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The Taoist TraditionInstructor Ding-hwa E. Hsieh Institution
Course Level and Type
Hours of Instruction
Enrolment and Year Last Taught
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This course aims to explore the rich heritage of Chinese Taoist tradition through an examination of Taoist philosophical discourse, religious movement, and techniques of meditation, longevity, and immortality. We will start from the Book of Change, and proceed to read the major texts of the Taoist philosophical tradition (Lao-tzu, Chuang-tzu, Lieh-tzu, etc.). In addition, we will study the development of the Taoist religion (founder, rituals, festivals, Taoist immortals and deities, sects, scriptures, etc.) and examine how Taoist philosophy and worldview have been carried into real practice (e.g. art of rulership, alchemy, meditation, and ch'i-kung [practice of circulation of vital energy]). The course is primarily discussion with occasional lectures, supplemented with audio-visual presentations. Readings include primary texts in translation and secondary works.
I. Class Attendance and Participation (20%): Meeting 50 minutes every Mon., Wed., and Fri. Every time before you come to class, you should finish the assigned readings. Also important is to bring your textbooks to the classroom. In addition, you are expected to participate in group discussion, give oral reports, and/or write short paragraphs on some issues or the films we see in the class.
II. Four Short Papers On the Given Questions (8% x 4): approximately 3 to 4 pages, typed and doubled space.
III. Two Exams (10%x2): The examinations will be based on the assigned readings, lectures, and films. They are: (1). Simple term-identifications. (2). One take-home essay question (typed, double-spaced, do not exceed 3 pages).
IV. One Term Paper (25%) and Oral Report of Paper (3%): Write a paper (8-11 pages, typed and doubled space) on any topic related to this course. For example, you can write a paper on Taoist cosmology, concept of non-action, etc. Or, you can do research on the Taoist t'ai-chi through video tapes, your personal learning experience, or your visit and interview people who practice t'ai-chi. Whatever topic you choose to write, you should provide serious theoretical reflections. Toward the end of the semester, you are required to give a 10-min. oral presentation of your classmate's paper (summary, comments, and suggestions); the one who writes the paper should be prepared to make some oral defense or explanation. Therefore, you should finish the draft of your paper before the 14th week so that your classmate can read it and prepare the presentation. The final version of the term paper should be based on those comments and suggestions.
Proposal Content:
Proposal Due: 10/12 (Mon.) Note---You are required to consult instructor during her office hour at least once before the proposal due.
Final Paper Due: Dec. 10 (Thur.) 9:00 a.m. Note---To be fair to everyone, No Late Paper Will Be Accepted.
Course Schedule: Discussion Issues, Readings, Papers Topics, and Due Dates
Week 1
8/24 Mon.---Course format, purposes, requirements, and readings.
8/26 Wed.---The Ancient Chinese World View: Correlative Cosmology. Reading: Wilhelm/Baynes, The I Ching, "Foreword" by C. G. Jung, pp. xxi-xxxix.
8/28 Fri.---Yin-Yang and Five Elements: "Complementary Bipolarity and Cyclical Periodicity" Reading: Wilhelm/Baynes, I Ching, "Introduction," pp. xlvii-lxii.
Week 2
8/31 Mon.---Divination: From Oracle Bone Inscriptions to the Book of Changes. Reading: Wilhelm/Baynes, The I Ching, "Ch'ien" and "K'un," pp. 3-11. "The Great Treatise," pp. 280-308.
9/2 Wed.---Consulting the Book of Changes. Reading: Wilhelm/Baynes, The I Ching, "Great Treatise" 314-36, 338-45, & 348-55. "Appendix: On Consulting the Oracle," 721-4.
9/4 Fri.--- 1). Individual Report of Fortune-telling by Using Book of Changes 2). Class Discussion on the Ancient Chinese Worldview contained in the Book of Changes.
Paper #1 Due (Using the Book Of Changes for Divination.) The paper should include:
(A). What is your question?
(B). What is the result? That is, which hexagram you've got by using coins or sticks? If there is the change in the lines, you will have to consult the 2nd hexagram and take it into account. Give the number of the hexagram and the page of the book when you cite those passages.
(C). Provide your analysis and interpretation of the result. Note that your interpretation should indicate your understanding of the teaching contained in the Book Of Changes.
