The Dragon-Wisdom Cards of Ancient China

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Author :
Publisher : Trafford Publishing
ISBN 13 : 142698555X
Total Pages : 142 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (269 download)

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Book Synopsis The Dragon-Wisdom Cards of Ancient China by : Mark Kumara

Download or read book The Dragon-Wisdom Cards of Ancient China written by Mark Kumara and published by Trafford Publishing. This book was released on 2009-08-31 with total page 142 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A book of commentaries on The Dragon-Wisdom Cards Of Ancient China, being the teachings which explain and reveal the hidden messages behind the The Tao (the ancient Chinese spiritual teaching which means The Way) The commentaries throw light on the psychological and spiritual states which these ancient pictures of the mythical gods and goddesses, dragons and demons, of ancient China portray in brilliant graphic colour. The images themselves are not shown but can be obtained from the author. Mark Kumara suggests that all humans will, at one time or another, face all these different states on their path toward Self-realisation.

James

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Publisher : Langham Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1783685492
Total Pages : 143 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (836 download)

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Book Synopsis James by : Luke L. Cheung

Download or read book James written by Luke L. Cheung and published by Langham Publishing. This book was released on 2018-12-31 with total page 143 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Criminals in Hong Kong and China are often superstitiously religious. Ironically, both they and police officers worship the same folk god, Guan Gong, who represents righteousness! But their religiosity has no moral consequences – what both groups are seeking is protection from their opponents. Unfortunately, some Asian Christians have a similar model of religiosity. They want God’s protection and blessings, but they do not want God to affect how they live. James will have none of this. He is convinced that our devotion to God must be reflected in the way we live, and so he writes a letter that is full of sound, practical advice. He exhorts us to control our tongues, he speaks against greed, envy, and wrong desires, and he gives wise advice about enduring suffering, praying for ailing believers, and restoring believers who are tempted to depart from the truth. Using Asian applications, this commentary of James highlights the relevance the triune God has in all contexts of life. The Asia Bible Commentary Series empowers Christian believers in Asia to read the Bible from within their respective contexts. Holistic in its approach to the text, each exposition of the biblical books combines exegesis and application. The ultimate goal is to strengthen the Body of Christ in Asia by providing pastoral and contextual exposition of every book of the Bible.

Ancient Chinese Wisdom

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Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781908350145
Total Pages : 64 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (51 download)

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Book Synopsis Ancient Chinese Wisdom by : Xue Lin

Download or read book Ancient Chinese Wisdom written by Xue Lin and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 64 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book explains how, for thousands of years, Chinese people have formed myths about dragons and have given these imaginary creatures god-like powers and desirable features of glamour and strength. Through retelling these ancient legends and by explaining and interpreting these sayings with papercuttings, the book presents a way to understand Chinese life, past and present.

I Ching

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Publisher : Penguin
ISBN 13 : 0698153839
Total Pages : 928 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (981 download)

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Book Synopsis I Ching by : John Minford

Download or read book I Ching written by John Minford and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2014-10-30 with total page 928 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The award-winning new translation of the ancient Chinese oracle and book of wisdom, by the acclaimed translator of the Tao Te Ching and The Art of War Pose a question, then toss three coins (or cast your yarrow stalks) to access the time-honored wisdom of the I Ching. The I Ching, or Book of Change, has been consulted through the ages, in both China and the West, for answers to fundamental questions about the world and our place in it. The oldest extant book of divination, it dates back three thousand years to ancient shamanistic practices involving the ritual preparation of the shoulder bones of oxen. From this early form of communication with the other world, it has become the Chinese spiritual book par excellence. An influence on such cultural icons as Bob Dylan, John Cage, Merce Cunningham, Philip K. Dick, and Philip Pullman, the I Ching is turned to by millions around the world for insights on spiritual growth, business, medicine, genetics, game theory, strategic thinking, and leadership, and of course for the window it opens on China. This new translation, over a decade in the making, is informed by the latest archaeological discoveries and features a gorgeously rendered codex of divination signs—the I Ching’s sixty-four Tarot-like hexagrams. It captures the majesty and mystery of this legendary work and charts an illuminating path to self-knowledge.

