Harmonizing Yin and Yang: The Dragon-Tiger Classic » (1 ED)

To age with the sun and moon and be renewed by spring and summer, to conserve the seeds of growth in autumn and winter and to be nourished by the eternal breath of the Tao—these are the goals of the Taoist alchemists, the masters of the arts of health, longevity, and immortality.

This book is a translation of a concise Taoist alchemical manual known as the Dragon-Tiger Classic, along with its two most important commentaries. The classic, written in ancient times by an unknown author and published during the fifteenth century BCE, is regarded by contemporary Taoist practitioners as the most complete guide to spiritual transformation. It covers the three forms of Taoist practice:

   •  External alchemy, concerned with the ingestion of minerals, herbs, and other substances to attain health, longevity, and immortality
   •  Sexual alchemy, in which the practitioner uses the energy of a sexual partner to cultivate his or her own energy
   •  Internal alchemy, the practice of meditation, calisthenics, and yogic postures to cultivate mind and body

An extensive introduction by the translator and the inclusion of two commentaries by traditional Chinese authors aid the reader in understanding this concise, symbolic text.

Publishers Weekly

The ancient Chinese symbols of yin and yang represent the harmony of the universe. When one is out of kilter, then disharmony usually follows. The great difficulty, then, is knowing just how to harmonize these two elements. Here, Wong, a Taoist practitioner and the translator of The Shambhala Guide to Taoism, translates the Taoist alchemical manual known as The Dragon-Tiger Classic. Although this manual was written in ancient times, it was not published until the 15th century CE, and it is considered by Taoist scholars to be one of the most complete guides to Taoist spirituality. The text focuses on three kinds of transformation: internal, where the practice of meditation through yoga and other exercises is used to bring together body and mind; external, where one's eating habits and the eating of certain herbs and minerals affect one's physical and spiritual health; and sexual, where one's individual energy is drawn from the sexual energy of the other. Each chapter begins with a saying from the Dragon-Tiger Classic, followed by excerpts from the two major commentaries on this text. Wong's translation is accessible and her scholarship sparkling in this illuminating edition of a Chinese Taoist classic. (Sept.)