El Tao del amor y el sexo. La antigua China hacia el éxtasis

by Chang Jolan, Lorenzo Cortina Toral (Translator), Joseph Needham (Foreword, Afterword)

La longevidad y su respuesta sexual, la prolongación de la virilidad hasta edad muy avanzada, el arte de hacer el amor como terapia básica del canon médico taoísta. He aquí algunos de los temas que el autor expone detallada y analíticamente en el primer estudio completo que se publica relativo a las técnicas del amor carnal según las máximas de las escuelas médicas taoístas. Jolan Chang ha recopilado una parte apasionante de esa sabiduría oriental que se pierde en la noche de los tiempos.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sexuality, Love, How To, Taoism, Self Help, Philosophy

212 pages, Hardcover

First published January 28, 1977

Reviews

[moi, k.y.a.]

Kitabı okurken her ne kadar ciddiyetimi korumakta zorlansam da derim ki okuyun. Ondan sonra da kitabı eşinize, sevgilinize falan hediye edin. 😉😏

[Piotrek Machajek · Rating 2 out of 5]

Z zasady zaczęte książki kończę, choć ta tutaj jest powodem, dla której warto założyć sobie półkę "dnf". Pozycja zwietrzała i w wielu miejscach nie do przyjęcia przez szowinistyczne stwierdzenia skrywane za zasłoną "praktyczności". Ten wstęp traktuje wyłącznie o parach heteroseksualnych (choć homoseksualność w Chinach nie była poważnym tabu aż do momentu pojawienia się misjonarzy), ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem męskiej perspektywy, co zostaje w słaby sposób umotywowane.

Rację ma chyba doktor Sarek, stwierdzając kiedyś, że język polski nie jest zbyt bogatym źródłem dla opisywania erotyki i cielesności – trudno było mi o tym nie myśleć, gdy zdarzały się takie kwiatki jak "guziczki miłości" jako... sutki (trochę krindżówa – musiałem gdzieś wcisnąć to słowo w recenzję).

Co do okropności, to można wymienić np. tezę, że impotencja u mężczyzn wynika z "faktu", że genitalia ich rówieśniczek już nie są takie "młode i powabne" jak kiedyś – to jedno, a takie miejsca się powtarzają.

Jedna gwiazdka za odniesienie się do starożytnej seksuologii chińskiej i przywoływanie ciekawych źródeł; w zasadzie można to uznać raczej za sinologiczną ciekawostkę, bo o praktykach taoistycznych, pracy z oddechem itd. można przeczytać bez zniesmaczenia gdziekolwiek indziej.

I na koniec: choć cała książka utrzymuje, że zawiera wskazówki praktyczne i próbuje bronić poglądu, że połączenie fizyczne może prowadzić do większego zjednoczenia duchowego ludzi, to na samiutki koniec wciska kilka stron o doniosłości miłości, sypiąc cytatami z Biblii, tak jakby w zupełności postanowiła zaprzeczyć swojemu "praktycznemu" wymiarowi i wchodzeniu w kontrakt z dominującymi na Zachodzie poglądami na temat relacji miłość-seksualność etc. Choć trzeba oddać, że tych ostatnich stron jest napisane lepiej niż cała reszta...

Ogólnie: nie czytać, o znaczeniu oddychania i o taoistycznych poglądach na miłość można poczytać sobie w wielu innych książkach (mam taką gorącą nadzieję).

[Maria Alejandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un libro que nos ensena a las mujeres a valoranos y ser mejores en nuestra sexualidad. Invita al hombre a conocer el acto sexual como un arte y una dedicacion a su pareja entregandose con todos sus sentidos en el momento del acto o en el momento de estar con su pareja incluso lejos del acto sexual. Ilustra la forma de prolongar el acto sexual por medio de ejercicios con y sin la pareja y asi rener una vida sexual altamente plena.

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesante punto de vista sobre el amor y el sexo visto desde la antigua filosofía china del taoísmo y su relación con la longevidad. Muy completo en cuanto a información, contexto histórico, contraste con el conocimiento actual sobre estos temas, consejos para aplicarlos en la actualidad y los beneficios de su práctica.