Week 3
9/7 Mon.---Labor Day [No Class]
9/9 Wed.---Yang Chu (440-360 B.C.) and Philosophical Taoism Reading: Wong, Lieh-tzu, "Yang Chu," pp. 186-208.
9/11 Fri.---Lao-tzu the Person and Lao-tzu the Work Video Tape #1: "Taoism" [25 min.] BL1920.T36 1981 Reading: Lau, trans. Lao-tzu, "Introduction," pp. vii-xlv.
Week 4
9/14 Mon.---The Concept of Tao in Lao-tzu Lau, trans. Lao-tzu, Part One (Since this is a work difficult to read and comprehend, you should at least reading the following sections, approximately 20 pages): I-VII, IX, XII-XIV, XVIII-XX, XXV, and XXXV-XXXVII.
9/16 Wed.---"Non-action" (Wu-wei) Guest Speaker: Dr. Gregory Richter, Language and Literature, TSU Topic: "A Linguistic Look at the Tao-te ching" Reading: Lau, trans. Lao-tzu, Part Two (XXXVIII, XL-XLIV, XLVIII-XLIX, LII, and LV).
9/18 Fri.---Lao-tzu's Vision of An Ideal Society and Attitude Toward "Knowledge" Reading: Lau, trans. Lao-tzu, Part Two (LVI-LX and LXIII-LXXXI)
Paper # 2 Due (As a sage ruler of Taoism, how would you rule your people and behave yourself? Use the text Lao-tzu as your reference and provide the section numbers and pages whenever it's necessary.)
Week 5
9/21 Mon.---Mythical Skepticism in Chuang-tzu (c. 369-286 B. C.) Reading: Watson, trans. Chuang-tzu, "Introduction," pp. 1-20.
9/23 Wed.---Chuang-tzu's View of Human Existence Reading: Watson, trans. Chuang-tzu, Section 1-3, pp. 26-49.
9/25 Fri.---Class Discussion on Chuang-tzu; Review and Compare Chuang-tzu to Lao-tzu Reading: Watson, trans. Chuang-tzu, pp. 59-63, 64-72, 109-110, 113-115, and 140.
[During the weekend, finish reading Schipper, Taoist Body, Chapter 10 (pp. 183-216)]
Week 6
9/28 Mon.---Midterm Exam # 1 (on Book of Changes, Lao-tzu, and Chuang-tzu)
9/30 Wed.---The Rise of Neo-Taoism Reading: Eva Wong, Lieh-tzu, "Intro.," pp. 1-21.
10/2 Fri.---Concept of Life and Death in Lieh-tzu Reading: Eva Wong, Lieh-tzu, Part One and Six, pp. 24-47 and pp. 160-183.
Week 7
10/5 Mon.---Lieh-tzu's View of Human Existence Reading: Eva Wong, Lieh-tzu, Part Three and Four, pp. 82-128.
10/7 Wed.---Class Discussion on Lie-tzu's Philosophy of Life Reading: Eva Wong, Lieh-tzu, Part Eight, pp. 210-246.
Paper # 3 Due (Write a letter to Lieh-tzu, the attributed author of the work Lieh-tzu, to tell him [A] what you've learned from reading his work, [B] where and [C] why you agree/disagree his teachings [such as the concept of life and death, meaning of human existence, effort versus destiny, view toward tradition and convention, etc.]. Note: You Must Provide Textual Evidence Whenever It Is Necessary.)
10/9 Fri.---Shamanism and the Concept of Hsien (Immortals) Reading: 1. Lau, Lao-tzu, XVI, XXXIII, L, LVI. 2. Watson, Chuang-tzu, pp. 23-26, "The Great and Venerable Teacher" (pp.73-88), and "Mastering Life" (pp. 118-130).
Week 8
10/12 Mon.--- Project Proposal Due Individual Report of Project Proposal
10/14 Wed.---Video Tape #2: "Taoism: A Question of Balance--China" (The Long Serach Series, 1978) [55 min.]
10/16 Fri.---[No Class]
Week 9
10/19 Mon.--- Cult of Yellow Emperor and Queen Mother of the West Reading: Wong, Lieh-tzu, Part Two "Yellow Emperor," pp. 51-79.
10/21 Wed.---Master Chang Tao-ling and the Rise of Religious Taoist Movement Reading: Schipper, Taoist Body, pp. 1-19 and 60-71.