The Celestial Dragon I Ching

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Author :
Publisher : National Geographic Books
ISBN 13 : 178028375X
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (82 download)

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Book Synopsis The Celestial Dragon I Ching by : Neyma Jahan

Download or read book The Celestial Dragon I Ching written by Neyma Jahan and published by National Geographic Books. This book was released on 2012-08-01 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: First The Sky Opened--Then The Celestial Dragon Was Born. Each aspect of this wonderfully appealing new I Ching is characterized by a readily identifiable symbol. We encounter the Dragon, the Cave, the Mirror, the Path, the Stranger and the Piper—to name just a few of the definitive 64 Hexagrams, each with its own evocative narrative, signposting our destiny. This elegant I Ching evokes the mystery and majesty of ancient China while serving as an enjoyable and illuminating tool for practical self-discovery and decision-making in the modern world through its profound insights that have withstood the test of time. Though grounded in tradition, The Celestial Dragon I Ching departs from the original text in being thoroughly coherent and consistent in its imagery. More than 5,000 years old, the I Ching is a collection of divinatory wisdom that encapsulates the whole of human experience. In China the system was used by Kings, Emperors and Sages who would throw yarrow sticks or read cracks in tortoise shells. These days it is more practical to throw coins and consult the I Ching to divine the outcome.

The Dragon Tarot

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Publisher : U.S. Games Systems
ISBN 13 : 9780880791816
Total Pages : 196 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (918 download)

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Book Synopsis The Dragon Tarot by : Terry Donaldson

Download or read book The Dragon Tarot written by Terry Donaldson and published by U.S. Games Systems. This book was released on 1996 with total page 196 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Journey into the far reaches of Dragonland with the Dragon Tarot book. Discover how mythical dragons can lead you to a better understanding of yourself and your life.

Chinese Folktales

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Publisher : Tuttle Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1462922740
Total Pages : 73 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (629 download)

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Book Synopsis Chinese Folktales by : Shiho S. Nunes

Download or read book Chinese Folktales written by Shiho S. Nunes and published by Tuttle Publishing. This book was released on 2021-10-19 with total page 73 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For thousands of years, Chinese storytellers have delighted listeners with stories about the value of virtues like honesty, respect, courage and self-reliance. Chinese Folktales collects nineteen of these fantastic tales, some of them dating back to the third century BCE, and retells them in contemporary English for a modern audience. This updated edition--previously titled Chinese Fables--offers the same great stories in a smaller, easier to handle format at a lower price. Each of these stories offers a nugget of ancient folk wisdom and glimpses of traditional Chinese culture and lore. All of the tales express the foibles and wisdom of human experience with great humor and affection. Although the lessons are universal, the wit and flavor are uniquely Chinese. Beautifully illustrated by a master Chinese artist using a patchwork of ancient tones and textures, with a deft touch of humor, this book will give great joy to children and adults alike. Chinese children's stories include: The Practical Bride Stealing the Bell Kwan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy Cooking the Duck Scaring the Tigers The Dragon Slayer The previously published edition, Chinese Fables, won: *The Aesop Prize for Children's and Young Adult Literature* *The Gelett Burgess Children's Book Award for Fables, Folklore & Fairytales* *The Creative Child Magazine Book of the Year Award*

Fortune Stars, Immortals and Dragon Sons

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Author :
Publisher : Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN 13 : 9781973812500
Total Pages : 164 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (125 download)

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Book Synopsis Fortune Stars, Immortals and Dragon Sons by : John Oxenham Goodman

