PHRE 313 - The Taoist Tradition

This course explores the rich heritage of Chinese Taoist tradition through examining Taoist philosophical discourse, religious movement, and meditative techniques of longevity and immortality. We will start from the Book of Changes, and proceed to read the Taoist texts of Lao-tzu and Chuang-tzu. We will then 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 (such as alchemy, meditation, and ch’i-kung [practice of circulation of vital energy]).

Credits: 3 hours
NOTE: General Honors Course.
NOTE: This course fulfills the Philosophical/Religious Mode of Inquiry and the Intercultural Interconnecting Perspective of the Liberal Studies Program.
NOTE: This course counts toward the 63-hour Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) graduation requirement.