Written by an unknown author, Seven Taoist Masters is the story of six men and one woman who overcome tremendous hardships on the journey to self-mastery. These characters and their teacher, Wang Ch'ung-yang, are all historical figures who lived in the Southern Sung (1127-1279) and Yuan (1271-1368) dynasties. Wang is regarded as the greatest patriarch of the Complete Reality school, a highly purified branch of Taoism having a strong affinity with Zen Buddhism.

At once an entertaining novel and a Taoist training manual, Seven Taoist Masters brings to life the essentials of Taoist philosophy and practice, both through the instructions offered by Wang--on topics such as the cultivation of mind and body, meditation techniques, and overcoming the obstacles to enlightenment--and through the experiences of its unforgettable characters.