Download or read book Fortune Stars, Immortals and Dragon Sons written by John Oxenham Goodman and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2017-07-21 with total page 164 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: I recently employed Chinese symbolism in producing five newly designed packs of cards. Images of all of the cards were published by Amazon, introducing new concepts in the design of playing cards. Now I have progressed further in designing three more card packs largely inspired by Chinese culture. The first game in this book, Fortune Stars, is based on my drawings of the Five Stars of Good Fortune, Lu Xing the Star of Emolument and High Salaries, Fu Xing the Star of Good Fortune, Shou Xing the Star of Longevity, Xi Shen the God of Happiness and Cai Shen the God of Wealth. I have emphasized the relationship of these five with the Five Elements of ancient Chinese Daoism in their Generating Arrangement which in turn can be related to the five ancient Greek Elements (including Ether or Spirit). The alignment of these concepts goes further and includes the five seasons, directions, and mountains of Daoism as well as the Five Great Ancient Capitals of China. The Four Great Heavenly Kings found in most Chinese temples and the Earth God plus the five legendary emperors of ancient China are additional groups of five forming suits in this new card pack. Then the five Chinese planets known in antiquity, together with the five Western planets, are aligned with the five animals of the Fortune Stars and their five symbols of prosperity. Finally the five auspicious animals, including the mythical qi lin, golden money toad and dragon tortoise, contribute to this new concept in playing cards making 14 suits in all, with 5 cards in each displaying vivid images of Chinese culture. The next pack of cards in this book, Immortals, is devoted to the Eight Immortals of Daoism together with their Eight Ritual Implements. These are then related to the Eight Auspicious Buddhist Treasures as well as the Eight Trigrams (or Ba Gua) of Earlier Heaven and Later Heaven and the Eight Martial Arts Trigrams. They make 6 suits of eight cards in a colourful game, shining light on deeply held Chinese beliefs of a thousand years ago, many of which continue to sustain credence today. The third pack of cards, Dragon Sons, has five suits with nine cards in each. One suit contains images of the Nine Sons of the Dragon, many of which are still visible as sculptures on rooftops and in doorways of ancient buildings. A second suit displays images of the Nine Great Emperors representing the Nine Northern Dipper Stars. The third and fourth suits are devoted to the Nine Chinese Imperial Civil and Military Rank insignia. These large, colourful, rank badges, measuring about 10 or 11 inches square, covered the chest of senior Chinese civil and military personnel up to 1911 when the Qing Dynasty was overthrown. They may interest collectors of military insignia and students of the armed forces and uniforms of the old imperial powers. Then a fifth suit displays the Chinese single-digit numbers 1 to 9 which are found on mah-jong tiles. Those who have previously purchased The Invention of Playing Cards in China, their Arrival in Europe and their Role in the Development of Mahjong or New Concepts in Playing Cards and Tarot: Five Newly Designed Packs of Cards with Chinese Symbolism, may like to include this new volume in their collection.

Legend of the Chinese Dragon

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Author :
Publisher : NorthSouth Books
ISBN 13 : 9780735821521
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (215 download)

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Book Synopsis Legend of the Chinese Dragon by : Marie Sellier

Download or read book Legend of the Chinese Dragon written by Marie Sellier and published by NorthSouth Books. This book was released on 2008-01-01 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In ancient China, the different tribes lived under the protection of benevolent spirits that took the form of animals--fish, ox, bird, horse, and serpent. But, as often happens, the tribes grew envious of each other and began to fight amongst themselves in the names of their spirits. The children decided to declare a war on war by creating a creature that combined the best of all the spirits and would protect all the people. To this day, the dragon is a symbol of peace and plays an especially important role in the celebration of the Chinese New Year. This timely message of cooperation and empowerment makes this book especially appealing to trade and institutional accounts. Communities with significant Chinese populations will also have a special interest in this title. Catherine Louis' Liu and the Bird was a critical hit with review journals, teachers, and librarians.

Tong Sing

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Author :
Publisher : Three Rivers Press (CA)
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 292 pages
Book Rating : 4.X/5 (4 download)

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Book Synopsis Tong Sing by : C. Windridge

Download or read book Tong Sing written by C. Windridge and published by Three Rivers Press (CA). This book was released on 1999 with total page 292 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From astrology to palmistry, from Buddhism to Taoism, from dim sum to acupuncture, the "Tong Sing" is the almanac of all things Chinese. Brilliantly illustrated with traditional paintings, drawings, and calligraphy, this thoroughly modern versions teaches everything from how to use chop sticks to how to read astrological profiles. 20 full-color illustrations.