[Deborah Linker · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can I say. This manual based on ancient Chinese teachings has a great deal of good information. Especially for a recently single woman who has been out of the relationship scene for quite some time. Was first introduced to this book over 30 years ago. I appreciated it more at this time in my life.

[Miguel Riveros · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone should read it

[Morgan (Turbo) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Male-centered book that feels old but basic concepts are interesting. Who doesn’t want a longer life? Following the yin and yang of the Tao is a way to obtain it. The Tao focuses on loving, exercise and eating. Central to the Tao on Loving is that the male restrict ejaculation during sex. In the end I’m still skeptical if that’s truly necessary but I did like learning about it. Also, one of the basic principles is female satisfaction. On this principle I do agree. Highly entertaining reading about all the signs that she is ready to have sex or is about to have an orgasm. Another great part of the book is the illustrations (ancient Chinese drawings and paintings depicting sex). The ancient analogies are funny as well.

[Serena.. Sery-ously? · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un libricino veloce e interessante, anche se l'autore, per arrivare ad un numero di pagine ritenuto il 'minimo sindacale' (chissà, magari l'editore gli ha detto "O mi presenti 150 pagine o non se ne fa niente!"), mi ripete 400 volte gli stessi 3 concetti che era riuscito ad esplicitare nelle prime cinque pagine..
In realtà è una specie di commentario al Tao e quindi sarebbe interessante leggere quello e magari applicarne i principi perché effettivamente mi ha messo in pace col mondo.. I Taoisti devono vivere davvero serenamente godendosi a pieno la vita, altro che noi con la nostra morale e la nostra idea di punizione, peccato, pentiti o brucia all'inferno.. -_-
Forse un manuale più adatto per i maschietti, però illuminante!

[HeavyReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this book is that men should not ejaculate every time they have sexual intercourse. Some folks believe that too much ejaculation saps men's energy. This book makes the case for controlling ejaculation and gives tips and techniques for doing so.

[Sinan Öner]

Jolan Chang'ın, Eski Çin'in önemli felsefe okullarından "Lao Tse Okulu" (Taocu Okul) ile ilgili yazdığı ayrıntılı kitap, Türkçe'de İlhan Güngören tarafından yayınlanmıştı. "Lao Tse Okulu"nun Çin Halkı'nı yüzyıllardır etkileyen felsefî ve ideolojik sağlamlığı, kitabın başlıca kaynaklarından biridir, Jolan Chang kitabın yüzlerce sayfasında "Lao Tse Okulu"nu modern bir dünyada bir anlamda kavranabilir kılıyor. "Cinsel hayat"ın, Çin'in günlük (ve kalabalık!) yaşantısında, "Lao Tse Okulu" tarafından "evren"le nasıl "uyumlu" bir "model"e kavuşturulduğunu, Jolan Chang, tüm ayrıntıları ile okurları ile tartışıyor.

[Luis Alv · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un buen libro para familiarizarte con la filosofía del tao, sobre todo en cuanto a la importancia del amor en esta filosofía y como ello no es solo benéfico para el cuerpo, sino también para el alma.

Es un libro sobre todo para familiarizarte, ya que muchos temas son abarcados por la epidermis y los temas más relacionados en cuanto a métodos busca alentar a iniciarte en el tao.

Buen libro para mirar el amor desde los ojos orientales.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Random addition to my collection of sexology and erotica from other cultures. Some wacky stuff alongside interesting stuff. Could do without Havelock Ellis and... theological musings on Paul???

Three stars because it fulfilled the brief: an interesting curiosity, although many skeptical points remain.

[Melissa Helton · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's worth noting that in its discussion of sex, it emphasizes mutual pleasure without focus on orgasm, ownership, or conception. Several of the ideals/passages made my hackles rise, but overall a quick and interesting read.

[Geoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book is a "nugget of gold in the sand", to be metaphorical about it. It goes on the top shelf for me, highly recommended reading in the quest for the secrets of greater love and better sex.

[Lourdes Castillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una obra interesante sobre la filosofía del tao llevada al sexo. El equilibrio entre el yin (mujer) y el yang (hombre) que debe de existir incluso en las relaciones sexuales. No me esperaba un planteamiento tan interesante.

