FUNG LOY KOK INSTITUTE OF TAOISM
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The Taoist Tradition: Some Starting Points for Reading
Everything we teach in the International Taoist Tai Chi Society provides instruction in Taoism. However in response to
enquiries about suitable reading materials on the topic of Taoism, the following reading list was developed. The list includes
reference to various translations of Taoist classics, as well as some key Confucian and Buddhist works, in keeping with the
Fung Loy Kok Institute of Taoism’s three religions heritage. This is not a list of ‘recommended reading’ in any formal sense.
It merely offers some starting points for those interested. However the items asterisked (*) are recommended texts if people
wish to read. Importantly, we do not recommend trying to learn Taoist Tai Chi® internal arts and methods from books; proper
in-person guidance from an instructor is needed. For details about programs offered by the Fung Loy Kok Institute of Taoism
and the International Taoist Tai Chi Society, visit www.taoist.org. (ver. 1.2, 2012-02-15)
A.
PRIMARY SOURCES
1. * Lao-Tzu Te Tao Ching. Trans. Robert Henricks (Ballantine 1993). 0345370996
Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching: A Translation of the Startling New Documents Found at Guodian. Trans. Robert
Henricks (Columbia University Press 2000). 0231118171
Tao Te Ching. Trans. D. C. Lau (Penguin Classics 1963, or Everyman’s Library 1994).
Wisdom of Laotse. Trans. Lin Yutang (Modern Library 1979). 0394604768
Daode jing. Trans. by Charles Muller, http://www.acmuller.net/con-dao/daodejing.html
Tao Te King. http://home.pages.at/onkellotus Versions in many languages, includes English.
2. * Chuang Tzu: Basic Writings. Trans. Burton Watson (Columbia University Press). 0231086067
Wandering the Way: Chuang Tzu. Trans. Victor H. Mair (Bantam Books). 0553374060.
3. Original Tao: Inward Training and the Foundations of Taoist Mysticism. Trans. and commentary Harold D.
Roth (Columbia University Press 1999). 0231115652
4. * The Analects of Confucius: A Philosophical Translation. Trans. Roger Ames and Henry Rosemont Jr. (Balantine
1998). 0345434072
Confucius Analects. Trans. Edward Slingerland (Hackett 2003). 0872206351
Ta Hsueh and Chung Yung: (The Highest Order of Cultivation and On the Practice of the Mean). Trans.
Andrew Plaks (Penguin Classics 2003). 0140447849 or 978-0140447842
Confucius: The Analects, The Great Learning, and The Doctrine of the Mean. Trans. by Charles Muller,
http://www.acmuller.net/con-dao/index.html
5. The Diamond Sutra. Trans. by Charles Muller, http://www.acmuller.net/digitexts.html#div-1
6. The Heart Sutra. Trans. by Buddha Gate Monastery, http://ctzen.org/sunnyvale/enHeartSutraWithAnnotations.htm
7. The Taoist Experience: An Anthology. Trans. Livia Kohn (SUNY 1993). 0791415805
8. Lao Tzu’s Treatise on the Response of the Tao. Trans. Eva Wong, Introduction by S. Dennison (Harper Collins
1994). 0060649569
9. * Seven Taoist Masters. Trans. Eva Wong (Shambhala 1990). 0877735441
B.
SECONDARY SOURCES: INTRODUCTIONS, GUIDES AND WEB RESOURCES
1. Taoism: A Short Introduction. James Miller (Oneworld Publications 2003). 1851683151
2. Daoism and Chinese Culture. Livia Kohn (Three Pines Press 2001). 1931483000
3. Taoism: The Enduring Tradition. Russell Kirkland (Routledge 2004). 0415263220
4. The Shambhala Guide to Taoism. Eva Wong (Shambhala 1997). 1570621691
5. Fung Ying Seen Koon Daoist Culture and Information Centre (Hong Kong):
http://en.daoinfo.org/wiki/Main_Page
134, D'Arcy Street, Toronto, Ontario Canada M5T 1K3 • Tel: (416) 595-5291 • Fax: (416) 595-1866