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Summary: Getting to the Heart of Taoist Practice
Review: I just finished readnig this book, and all I can say is "Wow!" Whether you're a beginner or a long-time Taoist, "The Tao of X" can only carry you so far. At some point you have to move beyond poetry and nice words and discover what the real practices and traditions are all about. And that's exactly what Michael Saso does in this book. Finally, someone gives us a serious introduction to the rituals, dances, chants, spells, and methods of true Taoism. Bravo!
Rating:
Summary: Wow!
Review: I received this book as a Christmas gift, and all I can say is WOW. What a great book, so full of serious Taoist information on practice, history, etc. A real treasure!
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Summary: ONE OF A KIND
Review: I wanted to learn taoist sorcery for long time, but there i could not find any book on the subject at all untill this book came along. this book is the real thing, it teach you in detail of true taoist ritual, spells, mantra, deity summon, etc..
this book is the only one of it kind in the U.S, that truely explain and teach you to do taoist sorcery stuff. Most of the stuff in this book need lots of time and effort on your part to master. Some ritual and summon are long and complex, but if you really interst in learning and casting spells and summon deitys this book is a must have.
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Summary: Excellent!
Review: I'm a teacher at a small college. If I had to recommend that my students only have one Taoist book, it would be the Dao De Jing (Henricks version). If I had to recommend an additional book, this would be it. Taoist Master Chuang is the second doggone most important Taoist book you can have!!!
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Summary: Wanna Be A Taoist?
Review: If you do, then read this book. Well, this book won't actually make you a Taoist, but it will show you what it's like to be one! Instead of contemplating the dao all day, this Taoist (Master Chuang) is performing rituals and exorcisms, aiding the souls of the dead, comforting and healing the living, and more. Saso shows the read the diagrams, prayers, symbols, etc., used to do all this. He should know - he is Master Chuang's disciple and spiritual heir! The section on Taoist history alone is worth the purchase price.
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Summary: the best book youl ever read
Review: my how amazing this book is just goes beyond any human comprehention i am wiccan and i must say that this book has helped me learn of other riligions simmiler to mine and the rituals are grate.
(pleas excuse my spelling lol)
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Summary: The Other Reviews Don't Lie
Review: OK, I was looking for some books on Taoism, and I found "Taoist Master Chuang." I read the other reviews, and decided that I had to read this book for myself. Without doubt I'm glad I did. Master Chuang describes Taoist history in a way that is so much more thorough and succint than in any other book I've read. Now we know how Taoists themselves view Taoist history! And the second half of the book, which deals with Taoist practices like mantra, hand gestures called mudra, magical spells to control spirits, etc., is without peer. This is no theorectical discussion, this is a detailed description of actual practice. It's about time someone wrote this book, and I applaud Michael Saso for doing so.
Rating:
Summary: The Other Reviews Don't Lie
Review: OK, I was looking for some books on Taoism, and I found "Taoist Master Chuang." I read the other reviews, and decided that I had to read this book for myself. Without doubt I'm glad I did. Master Chuang describes Taoist history in a way that is so much more thorough and succint than in any other book I've read. Now we know how Taoists themselves view Taoist history! And the second half of the book, which deals with Taoist practices like mantra, hand gestures called mudra, magical spells to control spirits, etc., is without peer. This is no theorectical discussion, this is a detailed description of actual practice. It's about time someone wrote this book, and I applaud Michael Saso for doing so.
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Summary: A Book of Religion, not Philosophy or Martial Arts.
Review: TAOIST MASTER CHUANG (c. 2000) by Michael R. Saso, is a book of Taoist religious ritual and liturgy to control and exorcise evil spirits as practiced by the grade four Cheng-i Meng-wei sect (One Auspicious Alliance) priest, Master Chuang. The author, Professor Michael R. Saso, acted as a "participant/observer" on Taiwan as he recorded the style of magic from the Ch'ing-wei sect (The Heavenly Pilot, a Tantric Taoist order from the Tang Dynasty), from manuals originally in the collection of Wu Ching-ch'un, and as interpreted and practiced by Master Chuang.
The book TAOIST MASTER CHUANG contained the interesting 4th century Mao shan sect (Highest Purity Order of the Yellow Court Canon) rituals of the Tao of the Left black magic (Chapt. 4) and the Orthodox rituals of the Tao of the Right 'Thunder Magic' (Chapt. 5); and instructions of the use of the 'Lu' which is a register of spirit names. The Heterodox Tao of the Left black magic emphasized rituals to summon the six evil chia spirits; while the Orthodox Tao of the Right used 'Thunder Magic' to deflect those spirits. And the ritual of the 'chiao', bringing the priest into direct contact with the Tao itself, was explained to be dependent upon fasting, and a diet of simple foods, whole grains, and vegetables to alter the body's internal alchemy to become receptive to the required ritual. Also included were the drawn Talismans, finger-formed Mudras, and the chanted Mantras of all Ch'ing-wei sect rituals.
The book TAOIST MASTER CHUANG revealed that esteem and validity amongst Taiwanese Taoist priests seemed to rely on the possession of antique manuals, and that priests were constantly stealing each others books to gain knowledge of the name and descriptions of different spirits and the talismic charms and mantric incantations to control them; plus how to learn to perform various funeral and birth rituals. It appeared that being a Taoist priest in Taiwan was no different than any other vocation and individuals fell on Taoism as a means of making a living.
The subject of the book, Master Chuang Teng-yun (Chuang who ascends the Clouds) despite his alcoholism and bad temper, was a first rate expert on Meng-wei orthodox Taoism and a conscientious adherent to all the proper liturgy and rites of Ch'ing-wei Thunder Magic. Master Chuang was also one of the few advanced ordained Taoist priests on Taiwan who knew how to perform the rituals properly. Such as the dance of the Ho-T'U at the end of the Chiao festival which would bring the priest in direct contact with the Tao itself! Or the proper interpretation of the eight trigrams of King Wen; the Lo-shu (the octagon design you see on placemats at Chinese restaraunts).
Regardless of any scholastic short-comings, the book TAOIST MASTER CHUANG is an important work for the lay student of escoteric religious Taoism, contained a great depth of information which will require several readings, and should be read in conjunction with 'SEVEN TAOIST MASTERS: A Folk Novel of China'(c.1990) by Eva Wong
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Summary: Taoist "Book of the Year"
Review: Taoist Master Chuang has got to be Taoism's Book of the Year! If you've already read the philosophic basics, and you're looking for one good book to take on vacation or to read by the fire as the first snows fall, this is it. The first section tells the reader about Taoist history. There is nothing comparable in English. This section alone makes a great book. The second section deals with Taoist ritual, magic, and practice. Saso relates the spells, prayers, dances, invocations, etc. that he learned as Master Chuang's disciple. Again, there is nothing like this available in English, and this section alone would make a great book. If you're looking for one book, this is it. The Taoist Book of the Year!
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