The following books were selected by Easten Law, associate director of academic programs at the Center for the Study of Overseas Ministries at Princeton Theological Seminary. Law’s research focuses on Chinese Christianity and Chinese religions.
Taoism is a diffuse and complex tradition of religious thought and practice dating back to the very beginnings of Chinese civilization. It emerged during the Spring and Autumn/Warring States period (770 to 221 BC), when scholars and sages debated the nature of humanity against a backdrop of war and social instability. At this time, Taoism emerged as a way of thinking and living in contrast to Confucianism and later evolved into an institutionalized religion during the late Han dynasty, between 100 and 200 AD.
In Taoism, Laozi (老子), who is revered as a deified and immortal sage, is believed to have written the Daodejing (道德經), or “the Scripture of the Way and its power/virtue”. This collection of 81 short poetic chapters seeks to guide readers toward achieving a wise disposition, capable of discerning right actions in all circumstances with effortless wisdom. The earliest copy of the Daodejing we have dates from around 300 BC.
Another great Taoist text, the Zhuangzi (莊子), compiled during the third century AD, is a collection of fanciful parables and provocative teachings that strive to reverse the human desire for control and certainty in favor of ‘a flexible and insightful simplicity that can adapt to every situation. The Taoist religion also considers the physical body to be an important part of achieving enlightenment, considering our body to be a microcosm of the universe. Its practices often focus on physical exercises, meditative techniques and collective rituals to strengthen our connections with the vital energies (qi 氣) that flow through us in order to harmonize ourselves and our communities with the cosmos.
The books recommended here offer a range of perspectives on Taoism for all interest levels.
For the occasional and the curious: The Tao of the Pooh by Benjamin Hoff
This was the very first book on Taoist thought that I read as a student. It remains a classic introduction for curious Westerners looking for a cultural bridge to understanding some of the philosophical foundations of Taoism.
Hoff highlights AA Milne’s beloved Winnie the Pooh as an example of Taoist living: someone who is optimistic, simple yet insightful. This contrasts with other characters like Owl, Rabbit, Piglet, and Eeyore, who each embody a worldview opposed to the Dao.
Contrary to first impressions, Pooh is not an idiot. He is rather a wise man. Hoff skillfully integrates the teachings of the Daodejing, Zhuangzi, and various Chinese writers into an integrated whole that challenges modern lifestyles focused on work and worry.
The book is an enjoyable, light-hearted introduction to Taoism that creatively captures some of its fundamental traits without the complexities of its history and culture. Some may be put off by its individualistic “self-help” tone, but I believe it remains the most applicable and accessible introduction to Taoist thought for the average reader.
For the most serious applicants: Taoism: a beginner’s guide by James Miller
While The Dao of the Pooh offers a fun introduction to Taoist concepts, it is woefully inadequate for those seeking a serious understanding of this 3,000-year-old tradition. James Miller’s introduction to the Taoist tradition is one of the best I have encountered, in part because of the book’s creative organization.
Miller selects eight key themes for understanding this complex tradition: identity, way, body, power, light, alchemy, text and nature. After an exceptional historical introduction that succinctly orients the reader to the key figures, movements, and eras of Taoism, each chapter offers a well-curated selection of historical and textual examples that reinforce the importance of each theme to the Taoist faith. This gives readers clear direction to anchor their learning without getting lost in the details. Although textbook-like, this book provides a clear and accessible introduction to the broader Taoist tradition.
For the comparative perspective: The calabash and the cross: Taoism and Christianity in dialogueby Sung-hae Kim
There are very few texts in English that provide sufficient expertise in the Christian and Taoist traditions to allow for a meaningful comparison. Sung-hae Kim’s collection of essays is one of them and is an enriching read for Christians thinking about the intersections between the Taoist and Christian faith.
A Roman Catholic nun (Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill) and former professor of Asian religions at the Jesuit Sogang University in South Korea, Kim’s essays are the product of extended dialogues with Taoist priests.
After an introductory chapter evaluating Taoism through a Christian perspective, Kim offers a series of comparative essays integrating Christian and Taoist beliefs into conversations that build common ground while respecting real differences.
For example, the Tao is compared to the reign of God, Jesus Christ is compared to a Taoist sage and the concept of freedom is compared in the writings of the Zhuangzi and the New Testament. Kim’s theological reflections provide significant resources for building bridges between Christ and the Tao.
For erudite minds: The Taoist body by Kristofer Schipper
The Taoist body has become a classic for understanding everyday expressions of the Taoist religion, thanks to Kristofer Schipper’s unique experiences as a university-trained scholar and ordained Taoist master.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Schipper immersed himself in the Taoist world of Tainan, a Taiwanese city famous for its religious vibrancy. Recognizing that the Daoist tradition was better understood in action than in thought, he became the first person of European descent to be initiated as a priest into the Zhengyi Dao lineage.
The Taoist body contains detailed descriptions of the many practices, rituals and festivals that animate Taoist life at the local level, among local villages and temples. Although somewhat fictionalized, Schipper’s detailed exposition of Taoist exercises and liturgies illustrates the many ways in which Taoist principles are integrated into all aspects of traditional Chinese rural life. Additionally, Schipper connects his observations to philosophical and ritual texts, showing the reader why Taoism is something that must be practiced and experienced physically rather than understood and known intellectually.
For connoisseurs around the world: Dream Trippers: Global Taoism and the Predicament of Modern Spirituality by David A. Palmer and Elijah Siegler
If Schipper The Taoist body Bringing us to a close encounter with the local heartbeat of Taoist practice, David Palmer and Elijah Siegler document how this complex faith adapts to a modern globalized world.
Dream travelers is a decade-long ethnographic study of Taoist practitioners on both sides of the Pacific. On the one hand, the text explores how Taoism is practiced by Chinese Taoist monks at Huashan, a sacred Taoist mountain, and how they strive to reclaim their heritage amid the social upheavals and transformations of modern China . On the other hand, the text also follows a group of Americans experimenting with Taoist faith and practice to address their own individual and social challenges.
More importantly, the book chronicles the encounters between the two groups as they search for common ground in their culturally constrained spiritual quests, revealing a messy confluence of old and new Taoisms that flourish in the age of globalization. Behind these stories, the authors offer significant historical studies of the revival of Taoism in China as well as its reinvention in the United States. This is a remarkable study that highlights the complexities of spiritual seeking in today’s world, across oceans and cultures.
Bonus: Jumping into the Classics – Recommended Daodejing and Zhuangzi Translations
In all the above books, there will be a lot of talk about Daodejing and Zhuangzi. Both are enriching reads of literary beauty and philosophical wisdom. But a quick search will yield many translations, and it can be difficult to discern which translation of the text to choose.
I highly recommend Stephen Addiss and Stanley Lombardo translation of Daodejing . For me, Addis and Lombardo’s translation does the best job of combining the literal meanings of classical Chinese with poetic English phrasing. The text includes a useful glossary of key terms.
Burton Watson translation of Zhuangzi is the most popular and offers a curated selection of the best stories and teachings from the text.
