Fabrizio Pregadio se zaměřuje na překlady a analýzu taoistických textů, zejména v oblasti vnitřní alchymie. Jeho práce přibližuje složité filozofické a duchovní tradice širšímu publiku, čímž nabízí jedinečný vhled do hlubokých aspektů taoismu. Tímto přístupem zpřístupňuje esoterické znalosti a podporuje porozumění starodávným čínským praxím.
With its enigmatic language and profound verses, the Cantong qi serves as a foundational text on Taoist alchemy, intertwining cosmology, Taoism, and alchemical practices. This book offers a complete translation along with in-depth explanations and notes on its sections, illuminating a doctrine that has captivated philosophers, poets, and scholars for centuries. The work's rich symbolism and layered meanings reveal its significance in both Neidan (Internal Alchemy) and broader Taoist traditions, making it a crucial resource for understanding its historical and philosophical context.
The index is structured into two sections: the first lists texts from the Zhonghua Daozang, the Taoist Canon of China, while the second identifies "base editions" utilized within it. Additionally, it provides a resource for locating texts from the Zhengtong Daozang, associated with the Zhengtong Reign-Period, within the broader Zhonghua Daozang. This organization facilitates easy navigation and reference for scholars and enthusiasts of Taoist literature.
Originally written for Chinese readers, this book provides a clear description of the Taoist practice of Internal Alchemy, or Neidan. The author outlines the four stages of the alchemical practice and clarifies several relevant terms and notions, including Essence, Breath, and Spirit; the Cinnabar Fields; the "Fire Times"; and the Embryo. The book is based on the system of the Wuzhen pian (Awakening to Reality), one of the main sources of Internal Alchemy, and contains about two hundred quotations from original Taoist texts. Table of Contents Foreword, vii INTRODUCTION, 1 The Basis: Essence and Spirit, 3 STAGES OF THE ALCHEMICAL PRACTICE IN AWAKENING TO REALITY, 11 The Four Stages, 13 "Laying the Foundations," 15 Main Points in the Practice of "Laying the Foundations," 20 The Functions of Essence, Breath, and Spirit, 36 Terms Related to the "Coagulation of the Three Treasures," 52 Conclusion of the Stage of "Laying the Foundations," 63 "Refining Essence to Transmute it into Breath," 65 "Refining Breath to Transmute it into Spirit," 99 "Refining Spirit to Return to Emptiness," 109 CONCLUSION, 119 The "Arts of the Way," 121 Tables, 123 Glossary of Chinese Characters, 133
