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Man Born of Man Alone : Male Motherhood in the History and Reception of Daoist Alchemy

Thykier Makeeff, Tao LU (2017) p.431-442
Abstract
This chapter deals with the male appropriation of motherhood as a metaphor for transformation in religious texts and practices. Particular attention is given to its historical uses and modern reception in the Daoist alchemical traditions. Through a textual study of the central Daoist text the
Daodejing, gendered metaphors, particularly relating to motherhood and infancy are identified
and analysed as key components of the texts cosmology, ethics and soteriology. Shifting focus from textual to practical examples of the appropriation of feminine procreativity, an introduction to key concepts of the so-called alchemical traditions of Daoism is provided. Reversing or inverting the cosmic decaying process was a central... (More)
This chapter deals with the male appropriation of motherhood as a metaphor for transformation in religious texts and practices. Particular attention is given to its historical uses and modern reception in the Daoist alchemical traditions. Through a textual study of the central Daoist text the
Daodejing, gendered metaphors, particularly relating to motherhood and infancy are identified
and analysed as key components of the texts cosmology, ethics and soteriology. Shifting focus from textual to practical examples of the appropriation of feminine procreativity, an introduction to key concepts of the so-called alchemical traditions of Daoism is provided. Reversing or inverting the cosmic decaying process was a central idea of Daoist alchemy, which, through varying means, sought to compound an ́elixir ́ of longevity through meditational practices which rested upon the widespread idea of the generation of an ́immortal infant ́ or embryo in the imaginary womb of the adept.
Finally, the chapter outlines the contemporary reception of the Daoist male womb metaphor, in two international religious communities and describes the case of a Christian-Daoist synthesis of alchemical meditation prevalent in the mystical practices of The Soul Power Institute. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
host publication
Maternità e politeismi : Motherhood(s) and Polytheisms - Motherhood(s) and Polytheisms
editor
Pasche Guignard, F. ; Pedrucci, G. and Scapini, M.
pages
431 - 442
publisher
Pàtron editore Bologna
ISBN
9788855533782
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
48de975d-aea0-4b6f-b736-b95d2cb5e488
date added to LUP
2019-05-16 17:46:28
date last changed
2019-05-24 09:56:00
@inbook{48de975d-aea0-4b6f-b736-b95d2cb5e488,
  abstract     = {{This chapter deals with the male appropriation of motherhood as a metaphor for transformation in  religious  texts  and  practices.  Particular  attention  is  given  to  its  historical  uses  and  modern reception in the Daoist alchemical traditions. Through a textual study of the central Daoist text the <br/>Daodejing, gendered metaphors, particularly relating to motherhood and infancy are identified <br/>and analysed as key components of the texts cosmology, ethics and soteriology. Shifting focus from textual to practical examples of the appropriation of feminine procreativity, an introduction to key concepts of the so-called alchemical traditions of Daoism is provided. Reversing or inverting the cosmic decaying process was a central idea of Daoist alchemy, which, through varying means, sought to compound an  ́elixir ́ of longevity through meditational practices which rested upon the widespread idea of the generation of an  ́immortal infant ́ or embryo in the imaginary womb of the  adept. <br/>Finally,  the  chapter  outlines  the  contemporary  reception  of  the  Daoist  male  womb metaphor, in two international religious communities and describes the case of a Christian-Daoist synthesis of alchemical meditation prevalent in the mystical practices of The Soul Power Institute.}},
  author       = {{Thykier Makeeff, Tao}},
  booktitle    = {{Maternità e politeismi : Motherhood(s) and Polytheisms}},
  editor       = {{Pasche Guignard, F. and Pedrucci, G. and Scapini, M.}},
  isbn         = {{9788855533782}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{431--442}},
  publisher    = {{Pàtron editore Bologna}},
  title        = {{Man Born of Man Alone : Male Motherhood in the History and Reception of Daoist Alchemy}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}