道家
Daoism and the Daoist religion are not two chapters of one book. The Daodejing, Zhuangzi and Liezi are pre-Qin philosophy; the Huainanzi is Han-dynasty Huang-Lao thought; the Yinfu Jing, Yellow Court Classic, Zhouyi Cantongqi and Wuzhenpian belong to the inner alchemy tradition of the Daoist religion. They are grouped here because readers have always looked for them along this one line, not to merge them into a single doctrine.
Large collections from the Daoist Canon are included only where the complete text is available. Where a book is partial, its page says so.
How to read this branch
Read the Daodejing and the Zhuangzi first, then the Liezi, Wenzi and Huainanzi. To see how the Daoist religion turned the Dao into practice, go on to the Yinfu Jing, the Yellow Court Classic, the Zhouyi Cantongqi, the Wuzhenpian and the Baopuzi.
- Bao Pu Zi Nei Pian (抱朴子內篇)OriginalTranslationEastern Jin (東晉) · Ge Hong (葛洪)Written by Ge Hong of the Jin dynasty.
- Bao Pu Zi Wai Pian (抱朴子外篇)OriginalTranslationEastern Jin (東晉) · Ge Hong (葛洪)Baopuzi said: There was a Master Cherishing-Ice who thought little of …
- Dao De Jing (道德經)OriginalTranslationSpring and Autumn (春秋) · Lao Dan (attributed) (老聃（舊題）)Laozi, Daodejing, Part One
- Guan Yin Zi (關尹子)OriginalTranslationZhou (周) · Guan Yinxi (attributed) (關尹喜（舊題）)Chapter One, “One Heaven” (yu, the cosmos): “yu” here means the Way (d…
- Gui Gu Zi (鬼谷子)OriginalTranslationWarring States (戰國) · Guiguzi (attributed) (鬼谷子（舊題）)Looking back to antiquity (the received text has “ao” where “yue” is m…
- He Guan Zi (鶡冠子)OriginalTranslationWarring States (戰國) · He Guanzi (鶡冠子)The royal instrument of rule must in the end be led by thick virtue. […
- Hua Shu (化書)OriginalTranslationSouthern Tang (南唐) · Tan Qiao (譚峭)The Dao (the word Laozi borrows for the origin of all things and the w…
- Huai Nan Zi (淮南子)OriginalTranslationWestern Han (西漢) · Liu An (劉安)Yuan Dao Xun (Originating in the Way)
- Huang Ting Nei Jing Jing (黃庭內景經)OriginalTranslationWei–Jin (魏晉) · anonymous (佚名)Before the throne of the Sovereign of Void at Purple Dawn in Highest C…
- Huang Ting Nei Wai Jing Jing (黃庭內外景經)OriginalTranslationWei–Jin (魏晉) · anonymous (佚名)The Scripture of the Jade Scenes of the Inner and Outer Yellow Court.
- Huang Ting Wai Jing Jing (黃庭外景經)OriginalTranslationWei–Jin (魏晉) · anonymous (佚名)Supreme Yellow Court Outer Scenery Jade Scripture, Part One
- Jin Dan Si Bai Zi (金丹四百字)OriginalTranslationSong (宋) · Zhang Boduan (張伯端)Use true earth to seize true lead. (The terms in this text, lead, merc…
- Lie Zi (列子)OriginalTranslationWarring States to Wei–Jin (戰國至魏晉) · Lie Yukou (transmitted) (列禦寇（傳）)Chapter 1: Heaven’s Omen
- Tai Shang Gan Ying Pian (太上感應篇)OriginalTranslationSong (宋) · anonymous (佚名)Laozi, the Most High, said: "Misfortune and blessing have no fixed gat…
- Tai Shang Lao Jun Shuo Chang Qing Jing Jing (太上老君說常清靜經)OriginalTranslationTang (唐) · anonymous (佚名)Laozi said: The Great Dao has no form, yet it gives birth to heaven an…
- Wen Zi (文子)OriginalTranslationWarring States to Han (戰國至漢) · Wen Zi (Xin Xi ， Chuan) (文子（辛鉨，傳）)Laozi said: "There is something formed in an undifferentiated whole, b…
- Wu Zhen Pian (悟真篇)OriginalTranslationSong (宋) · Zhang Boduan (張伯端)Preface.
- Yin Fu Jing (陰符經)OriginalTranslationTang (唐) · anonymous (attributed to the Yellow Emperor) (佚名（舊題黃帝）)The Yellow Emperor's Yinfu Jing (Scripture of the Hidden Talisman), Pa…
- Yin Fu Jing Jie (陰符經解)OriginalTranslationTang (唐) · Li Quan (李筌)Yinfu Jing Jie (Commentaries on the Scripture of the Hidden Talisman),…
- Chong Yang Li Jiao Shi Wu Lun (重陽立教十五論)OriginalTranslationJin (Jurchen) (金) · Wang Chongyang (王重陽)Everyone who leaves home to cultivate the Dao must first find a hermit…
- Zhou Yi Can Tong Qi (周易參同契)OriginalTranslationHan (漢) · Wei Boyang (魏伯陽)Qian and Kun are the gateway of the Changes and the parents of all the…
- Zhuang Zi (莊子)OriginalTranslationWarring States (戰國) · Zhuang Zhou (莊周)Free and Easy Wandering
- Zuo Wang Lun (坐忘論)OriginalTranslationTang (唐) · Sima Chengzhen (司馬承禎)What people value is life, and what life values is the Way. For a pers…