China's Cosmological Prehistory: The Sophisticated Science Encoded in Civilization's Earliest Symbols — Occult Philosophy

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China's Cosmological Prehistory: The Sophisticated Science Encoded in Civilization's Earliest Symbols

Name: China's Cosmological Prehistory: The Sophisticated Science Encoded in Civilization's Earliest Symbols
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ISBN: 9781620553299

✍️ Scranton, Laird

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Laird Scranton presents a compelling investigation into the profound similarities between ancient Chinese creation traditions and those found across other venerable cultures, including ancient Egypt. He meticulously dissects the shared symbolic language, phonetic structures, and cosmological concepts embedded within early Chinese thought, from the stages of Taoist creation to the origins of the I Ching and ancestor worship. Scranton argues these deep parallels offer further compelling evidence for a single, sophisticated source of knowledge that predates and informed all early civilizations, now lost to time.

Scranton, Laird

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Occult Philosophy

Praise for this book

“China's Cosmological Prehistory takes the next step in comparing the creation traditions of ancient cultures. In it, Scranton demonstrates how cross-cultural comparisons can lead us to new insights about the possible meanings of obscure ancient myths and symbols.”

— Walter Cruttenden, author of Lost Star of Myth and Time

🏛 Inner Traditions International 📅 2014 📖 192 pages 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781620553299

Fun Fact

Scranton offers a fascinating, meticulously researched journey into the shared cosmological roots of ancient civilizations, making a strong case for a forgotten, global wisdom. While its speculative nature may not appeal to strict academic historians, those open to alternative interpretations of prehistory will find a treasure trove of insights. This work firmly establishes itself within the esoteric tradition of comparative mythology, pushing boundaries with bold interdisciplinary connections and offering a fresh perspective on humanity's shared past.

📝 Description: China's Cosmological Prehistory: The Sophisticated Science Encoded in Civilization's Earliest Symbols

An examination of the earliest creation traditions and symbols of China and their similarities to those of other ancient cultures - Reveals the deep parallels between early Chinese words and those of other ancient creation traditions such as the hieroglyphics of ancient Egypt - Explores the 8 stages of creation in Taoism and the cosmological origins of Chinese ancestor worship, the zodiac, the mandala, and the I Ching - Provides further evidence that the cosmology of all ancient cultures arose from a single now-lost source Building on his extensive research into the sacred symbols and creation myths of the Dogon of Africa and those of ancient Egypt, India, and Tibet, Laird Scranton investigates the myths, symbols, and traditions of prehistoric China, providing further evidence that the cosmology of all ancient cultures arose from a single now-lost source. Scranton explores the fundamental similarities between the language that defined ancient Chinese cosmology and that of other creation traditions, revealing the connections between the phonetic structure of the words, their glyphs, and their use. He demonstrates striking parallels between the earliest systems of writing in China and the hieroglyphs of ancient Egypt. He examines the 8 levels of creation in Taoism and the cosmological origins of Chinese ancestor worship, mythical emperors, the zodiac, the mandala, and the I Ching. He details the fundamental principles of land-use in ancient China in relation to the symbolism of a Buddhist stupa and the Dogon granary, ritual shrines that are also the central symbol of other creation traditions. Understanding the true meanings of these symbol complexes also reveals the sophisticated scientific understanding of these ancient cultures, for these creation symbols directly correlate with our modern understanding of atoms and the energetic makeup of matter. In exploring Chinese cosmological traditions, Scranton sheds new light on the contention that the sacred knowledge of the ancients is the legacy of an earlier culture who gave primitive humanity the tools they needed to birth the first known civilizations.

