Posts by Purple Cloud Institute
Excerpt from Complete Compendium of Zhang Jingyue Vol. 50–51 Part II by Allen Tsaur
Critique by Chen Xiūyuan (on Bao Yīn Jiān 保陰煎/Yīn-Safeguarding Brew) 陰者，中之守也。聖經中言陰虛多指太陰而言 。景岳不知此旨，以熟地、山藥、當歸等為益陰、理陰、固陰，生地、芍藥、麥冬等為保陰、化陰、滋陰、約陰，授庸醫以殺人之刃而不見血，誠可痛恨！試以此方之藥品與所列之治法，證之經者字字支離，不獨虛寒人服之立斃，卽陽臟多火之人，亦非此方可以倖效，葢以配合之失法也。 Yīn is what safeguards the center. Whenever the sagacious canons mention “yīn vacuity,” they typically refer to the taiyīn [vacuity]. As [Zhang] Jingyue was not aware of this decree, he utilized Shu Di, Shān Yao, and Dāng Guī to boost yīn, regulate yīn,…
Read MoreLi Shifu on Desires
On Desires: The one character for longevity to exemplify it is ‘protection’ [bao保], while the one character for the elixir path is ‘transformation’ [hua化]. ‘I feel guilty for desires.’ There is no tree that feels guilty for growing leaves. Desires are normal, but you must not advocate or follow your desires. What your thoughts are…
Read MoreExcerpt from ‘Exercise Prescription in Sui China’ by Dolly Yang and Mugen Chiang
The following is an excerpt from ‘Exercise Prescription in Sui China’ which is very close to being published: Dr Dolly Yang’s translation of some 200 medieval daoyin exercises from China’s earliest book to classify and describe the nature of illness, Chao Yuanfang’s seventh century Zhubing yuanhou lun 諸病源候論 (Treatise on the Origins and Symptoms of…
Read MoreExcerpt from An Archaeology of the Qiao Vessels by Will Ceurvels
In later commentaries, one often hears that identifying the right point is secondary to identifying the right channel in diagnosis and treatment (see, for instance, Yang Jizhou’s (楊繼洲) famous quote in the Great Compendium of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (針灸大成): “寧失其穴，勿失其經。 Getting the point wrong is preferable to getting the channel wrong.” But it is important…
Read More初真戒 The Precepts of the Initial Truth
初真戒 The Precepts of the Initial Truth Written by Kunyang Zi, Wang Changyue 崑陽子王常月著 (from The Dragon Gate’s Core Methods, Purple Cloud Press forthcoming) Introduction: The Precepts of the Initial Truth consist of (1) taking refuge in the three jewels, which are the dao (the body), the scriptures (the spirit) and the teachers (the life-destiny);…
Read MoreDragon Gate’s Core Methods: Qiu Chuji (excerpt)
Qiu Chuji (excerpt) From the introductory section of The Dragon Gate’s Core Methods Vol.1 (Longmen Xinfa), Purple Cloud Institute forthcoming: The following biography (excerpt) underscores the pivotal role Qiu Chuji played in the development of the Complete Reality School. The original Chinese script stems from the Ming Dynasty The Complete Biographies of the Ranks of…
Read MoreDaoist Texts in Western Languages
Daoist Texts in Western Languages This free downloadable PDF was inspired by Louis Komjathy’s influential ‘Daoist Texts in Translation’, which is available at no cost online. It identifies the few English translations available to us over the last decades. Since more and more treatises and scriptures have been made available, we decided to put together…
Read MoreThe Dragon Gate’s Core Methods: Intial Truth’s Preceptual Statutes (excerpt)
Intial Truth’s Preceptual Statutes (excerpt) 天尊曰：三皈依戒者，天地之樞紐，神仙之根基，發行之初門，建心之元兆。運氣含靈，冥真入理，包羅有象，朕形无外。持之者，天地神明慶快，心智耳目開張，萬物敬畏，六腑和樂，眾真衛護羣生，父母長世不遺，人身交泰。 The heavenly worthies said: ‘The precepts of the three refuges are the pivot of the heavens and earth, the foundation of spirit immortality, the initial gateway for developing one’s practice, and the primordial starting point for establishing one’s mind. They circulate qi in those who contain the divine, coincide…
Read MoreChinese Medicine and Australia
In this episode of the Purple Cloud Podcast, we talk to James Flowers about the history of Chinese medicine in Australia, as well as delving into the nature of scientific research and where it fits into the future of Chinese medicine. James Flowers is a Research Fellow at Kyung Hee University of Korean Medicine, South…
Read MoreShang Han Lun Explained Vol.2: Yin Yang Exchange Pattern
Yin Yang Exchange Pattern The following is an excerpt from ‘Shang Han Lun Explained Vol.2’ by Greta Young and Christopher Zaslawski (working draft; Purple Cloud Press forthcoming), giving insight into a rather unusual formula: Section Two 5.2 YIN YANG EXCHANGE PATTERN Shao Ku San Clause 392 伤寒阴阳易之为病，其人身体重、少气、少腹里急，或引阴中拘挛，热上冲胸，头重不欲举，眼中生花，膝胫拘急者，烧裈散主之。 Shang han yin yang exchange disease: If the…
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