Posts by Purple Cloud Institute
Purple Cloud Podcast #26 Tyler Rowe: Wuyun Liuqi, Climate and Covid
In this episode we talk to Tyler Rowe, practitioner of Chinese medicine, martial arts and specialist in the practical application of classical Chinese geomancy and astronomy texts. We explore the relationship between climate and illness, and dive deeply into the often poorly understood Wuyun Liuqi (Five Movements and Six Qi) system from the Huangdi Neijing,…
Read MorePath of the Spiritual Warrior (by Lindsey Wei) -Trainings-
Path of the Spiritual Warrior (by Lindsey Wei) -Trainings- The following is an excerpt from Lindsey Wei‘s new book ’Path of the Spiritual Warrior: Life and Teachings of Muay Thai Fighter Pedro Solana‘, available through our bookshop here: Path of the Spiritual Warrior: Life and Teachings of Muay Thai Fighter Pedro Solana “Victories are dangerous…
Read MorePurple Cloud Podcast #25 Mattias Daly: The Heart Treasure of Taijiquan
In this episode we interview Mattias Daly about his most recent translation for Purple Cloud Press, The Heart Treasure of Taijiquan by Ren Gang. Written for the modern reader, this book thoroughly illuminates the authentic inner teachings of Yang family taijiquan. From detailing contemporary misunderstandings of taijiquan and its place in Chinese culture, to explaining…
Read MoreSaints & Sages Part VII [part 2]: Zhang Sanfeng (1247——)
Saints & Sages Part VII: part 2 張三丰 Zhang Sanfeng (1247——) Zhang Sanfeng’s literary works include The Discussion on the Great Dao, Straight Talks on the Mysterious Mechanism, Complete Collection of the Mysterious Discourse, Treatise on the Mysterious Essentials, and The Rootless Tree. His biography below has been extracted from the History of the Ming,…
Read MorePurple Cloud Podcast #24 Marta Hanson: Speaking of Medical Bilingualism
In this episode we interview Marta Hanson, Associate Professor of the History of Medicine at Johns Hopkins University about the concept of medical bilingualism and what it means for practitioners of Chinese medicine. We also delve into the history of epidemics in China, differences and similarities in responses between SARS and Covid-19, as well as…
Read MoreQu Ling Wan: Removing the Bell Pill by Li Shizhen
去铃丸 Qu Ling Wan: Removing the Bell Pill These are practical pill-making instructions based on an excerpt from ‘The Compendium of Materia Medica’ 本草纲目 by Li Shizhen李時珍: 时珍曰︰。。。古方有去铃丸︰用茴香二两，连皮生姜四两，同入坩器内腌一伏时，慢火炒之，入盐一两，为末，糊丸梧子大。每服三、五十丸，空心盐酒下。此方本治脾胃虚弱病。茴香得盐则引入肾经，发出邪气。肾不受邪，病自不生也。亦治小肠疝气有效。 [Li] Shizhen: …There is an ancient formula ‘Qu Ling Wan’: It utilizes two liang of Hui Xiang and four liang of Sheng Jiang with its skin intact.…
Read MoreChinese Medicine Series 08: Complete Compendium of Zhang Jingyue [pt 4]
Chinese Medicine Series 08: 景岳全書 Complete Compendium of Zhang Jingyue [pt 4] The following is an excerpt from the opening section of Chapter 10, Determining a Treatment 論治篇十, from The Complete Compendium of [Zhang] Jingyue Vol.1-3, ‘Eight Principles, Ten Questions and Mingmen Theory’ translated by Allen Tsaur. The whole book can now be purchased at…
Read MoreMaking Chinese Medicine Series 03: Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
Making Chinese Medicine Series 03 小茴香 Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) [excerpt from The Compendium of Materia Medica本草纲目 by Li Shizhen李時珍] The following post was sparked by the wide-spread presence of wild fennel growing in my garden with thick stalks to a height of up to 2.5 metres. It has been utilized by me as flavouring for…
Read MoreThe 49 Barriers of Cultivating the Dao: Barrier 1
The 49 Barriers of Cultivating the Dao: Barrier 1 This is the 1st of 49 Barriers from ‘The 49 Barriers of Cultivating the Dao” (available here: https://purplecloudinstitute.com/our-books/) to be posted online in their entirety. The book also features extensive endnotes as well as hundreds of pages of commentary by Daoist renunciate Li Shifu (abbot of Five…
Read MoreThe Duke of Zhou’s Interpretation of Dreams [excerpt1]
周公解夢 The Duke of Zhou’s Interpretation of Dreams The following is an excerpt of the forthcoming translation of the ‘Duke of Zhou’s Interpretation of Dreams’ by Nikita Bushin, published by Purple Cloud Press by June this year. This book is a famous reference for dream interpretations in China to date. It is based on the…
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