Benebell Wen | History of Taoist and Buddhist Mysticism in China @BenebellWen | Uploaded January 2019 | Updated October 2024, 1 hour ago.
In this video lecture, we are going to cover over 4,000 years of history, going through the dynasties, beginning with the Xia, Shang, and Zhou, until we reach modern China. Our coverage will span beyond 4,000 years, preceding the Xia, to talk about shamanism in the Neolithic Era.

Works cited for everything covered in this lecture are in the end notes of The Tao of Craft (North Atlantic Books, 2016).

Companion blog post: wp.me/p32or0-3NR

You are watching Video #2 in a six-part video lecture series.

Full playlist for the video series: tinyurl.com/chineseoccultism

***

Taoism is a nature-based religion, philosophy, and tradition of sorcery native to China, formed around 600 B.C. One hundred years later, Buddhism enters China and a modality of it--esoteric Buddhism--is blended in with Taoist magic. This introductory lecture series will cover the ontology, theory, history, and cultural practice of sorcery at the intersection of esoteric Buddhism and Taoism.

Video 1: Introduction to Buddhist-Taoist Esotericism
Video 2: History of Taoism and Buddhism in China
Video 3: Taoist Sorcery and Its Cultural Practice
Video 4: Taoist Metaphysics
Video 5: Chinese Occultism as a Syncretic Practice
Video 6: Taoist Magic in Contemporary Times

***

All videos in this series are closed-captioned for the deaf, hard of hearing, or those whose native tongue isn't English. I've also made my best attempt at accommodating for the blind. If there is room for improvement in these regards, I'm open to friendly critique. Thank you!

***

Related Videos from My Channel

In Video 2, I make reference to a few topics I've covered in greater depth on my channel already.

What is a Book of Methods?

Among the related video links I shared for Video 1 was a flip-through of my personal Book of Methods. This one posted earlier, however, addresses what a Book of Methods or Fang Shu is within its cultural context.

youtu.be/5-CmFMrxiHc

Book Trailer for The Tao of Craft

Everything discussed in this video come from my research for The Tao of Craft and is covered in greater detail in that book. This is a book trailer I made for the book’s release.

youtu.be/lk1cq1DhKQA

Thunder Rites

This Tinkering Bell practicum gives an example of working with Zhang Daoling in Fu talisman crafting, though this practicum instructs on methods within a technique called thunder rites, or Taoist thunder magic.

youtu.be/6rVLhaKGbpY


***

DONATE

Your donations help keep this series free for all. To donate, click the PayPal link below or send me an Amazon gift card to benebellwen@gmail.com.

paypal.me/benebell

I CHING & THE OCCULT: ONLINE COURSE

Understanding the I Ching for its occult and divinatory values will expand your capabilities in both Chinese ceremonial magic and traditional witchcraft.

Learn more about the course here: benebellwen.com/2017/07/14/i-ching-and-the-practitioner-a-course-on-the-book-of-changes

CHECK OUT MORE COURSES BY ME

I offer both independent study and free courses to help you advance your craft. Check out the full listing here: benebellwen.com/online-courses