century, the Taoist (Daoist) tradition of China became well-known. But even at the century''s end, our understandings of Taoism was limited to what scholars of Asia and Western lands had revealed. Few knew of the probing researches also being conducted by scholars of Russia, particularly Evgeny Torchinov (1956-2003). Torchinov, Russia''s leading authority on Taoism, died suddenly before completing the final English edition of his comprehensive introduction, Daosizm: Opyt Istoriko-religioznogo Opisaniia. Here at last is that English edition and we see Taoism through fresh eyes, revealing new insights into the minds and lives of centuries of Chinese Taoists.