From Library Journal This reference work defines symbols not only as visual icons (including shapes, color, and geometric designs) but also as biblical, classical, and mythological figures; botanics; minerals; and animals (real and mythical) as they relate to literature, dreams, art, and so forth. The choice of the over 2000 cross-referenced terms included here was necessarily subjective, for almost anything in the universe can be construed as having an emblematic meaning. Prehistorical to modern periods are covered and, although there is a Western emphasis, the author attempts to place symbols in appropriate cultural contexts. This work, which consolidates much arcane information, is valuable for its elucidation of both the esoteric and commonplace. Generally recommended, although there is no need to duplicate if a collection has sufficient works of this nature. A similar title, Carl G. Liungman's Dictionary of Symbols , was chosen as one of LJ 's best reference books of 1991.--Ed. - Janice Braun, Oakland, Cal. Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

金函玉镜者，汉时诸葛孔明所着，当汉末黄巾之乱，天下豪杰并起，而曹氏父子、孙权、周瑜皆称召用兵之术，惟独孔明与蜀主往往行兵遇敌，并纵横于吴魏之间，以正维奇兵而获胜者何也，此乃出于金函玉镜一书，此书始自上古圣王轩辕氏破蚩尤不胜，斋戒上感九天玄女传授驱役六丁玉女之神，诸遁甲旬内逐日遁时，为八门以定吉凶，分内外胜负集为秘书一编，传至于世，而孔明得之于龙门山岩穴之间，孔明行军出阵用以取胜，魏吴诸将咸称其存焉。 孔明奇其书值得传世，厥后自画阴阳图局各一甲子六十日，每日十二时辰图局俱载，九星所值各门吉凶成败，以备行兵择选，其应如响，名之曰金函玉镜，不与遁甲诸书相似，神异不可测度，孔明有云，是书在兵兴之日则为行军，以及作日用传事与选择出行必不可无者甚矣，历代流传秘而宝之，其普遍则寡矣，且代远年久，转相抄袭，舛错颇多，毫厘之差，谬以千里，兹为复兴我国固有文化，重新校正阴阳布图壹佰贰拾局，并分类归纳诠释，尤其对演绎步骤及日用诸事作一详细范例提供学者参考，惟学海无涯，蠡测有限，尚祈博雅君子进而教之是幸

《长青哲学》是一部神秘主义经典选集，融合了各家各派的观点，书中摘录有埃克哈特大师、鲁米、老子以及《薄伽梵歌》、《西藏度亡经》、《金刚经》、《奥义书》等选段，作者奥尔多斯•赫胥黎按照若干主题将这些经典选段串在一起。作者认为，“长青哲学”存在于世界上所有宗教的传统知识中，其成熟的形式则出现在每一种较为高级的宗教中。在这本《长青哲学》中，赫胥黎旨在揭示为一切信仰所共有的“神圣实在”，他以惊人的智慧和洞察力，考察了大量信仰形式，包括禅宗、印度教、道教、基督教神秘主义和伊斯兰教，研究了各种宗教传统中的精神信仰，并解释了这些信仰是如何统一在人类渴望体验神性这一共同的愿望之下的。 "