Daoism Explained: From the Dream of the Butterfly to the Fishnet Allegory

Description

Hans-Georg Moeller has achieved the perfect blend with Daoism Explained. It is both a fascinating introduction on Daoist thought as well as an original and insightful contribution to Eastern philosophy. This book will take the place of The Tao of Pooh by Hoff. Like that book, Doaism Explained offers a comprehensive presentation of Daoist philosophy that is interesting and easy to follow. The study sheds new light on many Doaist allegories by showing how modern translations often concealed the original wit and humor of the Chinese original, or imposed alien philosophical frameworks on them. It attempts to take away the metaphysical and Christian disguises with which Daoist philosophy has been obscured by Western interpretations in the past 100 years. Contents Preface INTRODUCTION: A Very Short History of Daoism Laozi and the Daodejing The Zhuangzi Huang-Lao-Daoism Daoist Mysticism Daoist Practice Daoism Today The Dao Part I: Images and Allegories 1. Images in the Daodejing THE WHEEL—AN IMAGE OF THE DAO WATER AND THE FEMALE THE ROOT 2. Allegories from the Zhuangzi THE DREAM OF THE BUTTERFLY—OR: EVERYTHING IS REAL THE FISHNET ALLEGORY—OR: HOW TO FORGET THINKING THE HAPPY FISH—OR: JOY WITHOUT JOY Part II: Issues 1. The State 2. The Body (Of Infants and Corpses) 3. Life and Death 4. Time 5. Nature 6. Artisanship and Art 7. Ethics 8. Language and Thought Part III: Structures 1. Presence and Nonpresence—Or: The Pipe of Heaven 2. Daoist Signs—Or: The Difference between Dao and God Part IV: Perspectives 1. Daoism and Chan (or: Zen) Buddhism 2. Daoism and Contemporary Philosophy Notes Index