📑 What's inside

Acknowledgments Introduction
1 Contours of a Shared Creation Tradition
2 Early Chinese Concepts of Cosmology
3 Ancestor-Teachers in the Chinese Cosmology
4 The Chinese Concept of the Mulberry Tree
5 The Well-Field System
6 The Earliest Chinese Cities
7 Daoism and the Seven Stages of Creation
8 The Mandala
9 The Yijing (I Ching)
10 The Eight Trigrams
11 The Zodiac
12 The Cosmological Role of the Turtle
13 Oracle Bone Writing
14 Symbolism of the Ger, or Yurt
15 The Magic Square and the Numbers Eight and Nine
16 Reconciling China with the Plan of Ancient Cosmology
Notes Bibliography Index

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Scranton’s investigation is dense with symbolic analysis, appealing primarily to those with a strong background in comparative religion or esoteric studies. Readers seeking a light, narrative-driven historical account may find the focus on phonetic structures and cosmological diagrams tedious and overly academic. The book assumes a willingness to engage with complex, abstract concepts rather than offering simple answers. It does not suit skeptics who demand empirical archaeological proof over symbolic correlation. However, for those open to the idea of a unified prehistoric wisdom tradition, it offers a compelling, if intellectually demanding, framework. It is best approached as a serious study in comparative symbolism rather than casual reading.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers fascinated by the hidden connections between ancient cultures will find this book a revelatory experience. If you have ever wondered if disparate civilizations shared a common intellectual ancestor, this text provides a meticulous argument for that possibility. It is ideal for those who enjoy decoding symbolic languages and tracing the lineage of ideas from Taoist creation myths to Egyptian iconography. The author’s detailed dissection of phonetic structures and cosmological concepts offers a fresh perspective on the origins of human knowledge. For anyone seeking evidence of a sophisticated, global wisdom tradition that predates recorded history, this book serves as both a puzzle solver and a philosophical guide, satisfying a deep curiosity about our shared esoteric heritage.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5

★★★★★

If you're captivated by ancient mysteries, comparative mythology, or the search for a lost, universal wisdom, this book is for you. Readers interested in the esoteric underpinnings of early civilizations and the hidden connections between cultural symbols will find this a fascinating read.

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Scranton’s investigation is dense with symbolic analysis, appealing primarily to those with a strong background in comparative religion or esoteric studies. Readers seeking a light, narrative-driven historical account may find the focus on phonetic structures and cosmological diagrams tedious and overly academic. The book assumes a willingness to engage with complex, abstract concepts rather than offering simple answers. It does not suit skeptics who demand empirical archaeological proof over symbolic correlation. However, for those open to the idea of a unified prehistoric wisdom tradition, it offers a compelling, if intellectually demanding, framework. It is best approached as a serious study in comparative symbolism rather than casual reading.

❓ Frequently asked questions

The book posits that ancient Chinese cosmology shares profound similarities with other early cultures, suggesting a common, single source of advanced knowledge now lost to history.

It extends Scranton's ongoing research into global creation myths and symbols, applying his comparative methodology to ancient China, further supporting his thesis of a universal, primordial wisdom.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Ancient Chinese Cosmology

Explore the foundational principles of early Chinese thought, including the eight stages of Taoist creation, the symbolic significance of the I Ching, and the roots of ancestor worship. Scranton illuminates how these concepts encode profound scientific and spiritual understandings, revealing a sophisticated worldview that shaped early Chinese civilization.

Cross-Cultural Echoes

Discover striking parallels between ancient Chinese symbols and language, such as early written characters, and those found in Egyptian hieroglyphs and other traditions. The book highlights shared phonetic structures and conceptual frameworks, suggesting a common intellectual heritage that transcends geographical and cultural divides, linking diverse peoples.

The Primordial Source

Delve into Scranton's overarching hypothesis that all ancient cosmologies, including China's, stem from a single, highly advanced, yet now vanished source of knowledge. He builds upon his previous research into various global traditions to reinforce this provocative theory, seeking to unify fragmented global myths and symbols.

📜 Historical context

Building on a lineage of scholars who explore the interconnectedness of ancient cultures, Scranton's work places itself firmly within the modern tradition of seeking a unified proto-culture. His previous extensive research on the Dogon, Egyptian, and Indian cosmologies provides the intellectual foundation for this latest exploration into Chinese prehistory, furthering his 'single source' hypothesis.

📚 Glossary

Cosmology
Glyph
Taoism

📔 Questions to reflect on

Reflect on how the idea of a shared, ancient cosmological source might change our understanding of human history and cultural development.
Consider a symbol or concept from your own cultural background. Can you find parallels in other ancient traditions, and what might that signify?
If a lost, sophisticated knowledge once existed, what implications does that have for humanity's current spiritual and scientific understanding?