Taoism: The Parting of the Way

by Holmes H. Welch

Book Overview

Called "a first rate piece of work" by T.S. Eliot, this book offers a comprehensive discussion of Taoism, one of the world's major religions, as well as a study of the Tao te ching, the best known Taoist text and Lao-tzu as a Taoist prototype. "Clarifies a large area of literature and history that has been a mystery to the West and makes fascinating reading even for those whose interest is casual." -The New Yorker

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0807059730
• ISBN13: 9780807059739
• Release Date: June 1971
• Publisher: Beacon Press
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.54 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.4" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

A valuable introduction

That Holmes Welch set himself a formidable task in offering a brief general introduction to Taoism is testified to by the lack of any other serviceable attempts on the part of Western writers to codify the vague, mystical, and powerful formulations of Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching. Welch's short book contains 4 parts. In the first part, he explains that the ambiguous nature of the ancient Chinese characters, compounded by the oftent inscrutable and paradoxical writing style of Lao Tzu himself, makes definitive translation and interpretation of the text impossible. In the second part, he offers his own informed and wise interpretation of the the Tao Te Ching, explicating three inter-related central concepts: (1)the doctrine of 'wu-wei' (spontaneity and non-interference in action), (2)the concept of 'pu' (original human nature (literally 'the uncarved block'), the way of the newborn child as an ideal counterposed to the adult corruption introduced by society), and (3)the mystical experience of the 'tao', or 'way' of the universe through meditation. In the third part, Welch lays out the bizarre history of the development of Taoism since Lao Tzu, its intersections with other religions, and its devolution into arcane practices of asceticism, alchemy, hygiene, and geomancy. In the final section, Welch offers a reading of the relevance of Lao Tzu's teachings to the present day (c. 1950s) that now seems pretty dated and hackneyed. I recommend the first 2 parts as a valuable and illuminating companion text for anyone reading the Tao Te Ching.

Best book on Taoism I've ever read!

This book is great, the perfect introduction to the lay reader who isn't a student of philosophy. Welch is extremely knowledgeable, and it's obvious that he's researched the subject extensively. Mix this with his down-to-earth, conversational, and often amusing style and you get a winner! He explains this nebulous, dynamic system called Taoism comprehensibly. (Which is saying something, as you know if you've studied Taoism before!!) I'd recommened this book to anyone--you won't find a better one on Taoism!

Best Intro to Lau Tzu Available

If you are new to Lao Tzu, this is the book to begin with. Glad it's back in print. Much of the book is about the religion called "Taoism"--it's complex history. It is interesting in itself, but has little to do with Lao Tzu. Still, the first part of this book (about the Tao te ching) and the last chapter (about Lao Tzu in the modern world) are clear, common-sensical and often beautiful expositions to the philosophy. I first read the book thirty years ago, and none of the texts I've read in the intervening years have come close to its clear exposition, and appropriately graceful and witty exposition.

Great Book

Awesome!! This book fully explains how Taoism took different forms depending on their environment. The book ends in an awesome question and answer prose in Tao-think with many of problems of today.

A good introduction

Welsh gives a good introduction to Taoism. He writes about what he thinks it meant, and what it developed into over the centuries. It gets a little scholarly at times but nothing too unbearable.