A Tale of the I Ching

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Publisher : SCB Distributors
ISBN 13 : 0943015685
Total Pages : 200 pages
Book Rating : 4.9/5 (43 download)

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Book Synopsis A Tale of the I Ching by : Wu Wei

Download or read book A Tale of the I Ching written by Wu Wei and published by SCB Distributors. This book was released on 2010-04-20 with total page 200 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This magical tale takes us on an enchanted journey back in time to the origins of the I Ching in ancient China. A Tale of the I Ching tells the story of the young village ne'er-do-well, who becomes the first disciple of the great sage emperor Fu Hsi-the creator of the I Ching. As Fu Hsi opens the heart of the I Ching to the young student who sits at his feet, the inner workings of that great book of divination are revealed. Readers the world over say that the marvelous story of A Tale of the I Ching opens the I Ching to them as never before. "Of all the stories you have heard of the great sage ruler, even though they were magnified a hundred times, none can do him the honor he deserves. Of all people, he is the most worthy, the most honorable, the wisest. The wisdom of the world flows through him like a sparkling brook through the forest. When he speaks, time seems to cease." -from A Tale of the I Ching

All About Chinese Dragons

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Author :
Publisher : Lulu.com
ISBN 13 : 1435703227
Total Pages : 140 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (357 download)

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Book Synopsis All About Chinese Dragons by : Roy Bates

Download or read book All About Chinese Dragons written by Roy Bates and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2007-11-04 with total page 140 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: All About Chinese Dragons attempts to foster a wider understanding about the Chinese dragon and the many forms it took, in art, legend, and folklore. It is dedicated to the dragon, and its many offshoots and variations, and gives not only details of what a Chinese dragon was, where it was used, and what it was called, but also a few of the hundreds of legends about it that have arisen. The reader will become more acquainted with the dragon, and will gain a greater understanding of this magnificent beast. This book will interest and please the serious student and the enthusiastic tourist alike.

The Eagle and the Dragon

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Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9780692820803
Total Pages : 554 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (28 download)

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Book Synopsis The Eagle and the Dragon by : Lewis F. McIntyre

Download or read book The Eagle and the Dragon written by Lewis F. McIntyre and published by . This book was released on 2017-02-03 with total page 554 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Eagle and the Dragon takes the reader on an epic journey of thousands of miles by sea and land across three continents. When Senator Aulus Aemilius Galba is tapped to lead the first Roman mission to China, he anticipates an easy path to fame and fortune. Gaius Lucullus sees a bright military future, but his reluctant centurion Antonius Aristides would rather be somewhere else. Translators Marcia Lucia and her brother Marcus were taken from their village in China to serve the Han court, abused and despised, hiding a horrible secret. A notorious Arab pirate, with a Roman price on his head and crucifixion in his future, shadows the entourage, seeking the wealthy prize of their treasure-laden ships. But Fate has other plans for these unlikely companions, sending them together on a journey that will take them thousands of miles by sea and land across the tapestry of the mysterious worlds at the close of the first century. From the storm-tossed Indian Ocean to the opulent Hanaean court, from the wild grassy steppes north of China to the forbidding peaks of the Pamir Mountains of Bactria, they fight for their lives, hoping to find the road that will lead them back to Rome.

Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches - TianGan DiZhi

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Author :
Publisher : Singing Dragon
ISBN 13 : 0857011588
Total Pages : 270 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (57 download)

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Book Synopsis Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches - TianGan DiZhi by : Zhongxian Wu

Download or read book Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches - TianGan DiZhi written by Zhongxian Wu and published by Singing Dragon. This book was released on 2014-04-21 with total page 270 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Essential reading for serious students of Chinese practical arts, including medicine, martial arts and FengShui, Master Zhongxian Wu and Dr Karin Taylor Wu provide a detailed explanation of the 22 GanZhi symbols in this book, outlining the characteristics of each, and their interactions and relationships. TianGan (Heavenly Stems) and DiZhi (Earthly Branches), commonly abbreviated to GanZhi, originated in the ancient Chinese cosmological sciences and is a complex calendrical system which was created to codify the patterns of life and of the universe itself. The ten symbols of Gan express the Yin or Yang perspective of Five Elements and embody the Way of Heaven. The 12 symbols of Zhi, made manifest in the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, hold the root of each Element and embrace the Way of Earth. Poetic summaries from the Song dynasty give the reader a deep understanding of the nature of each Stem and their relationship to each other. Offering an unprecedented insight into the subtleties and far-reaching influence of this ancient system, this book will be invaluable for the study or practice of Chinese medicine, FengShui, Chinese astrology, traditional Chinese cosmology, Qigong, Taiji, and other inner cultivation practices. A set of study cards (9781848191501), also published by Singing Dragon, are available to accompany this book.