10/23 Fri.---Buddhist Influence on Taoist Formation of Canon and Church Reading: Schipper, Taoist Body, pp. 20-31.
Week 10
10/26 Mon.---The Taoist Pantheon and Festivals Reading: Schipper, Taoist Body, pp. 32-60.
10/28 Wed.---The Taoist Rituals and Priests Video Tape #3: "And the Gods moved to Taiwan" (1995) [52 min.] Reading: Schipper, Taoist Body, pp. 72-99.
10/31 Fri.---Review for Midterm #2
Week 11
11/2 Mon.---Midterm #2 (On Taoism as a Religion)
11/4 Wed.---Taoist View of Body and Mind Guest Speaker: Simon Sean, Instructor of T'ai Chi Ch'uan, TSU Topic: "T'ai-chi and the Unity of Body and Mind" Reading: Schipper, Taoist Body, pp. 100-129.
11/6 Fri.---The Achievement of Longevity and Quest for Material Immortality as a Hsien Reading: Schipper, Taoist Body, pp. 160-182.
Week 12
11/9 Mon.---Elixirs: Outer Alchemy Reading: [Handout] passages on outer alchemy, trans. by Livia Kohn, The Taoist Experience (SUNY, 1993), pp. 148-159 and 305-313.
11/11 Wed.---Taoist Meditation and Inner Alchemy Reading: Schipper, Taoist Body, pp. 130-159.
11/13 Fri.---Lü Tung-pin and His Work on Taoist Meditation Techniques Reading: Secret of the Golden Flower, Intro. (pp. 1-6), I-IV (pp. 9-29), and the translator's notes (pp. 73-98).
Week 13
11/16 Mon.---The Secret of the Golden Flower. Reading: Secret of the Golden Flower, V-IX, pp. 31-50, and the translator's notes, 98-119.
11/18 Wed.---Video Tape #4: "Healing and the Mind, vol. 1: The Mystery of Chi" with Bill Moyers (Ambrose Video, 1993) [58 min.] Reading: Secret of the Golden Flower, pp. 51-71 and pp. 120-153.
11/20 Fri.---Ch'i-kung Paper #4 Due (What is the Taoist concept of "ch'i"? How do Taoists maintain and strengthen "ch'i"? Do you believe the existence of ch'i within human body? If yes/no, why?)
Week 14
11/23 Mon.---Video Tape: "T'ai chi for Health" (Beverly Hills, Calif. : Healing Arts Home Video, c1989) [120 min.]
11/25 Wed.---(Thanksgiving Holiday [No Class])
11/27 Fri.---(Thanksgiving Holiday [No Class])
Week 15-16
Term Paper Presentation
The goal of this course is to give students with an overall picture of Chinese Taoist tradition. What is "Taoism"? How do we understand Taoism as an indigenous heritage vs. Taoism as a syncretic trend? What is the relationship between philosophical Taoism and religious Taoism? We began with the early Chinese worldview: the universe as a self-generating and self-regulating organism, the concept of yin-yang and wu-hsing, and the total mode of existence that is comprehensible in its final analysis. Next, we talked about ancestor worship and divination practiced in the Shang and Chou periods. We then went into detail about the development of Taoism as a school of philosophy, as a religious movement, and as a way of achieving health, longevity and even immortality.
The discussion on Chuang-tzu and Lieh-tzu went particularly well, mainly because both texts contained profound issues for students to contemplate. The Taoist Body and The Secret of the Golden Flower, together with the passages translated by Livia Kohn, enable students to understand how Taoist philosophy has been carried into practice and how Taoism has incorporated other elements from Confucian, Buddhist, and popular traditions.
Films on Taoism help students to achieve a better understanding of the Taoist liturgy, theater, duties of Taoist priests, and many other elements mentioned in Schipper's work, The Taoist Body. Students liked the topics assigned for the four short papers; they thought that these topics appeared less bookish and allowed them to get better insights into the subject and readings.
In the end, each student was asked to write a paper on any aspect of Taoism. On the whole, the papers were creative and interesting, and the topics included t'ai-chi, dietary, meditation, feng-shui, view of language, concept of evolution, and so forth. Students seemed to have learned a great deal and enjoyed writing a paper based on his/her special interest. The way in which one presented another's paper also made the presentation less boring and more lively and beneficial.
Latest update: July 24, 2002
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