Taoïsme

Weisheng tiyao "Essentials of Health and Hygiene".

1800 · 185456 — China: c.1800. Core practices of Taoist medicine A Qing dynasty anonymously brushed manuscript demonstrating famous Taoist meditation and qigong techniques for regulating the practitioner's life force qi strengthening the body and achieving higher states of mindfulness. Devised in the first millennium CE these healing practices became popular from the 16th century and remain widely used today. The manuscript is divided into two sections. The first describes and illustrates the eight exercises from the Baduanjin Eight Brocades tradition believed to have been created by the Taoist wizard Zhongli Quan during the Tang dynasty. The second is devoted to the teachings of Chen Tuan d. 989 a Taoist priest who devised a 24-position series of meditation practices known as the Ershisi qi daoyin zuogong Twenty-Four Nodes Daoyin. For both sets of exercises each position is accompanied by a description of its meaning and benefits. The scribe is given as one Guiling Shanren "Recluse of Guiling" and likely lived in either Hunan or Guangdong provinces. Provenance: Ekky Chung collection Indonesia and Beverly Hills California - acquired by the London bookseller Sam Fogg in May 1998 - Martin Schøyen b. 1940 the Norwegian collector of rare books and manuscripts with his pressmark on the title label and his annotated book label on the first blank verso. Octavo 245 x 147 mm. With 42 leaves neat manuscript text and 32 illustrations hand-drawn blue borders final leaf with near-contemporary manuscript note laid down. Contemporary blue paper wrappers renewed white thread xianzhuang stitching manuscript title label on front cover. Contemporary red seal at head of first page of text; couple of later manuscript additions in contents. Front cover sunned leaves sometime backed with paper closed tears and chips affecting some content general fragility from brittle paper: a good example. unknown