Chinese Tarot

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Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9780880793735
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (937 download)

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Book Synopsis Chinese Tarot by : Stuart R. Kaplan

Download or read book Chinese Tarot written by Stuart R. Kaplan and published by . This book was released on 1992-12 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Rendered in the rich style of traditional Chinese artwork, the vibrant colors and clear messages of The Chinese Tarot Deck offer an aesthetic and accessible tarot experience. Jui Guoliang has created elegant ink and watercolor designs that skillfully blend archetypal symbols of Ancient Chinese literature, legend, philosophy, and culture. The Major Arcana draws upon the benevolent wisdom and insight of inspirational figures such as Confucius, Kuan Yin, and Chang Tao Ling, the Heavenly Master. The fully pictorial Minor Arcana are equally endowed with the lessons of Chinese history. The booklet by Stuart R Kaplan offers a description of each card's symbolism, with both upright and reversed meanings.

包含中西方五行, 行星, 卫星及星辰之间的关联

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Author :
Publisher : CreateSpace
ISBN 13 : 9781508778738
Total Pages : 344 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (787 download)

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Book Synopsis 包含中西方五行, 行星, 卫星及星辰之间的关联 by : John Oxenham Goodman

Download or read book 包含中西方五行, 行星, 卫星及星辰之间的关联 written by John Oxenham Goodman and published by CreateSpace. This book was released on 2015-03-07 with total page 344 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book, which introduces a Chinese version of Tarot, is also about Chinese and Greco-Roman mythology and it relates to the passing of time and the calendar. It contains more than 1000 pencil drawings with captions in English and Chinese and 48 in English and Japanese. These images are in a format suitable for imprinting on playing cards. The book begins with the Five Elements of ancient China: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water and connects them to the elements devised by the Greek philosopher Empedocles. There are images of the 24 Solar Terms into which the Chinese year is divided and each of the 48 Japanese Flower Cards which represent the months January to December. Then there are the images of the 12 signs of the Western Zodiac and the 28 Chinese Lunar Mansions. Each of these images is imprinted with one of the 5 Chinese elements. This concept is carried further with images of 112 chemical elements and the 88 constellations. Images of the planets and their moons followed by the dwarf planets and potential dwarf planets such as Pluto, Haumea, and Eris and their moons are also included. Following this, a selection of 120 asteroids and 4 comets are depicted. Images are created according to Greco-Roman and Chinese myths associated with the names of celestial bodies. The ancient Chinese concept of the Limitless Cosmic First Principle or Wu Ji, followed by the two forms Yin and Yang and the 4 Phenomena, produce the Supreme Ultimate or Great Absolute Tai Ji. This theme continues with pictorial representations of the 8 Trigrams of Earlier Heaven and Later Heaven which interact with the 5 Elements in the material world in which we live. Then the 64 Hexagrams of the Book of Changes or Yi Jing offer possibilities for deciding on your future based on the inevitability of change and its consequences. Finally a Chinese version of Tarot has been created with suits based on the 5 Elements of ancient China and drawing on images from Mahjong and China's traditional playing cards. This book on mythology verges on the realms not only of astrology and fortune telling but also of astronomy and history. There are pictorial images of China's 77th 60 Year Cycle from 1864/65 to 1923/24. The corresponding years of the current 79th Cycle are also placed beside those historical images. For example, the Chinese cruiser Ding Yuan is shown damaged by enemy action in 1895 in the 32nd year of the 77th Cycle. In 2015 we are in the 32nd year of the 79th Cycle and we hope there will not be a repeat of hostile naval action. Other interesting images are of the 9 Northern and 6 Southern Dipper Stars, the 9 Sons of the Dragon, the 8 Immortals of Daoism, the 5 Fortune Stars and 5 Auspicious Animals. The Tarot cards include the 4 Mahjong Seasons and 4 Flowers as well as the 4 Pastimes and 4 Professions plus the Cat, Mouse, Cockerel and Centipede. The tarot suits follow themes related to their elements. For example, the suit of Cups is related to the element Water and contains images of China's ancient mariners followed by Chinese equivalents of Page, Knight, Queen and King. The Dragon and Phoenix of early 20th Century Mahjong have been reintroduced and the Major Arcana contains a Chinese alchemist instead of a magician while "the Tower" is Lei Feng Pagoda near Hangzhou which collapsed in 1924. The cards are related to one another and cross referenced where possible. For example, if your star sign is Gemini, it is related to the Chinese element 2 Fire, the Major Arcana image 6 "the Lovers" and the modern constellation 27 also called Gemini. If you are born in the year of the Rabbit (Earthly Branch 4) then there is a relationship with the Chinese element Wood, the direction East, the modern constellation 20 Lepus the Hare as well as Lunar Mansion 4 Rabbit which in turn relates to day 7 Sunday and the first week of the month. The book is provided with a detailed index of nearly 1500 entries to enable users to quickly and easily find things that interest the

