Dao yuan yi guan 道原一貫 [Sources of the Way, Strung Together]
Six juan in six vols. 8vo, orig. wrappers, stitched. [China]: Yan gu zhai 延古齋, [1832–50].
The first (and possibly only) edition of a Qing-era anthology of Daoist works detailing the theory and practices of spiritual and corporeal longevity, published sometime between 1832 and the end of the Daoguang reign in 1850. WorldCat shows only one other copy in North America, at LC. The pursuit of everlasting life through rituals, ascetic practices, alchemy, geomancy, and so on has been a dominant theme in Daoist practice. The texts include:
1. LUO, Hongxian 羅洪先 & CAO, Ruoshui 曹若水. Wan shou xian shu 萬壽僊書 [The Immortals’ Book of Everlasting Life]. Printed illustrations. Four juan bound in four vols. [China]: 1832 (date of colophon). A practical guide for channeling the flow of qi 气 within the human body. This art of channeling — daoyin zhi fa 導引之法 — is also referred to in the Preface as anmo 按摩, a term used today for massage therapy. Described as the esoteric teachings of Luo Hongxian (1504–1564) by the work’s editor, Cao Ruoshui, this book begins with prescriptions of dietary and sexual discipline for spiritual and physical well-being. The bulk of the work (Vols. 2 and 3) is illustrated guides for various Daoist calisthenic exercises or qigong 氣功, including the famous Eightfold Brocades (baduanjin 八段錦) sequence still widely practiced today. Yogic postures and breathing techniques are accompanied by recipes of medical concoctions, all working together to heal various illnesses: back pain, skin infection, indigestion, nocturnal emission, internal qi obstructions, and so on. The final volume deals with Daoist philosophy. Note that in the Jiangsu University copy of this work digitized on ctext.org, the first work has a separate title page that is missing in our copy. In both copies, however, the Preface is cut off abruptly after the second page.
2. WU, Shouyang 伍守陽. Xian fo he zong 僊佛合宗 [The Joining Lineages of Daoism and Buddhism]. One juan in one vol. [China]: Shu ye tang 書業堂, n.d. This is a collection of excerpts from the longer work of the same title written by Wu Shouyang (1573–1644?, Daoist name Chongxuzi 沖虛子), a famous Daoist teacher in the Quanzhen 全真 lineage and the founder of the Wuliu 伍柳 lineage. In a series of doctrinal dialogues, Wu defends the underlying unity of Daoism and Buddhism.
3. ZHANG, Sanfeng 張三丰. Zu shi yuan yao pian 祖師元要篇 [The Primordial Essence of the Old Master]. Edited by Zhang Lingji 張靈機 & Zheng Lingmi 鄭靈謐. One juan bound in one vol. [China]: Ao xue shan fang 傲雪山房, 1826 (date of Preface). A collection of spiritual songs attributed to the legendary Daoist master Zhang Sanfeng, who was likely born sometime around the 13th century and was reportedly alive and active well over 200 years later. The songs include instructions for meditation, ascetic practices, subduing demons, and cultivating the “inner medicine.” According to the Preface, this is a selection published in 1826 by two of his latter-day disciples, Zhang Lingji and Zheng Lingmi.
The anthologist, who is identified only by the name Yunyanjushi (literally, the Lay Practitioner Cloud-Stone) on the title page of the first volume, did not leave a Preface explaining why he had chosen to bring these works together. Curiously, the second and third works contain publishers’ information different from that on the title page of the anthology. While the circumstances around the publication of this anthology are puzzling, these discrepancies at least seem to be consistent across extant copies.
Fine set.
The first (and possibly only) edition of a Qing-era anthology of Daoist works detailing the theory and practices of spiritual and corporeal longevity, published sometime between 1832 and the end of the Daoguang reign in 1850. WorldCat shows only one other copy in North America, at LC. The pursuit of everlasting life through rituals, ascetic practices, alchemy, geomancy, and so on has been a dominant theme in Daoist practice. The texts include:
1. LUO, Hongxian 羅洪先 & CAO, Ruoshui 曹若水. Wan shou xian shu 萬壽僊書 [The Immortals’ Book of Everlasting Life]. Printed illustrations. Four juan bound in four vols. [China]: 1832 (date of colophon). A practical guide for channeling the flow of qi 气 within the human body. This art of channeling — daoyin zhi fa 導引之法 — is also referred to in the Preface as anmo 按摩, a term used today for massage therapy. Described as the esoteric teachings of Luo Hongxian (1504–1564) by the work’s editor, Cao Ruoshui, this book begins with prescriptions of dietary and sexual discipline for spiritual and physical well-being. The bulk of the work (Vols. 2 and 3) is illustrated guides for various Daoist calisthenic exercises or qigong 氣功, including the famous Eightfold Brocades (baduanjin 八段錦) sequence still widely practiced today. Yogic postures and breathing techniques are accompanied by recipes of medical concoctions, all working together to heal various illnesses: back pain, skin infection, indigestion, nocturnal emission, internal qi obstructions, and so on. The final volume deals with Daoist philosophy. Note that in the Jiangsu University copy of this work digitized on ctext.org, the first work has a separate title page that is missing in our copy. In both copies, however, the Preface is cut off abruptly after the second page.
2. WU, Shouyang 伍守陽. Xian fo he zong 僊佛合宗 [The Joining Lineages of Daoism and Buddhism]. One juan in one vol. [China]: Shu ye tang 書業堂, n.d. This is a collection of excerpts from the longer work of the same title written by Wu Shouyang (1573–1644?, Daoist name Chongxuzi 沖虛子), a famous Daoist teacher in the Quanzhen 全真 lineage and the founder of the Wuliu 伍柳 lineage. In a series of doctrinal dialogues, Wu defends the underlying unity of Daoism and Buddhism.
3. ZHANG, Sanfeng 張三丰. Zu shi yuan yao pian 祖師元要篇 [The Primordial Essence of the Old Master]. Edited by Zhang Lingji 張靈機 & Zheng Lingmi 鄭靈謐. One juan bound in one vol. [China]: Ao xue shan fang 傲雪山房, 1826 (date of Preface). A collection of spiritual songs attributed to the legendary Daoist master Zhang Sanfeng, who was likely born sometime around the 13th century and was reportedly alive and active well over 200 years later. The songs include instructions for meditation, ascetic practices, subduing demons, and cultivating the “inner medicine.” According to the Preface, this is a selection published in 1826 by two of his latter-day disciples, Zhang Lingji and Zheng Lingmi.
The anthologist, who is identified only by the name Yunyanjushi (literally, the Lay Practitioner Cloud-Stone) on the title page of the first volume, did not leave a Preface explaining why he had chosen to bring these works together. Curiously, the second and third works contain publishers’ information different from that on the title page of the anthology. While the circumstances around the publication of this anthology are puzzling, these discrepancies at least seem to be consistent across extant copies.
Fine set.
Details
Title
Dao yuan yi guan 道原一貫 [Sources of the Way, Strung Together]
Author
YUNYANJUSHI 雲巖居士
Condition
Unknown