[Francisco Garcia del Valle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tiene informacióm milenaria que es aplicable al día de hoy

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good source of information of how Tao and ancient china dealt with love. An innovative way of thinking of love in the modern society and introducing it to our daily lives.

[Cameron Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Understanding is deepening... very important book as prelude to White Tigress Jade Dragon books...

[Danilo De Santis · Rating 5 out of 5]

You have to read it

[Heather Mattern · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one I believe EVERY COUPLE should read (and the perfect one for reading together and practicing the exercises in it). By far a favorite over all the intimacy books I have read!!

[Eva Weiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I read it about 35 years ago. Each chapter is self-contained and addresses a different facet of the topic. I like the fire & water analogy too.

[Jokond Ran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bilhassa her erkeğin okuması gereken bir kitap.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting. If perhaps a little dated now, I think a lot of its core advice still seems to hold.

[Antonella Poetessa dell'Anima · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un libro molto interessante che comprende e spazia sui vari aspetti della sessualità. Belli anche i discorsi tra l'Imperatore e la sua consigliera. Ricco di riferimenti ad altri libri.

[Víctor Iglesias · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cierra muy bien con Dante Aligheri y Lucrecio, pero en general está plagado de pensamiento mágico.

Si bien está medianamente informado de ciencia, hay pasajes (como cuando hace referencia a la evolución) en donde se nota su ignorancia.

En general puede ser una influencia positiva para algunas parejas pero creo que mejor valdría recurrir a la psicología y a otras ciencias

[Beatriz Bomfim · Rating 2 out of 5]

O sexo retratado na filosofia do taoísmo e seu impacto na longevidade.
Achei o livro de algum caráter interessante mas por muitas vezes repetitivo — li os sinais de prazer da mulher pelo menos três vezes. No final do livro a escrita é mais fluida, poderia porém ter sido escrito em 80 páginas.
Não ia comentar sobre o capítulo 10, mas a cada página eu me abismei mais. Visto que são ideais antigos, essas minhas opiniões não são necessariamente um julgamento mas sim um apontamento. O capítulo fala sobre relações de meninas jovens com homens velhos, incluindo uma passagem onde defendem a relação de Charlie Chaplin e Oona O'neil — sim, esta em que ele, com 54 anos, se casou com uma garota de 18 anos de idade. Depois, aponta também as relações de mulheres mais velhas com homens mais jovens, na mesma intenção de defesa. Afirma que "Para alguns homens jovens essa combinação de amor sexual e MATERNAL é simplesmente irrestível" e logo após afirma "Se ao menos fôssemos um pouco mais compreensivos veríamos que elas são algo a ser estimulado, e não condenado. E estaríamos a meio caminho andado para a solução dos problemas [...]", sem intenções de ser extremista, ao meu olhar o meio caminho andado seria na direção da ped*filia e até, ouso dizer, de práticas incestuosas.

[Leifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are like me—a Western cisgender male—you might be quite surprised by the groundbreaking premise: the ancient Chinese had an egalitarian system of power which tied the idea of living in balance with yourself, your spiritual practice, your planet, and your surrounding community to having a generous and pleasure-based sexual relationship with a primary partner. For this reason alone, I would recommend this book. There are clear faults in the writing—repetitive and preachy—which assume the privileged male point of view. Yet, I found the book to be quite refreshing and liberating. After reading many western books on sexuality, which pick apart specifics and try to tie in psychoanalysis, it was a pleasure to hear a heterosexual male argue that the key to a happy relationship is dependent on your ability to give generously to your partner without fail.

[Cody · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have never read a book on Tao, and never one relating Taoism to love and/or sex (and in this book, those two things are the same), until this book, so it was certainly new and interesting for me. It does not deal with the woman's role in sex, other than it's her satisfaction that this book is working for. Much of it deals with practices men can use to prolong and sustain their erections. It also has sections describing the evolution of the tao as time went on, what evolutions and incarnations it appeared as, and there are many lovely paintings from various pillow books and ancient sex manuals. A lot of colorful phrasing ("jade stem", "water-chestnut teeth")makes for very entertaining reading at the very least.

[Jessi]

very inspiring, thought-provoking, great points of view on the various ways we connect physically and the impacts those have on our everyday lives.

[L Mayfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

it is not for everybody