Taoist Books
A selection books about the Lee style as well as some other works of more general interest.
The books written by Chee Soo are directly applicable to the Lee style of T'ai Chi, the other books are of more general interest. Remember that Taoism is a practical philosophy not an abstract set of beliefs, some of the meaning may not become obvious at the first reading, and of course much has been lost in translation by western authors who may lack a comprehensive knowlege of actual Taoist practices. Taoism has a documented history in China spanning more than five thousand years and most writers will specialise in their own particular field such as: Taoist philosophy, Chinese Medicine, Martial Arts, Religion and Spiritual practices, Alchemy, Meditation etc.
Chee Soo's Taoist Arts of the Lee style
Chee Soo's books can be obtained direct from Seahorse Books
For any of the books below just click the links for more details or to order through Amazon.
The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff
An easy to digest guide to Taoist Philosophy.
RL Wing (Try before you buy here)
The Tao Teh Ching
The Tao Teh Ching written by Lao Tzu around the third century BC is considered by many to be the cornerstone of modern day Taoism. In recent years archaeologists have unearthed never before seen versions of this important text from tombs, notably at Mawangdui in 1973 - known as the Mawangdui silk texts - dating from around 167 BC and the oldest text in existence so far: the Guodian Chu bamboo slips discovered in 1993 and dating back to about 300 BC. Here are some interesting translations of these various versions of the Tao Teh Ching:
Lao-Tzu: Te-Tao Ching: A New Translation Based on the Recently Discovered Ma-Wang-Tui Texts
In 1973 archaeologists unearthed a tomb in Mawangdui in China and discovered written on silk a version of the Tao Teh Ching which had not seen the light of day since 167 BC, far older than any previously known translations.
Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching: A Translation of the Startling New Documents Found at Guodian
In 1993 archaeologists excavating the Guodian tombs in Jingmen discovered hundreds of bamboo slips which were painted in great detail containing the oldest known version of the Tao Teh Ching from around 300BC, with some very interesting differences to modern day translations. These bamboo slips contain previously unknown Taoist classics as well as throwing new light on the relationshipo between early Taoist and Confucian philosophy.
The Guodian Laozi
The first major publication in English on the bamboo slips excavated from a late fourth century B.C. Chu-state tomb at Guodian, Hubei, in 1993. The slip texts include both Daoist and Confucian works, many previously unknown. Thie monograph is a full account of the international conference held on these texts, at which leading scholars from China, the United States, Europe, and Japan analyzed the Laozi materials and a previously unknown cosmological text. In addition, the contents include nine essays on topics such as the archaeological background of the discovery, conservation of the slip-texts, and the relation of the Guodian Laozi materials to the received Laozi text. An annotated edition of the Guodian Laozi materials and the cosmological text are included, as well as a critical bibliography with summary of Chinese scholarship on the Guodian texts in the year following the conference.
The Taoist Classics - by Thomas Cleary
Volume one
Tao Teh Ching
Chuang Tzu
Wen-tzu
The book of leadership and strategy
Sex, Health and Long Life
ISBN: 1570629056
Volume two
Understanding reality
The Inner teaching of Taoism
The book of balance and harmony
Practical Taoism
ISBN: 1570629064
Volume three
Vitality, Energy, Spirit
The secret of the golden flower
Immortal Sisters
Awakening to the Tao
ISBN: 1570629072
Volume four
The Taoist I Ching
I Ching Mandalas
ISBN: 1570629080
