TAOISM: Origins, Beliefs, Practices, Holy Texts, Sacred Places

This is the latest addition to an acclaimed series of religious primers from Oxford. Having established herself as a first-rate tutor in her book on Confucianism, Oldstone-Moore now delves into the origins and fundamental themes of Taoism. At its core is the Tao, which Oldstone-Moore describes as "a nameless, formless, all-pervasive power which brings all things into being and reverts them back into non-being in an eternal cycle." The discipline of Taoism is to stay in unity with the Way of the Tao, meaning to live in alliance with this powerful source that dictates the natural order of the world. The premise is simple enough, yet the ancient tradition of Taoism is notoriously hard to define. It's been an ever-evolving religion that is constantly absorbing fresh revelations and new approaches. What makes this a particularly helpful resource is that Oldstone-Moore is willing to organize and explain many of the complicated elements of Taoism, such as its historical origins (debatable, but possibly going back to 403–221 B.C.E.); its love-hate relationship to Confucianism and Buddhism; its magical components; its elaborate entourage of gods and goddesses; and its emphasis on longevity. Oldstone-Moore occasionally lapses into academic writing (she's a professor at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio), making the text somewhat dry for casual reading. But for anyone who wants a solid overview of a complex and influential tradition (which the author says has led to numerous advances including gunpowder, magnetic compasses and the art of feng shui), this is a fine starting place. (Oct.)