A Chinese Version of Tarot Explained in Detail

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Author :
Publisher : Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN 13 : 9781546469636
Total Pages : 216 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (696 download)

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Book Synopsis A Chinese Version of Tarot Explained in Detail by : John Oxenham Goodman

Download or read book A Chinese Version of Tarot Explained in Detail written by John Oxenham Goodman and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2017-05-03 with total page 216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book introduces a new version of Tarot cards derived from Chinese culture. There are five suits named and numbered according to the Generating Arrangement of the Chinese Five Elements. The fourth suit incorporates a Chinese version of the Major Arcana. Many concepts from Mahjong and Chinese traditional playing cards have been utilized. There are 144 cards not counting the Major Arcana fool which is number zero. This corresponds with the 144 tiles of Mahjong. The pack can be shortened to 108 cards (not counting the fool) which is a significant number in Chinese Buddhism and Daoism as well as in Hinduism. All of the cards were illustrated by the author. Each suit has a theme from Chinese history or culture. Suit 1 Swords corresponds with the Chinese element Wood and the ancient Greek element Air. It has a martial arts theme with images of famous swordsmen and women. Card 10 depicts Fu Hao the female commander-in-chief of the Shang Dynasty Army born around 1200 BC. Cao Cao (155-220) king of Wei is card 14 of this suit and his queen Bian Shi is card 13. Suit 2 Batons or Clubs represents the Chinese and Greek element Fire. The images on its cards are of the philosophers Lao Zi, Confucius, Mencius and others and its king is Liu Bei (161-223) of the kingdom of Shu, the previous card being his queen Gan Fu Ren. Suit 3 Coins or Pentacles relates to the Chinese and ancient Greek element Earth and displays merchants on the ancient Silk Road and Grand Canal as well as an image of the Earth God Tu Di Shen and his money tree. Suit 4 is the Major Arcana, or Da-Mi-Yi in Chinese, represented by the Greek element Ether or Spirit and the Chinese element Metal of Gold. Its Wheel of Fortune becomes the Tibetan Wheel of Life while the Magician becomes the Alchemist Wei Bo Yang (100-170). Suit 5 is the suit of Cups which equates with the Chinese and Greek element Water. It has images of China's famous ancient mariners including Xu Fu (born 255 BC) who may have sailed as far as Japan or even America and Fa Xian (337-422) who returned to China by sea from India. Then there are images of the Four Great Heavenly Kings of the 4 Directions found in most Chinese temples and the Earth god makes a fifth card. The Four Seasons, Four Flowers (Orchid, Bamboo, Chrysanthemum and Plum Blossom), Four Pastimes (Music, Chess, Calligraphy and Painting) and Four Professions (Fisherman, Woodcutter, Farmer and Scholar) also appear. The Cat, Mouse Cockerel and Centipede are there too. There are also cards with images of the Five Auspicious Animals (Qi Lin or Kylin, Golden Money Toad, Fortune Cat, Pi Xiu and Dragon Tortoise). The Five Stars of Good Fortune (including Shou Xing the God of Longevity, Xi Shen the God of Happiness and Cai Shen the God of Wealth) and their symbols of prosperity as well as their lucky animals, the bat, deer, crane, magpie and fish appear too. Finally there are the 8 Immortals and their 8 ritual implements. Earlier in the book a brief history of Chinese and Western playing cards is followed by several pages telling why and how I designed this Tarot pack. There are large clear diagrams explaining the suits and at the end of the book 131 pages are devoted to detailed descriptions of all of the 145 Chinese Tarot pictures, placing them in their cultural and historical context. In essence, this book is an introduction to some of the more interesting aspects of Chinese history and civilization. My hope is that readers could develop an appreciation of Chinese culture and find auspicious outcomes therein.