Foundation of the Gelug Sect Tsong Khapa (1357-1419) founded Ganden monastery in 1409. A graduate of the austere Karmapa order, his doctrine emphasized monastic discipline. This attitude was echoed by his reinforcement of the primacy of sutras – the original teachings of Buddha – over the tantras – later mystical teachings. So popular was his […]
The short article, Occult Universe, presents the basic patterns of belief current in China from the third millenium BC. It introduces the Book of Changes, which was as influential in the development of Confucianism as it was in much Daoist doctrine. Yet whereas Confucius expanded this book’s social implications, Daoism elaborated on its metaphysical claim […]
Over the past two thousand years, perceptions of distance and scale have been continually exploded by technological advances. We now take for granted: airplanes, trains and roads; distribution systems that furnish ice-cool “Perrier” in the midst of a vast, baking desert. Yet even now, Nature with a flick of her skirt belies our pretensions to […]
By Guy Rubin Centuries ago, in a cliff-face in the midst of China’s vast Taklamakan desert, artists hollowed, sculpted and painted 492 caves, creating over 450,000 square feet of spectacular murals, or more than thirty times the mural area of the Sistine Chapel. But whereas the Sistine Chapel was painted over a few years, the […]
This lecture on the ancient Chinese philosopher Zhuangzi was given by Professor Wang Bo, Professor of Philosophy at Peking University, as part of Imperial Tours-sponsored research into Chinese philosophy and ideas. The Spirit of Zhuangzi By Professor Wang Bo Good evening everybody. My name is Professor Wang Bo and I have been at Peking University […]
