Chinese Mysticism and Alchemy

Course Title: Chinese Mysticism and Alchemy: An Introduction to the Religion of Daoism (Taoism)

Course Code: EM 150 NE (online-English)

Course Dates: 17 January 2011

Instructor: Cody Bahir

Objectives:

Daoism as a religion is perhaps the most widely misunderstood religious tradition in the West. This course aims to familiarize students with the religious tradition of Daoism in all of its complexity and diversity. We begin with an overview of the classical texts of the Yi Jing (I-Ching, the ancient divinatory and philosophical work), the Daode Jing (Tao Te Ching by Laozi (Lao Tzu), the foundational text of Daoism, the title of which gives the tradition its name) and Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu, the second most influential and widely known text of Classical Daoist Philosophy). We then turn our attention to the evolution of Internal Alchemy and Yin Yang-Five Elements Cosmology of the Han and Wei-Jin Dynasty periods and the development of the main Daoist movements such as Tian Shi (Celestial Masters), Shan Qing (Supreme Clarity), Tai Ping (Great Harmony) and Ling Bao (Numinous Treasure); exploring their beliefs, textual traditions, mystical and alchemical practices and history. This course will also cover such topics as Immortality and Transcendence, the Daozang (Daoist Canon), Chinese Alchemy and the relationships between Daoism as a religion to Classical Daoist Philosophy, Confucianism, Chinese folk religion, Shamanism, Mediumship and Mahayana as well as Tantric Buddhism, Daoist talisman creation and Celestial Script in order to provide students with a firm foundation upon which to pursue further study.

Required Texts:

Kristofer Schipper, The Taoist Body, University of California Press, 1993.
Supplementary reading materials will be provided to students through our online learning centre.

Prerequisites: None, this is an introductory course.

Languages: English only. Our English language requirements do apply to this course.

Delivery: Online only. A substantial amount of reading material will be made available to students through our online learning centre.

Assignments: As this course covers a number of topics spanning almost 3000 years, no student will be responsible for every aspect of all subjects covered. Thus, the assigned readings for each week will contain two components:

1. A number of assigned readings chosen to accentuate online instruction, broadly covering information necessary for critical inquiry into all facets of the topics covered. The questions in the Response paper and Final Examination will draw heavily upon these readings and online instruction.

2. A number of supplementary readings, of which the student will be required to choose at least one, based on the student’s particular interests. Notes and reflections from these readings should be documented in the student’s Learning Journal. Students are encouraged to keep possible Final Research Paper topics in mind when selecting supplementary readings.

 

 

Chinese Mysticism and Alchemy: An Introduction to the Religion of Daoism

Week 1	Spring and Autumn Period (roughly 750-500 B.C.E.) and Earlier: Backdrop and Roots of Early Chinese Mysticism -Classical Chinese Philosophy and Metaphysics Yi Jing (I-Ching): Ancient Chinese divination Confucius: Animal sacrifice, ritual, music, and ethics Laozi (Lao Tzu) and the Daode Jing (Tao Te Ching): Philosophy, politics, alchemy, metaphysics, and non-action
Week 2	Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.E.): Further Developments -Key Figures Yang Zhu (Yang Chu):Hedonism and ethics Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu), the second Daoist “Master”: The immanent Dao within all, the cosmology of Qi (Chi) ‘energy/breath’, transmutation between life and death The “Hundred Schools of Thought”: Competing traditions and their contributions to Daoism
Week 3	Early Han Dynasty (206 B.C.E.-220 C.E.): Syncretism -Cosmology and Practice Yin and Yang Five Element Cosmology Chinese Folk Religion and Shamanism or Mediumship The Huananzi: Early Chinese Internal and External Alchemy
Week 4	Han Dynasty Continued: Birth of Organized Mysticism and Immortality - Schools and Sects Tian Shi (Heavenly Masters), the first Organized school of Daoism: practices and scriptures Development of the Taiping (Great Harmony): Messianism, Soteriology and the movements role in the demise of the Han Dynasty (i.e. The Yellow Turban Revolt, which is the opening of the “Romance of the Three Kingdoms”, a classical Chinese literary work)
Week 5 Response Paper Due	Jin Dynasty (265-420 C.E.) -Schools and Sects Birth of the Shang Qing (Highest Clarity) School: Transcendence, immortality, gods, rituals and liturgy Ling Bao (Numinous Treasure) School: Notions of afterlife, heaven and hell, epochs and kalpas, talismanic rituals, cosmogony and the celestial script Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove: Daoist “Dark Learning”, Hedonism and political apathy
Week 6	Daoist Ritual and Arts -Ritual Sexual Initiation practices Talisman Creation Exorcism Rites for the Dead -Arts Internal Alchemy External Alchemy Feng Shui Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Arts of the Bedchamber (Daoist “Sexual Yoga”) Qi Gong (Chi Kung) Martial Arts
Week 7	Tang Dynasty (618-907 C.E.) -Interaction between Daoism and other Traditions Esoteric Buddhism in China: Transmission from India, its “demise” in China and influence on Shaolin Esoteric Buddhism in Japan: Initiation of Kukai and his incorporation of Daoist themes in Japan Interaction between Shinto and Daoism Daoism in Japan
Week 8	Overview of the Developments and Contents of the Daozang (Daoist Canon) -Structure Three Grottos Levels of Initiation Sectarian Nuances Different Versions and Periods of Canonization
Week 9	Later Developments and Contemporary Daoism -East Asia, (China, Taiwan, Korea and Japan) Initiation Rituals Ecclesiastical Hierarchy Contemporary Movements Modern Revival -The West Interaction with Western Alchemy Interaction with Western Esoteric Traditions Appropriation of Daoist Concepts by Modern Eclectic Religious Movements
Week 10	Research Paper Due Learning Journal Due Final Examination