Sample Pages Preview
They may represent the five materials,the five orientations,as well as the five major organs in human body.
Life Valued in the Way oflmmortality
The Way of Immortality refers the Taoists pursuit to attain the Tao and become immortal.The immortals in Taoist legend are those who have attained such spiritual state of Tao and lived a free,unimpeded life forever without perish.The Taoism teaches people to cherish life,value life and lead a happy life so that the quality of existence can be elevated to the same state as the immortals,in other words,attaining the Tao.In Taoist belief,people can prolong their lives through cultivation and make their spirits sublimated so as to attain the ultimate way of Tao and he wouldn't be harmed at all even if he jumped into the fire.He often visited the Kunlun Mountains,where the immortals dwelled,and stayed in the Palace of the Queen Mother of the West.He could also playfully ride high and low on the wind and the rain.He later became an immortal,and renounced the world into seclusion.
The Tang Dynasty(618—907)was the time that Taoism thrived.The influence of Taoism also penetrated into the creation of novels.Authors would blend Taoist immortals and priests into
《老子授经图》任颐(清)
传说老子见周朝大乱,便乘青牛西出函谷关,关令尹喜请其著书,遂得《道德经》五千言。此图描绘的正是尹喜拜见老子的场面。画面中老子仙风道骨、须发皆白、神安气闲,青牛双目圆睁上视,憨态可掬。