This is John C. H. Wu’s spiritual autobiography. It describes his conversion in 1937 and early years as a Catholic. Upon its publication, it became an instant bestseller, compared to Thomas Merton’s Seven Storey Mountain and even the Confessions of Augustine. Beyond East and West reveals the development of Wu’s thought and the progress of his growth toward love of God, arriving through experience at the conclusion that the wisdom in all of China’s traditions, especially Confucian thought, Taoism, and Buddhism, point to universal truths that come from,
and are fulfilled in, Christ. Profound, thoughtful, and beautifully written, this book offers nourishment for those travel paths of spirituality in a our contemporary, multicultural world. The 2018 edition includes a foreword written by Wu’s son John Wu, Jr.

In the essays collected here, John C. H. Wu (1899-1986), the prominent 20th-century scholar of both Chinese and western law, philosophy, literature, and spirituality, illustrates with striking originality the harmonious synthesis of Chinese humanism (especially the wisdom of the ancient sages) with Christian spirituality as articulated in the Bible and the writings of the saints, mystics, and such modern spiritual writers as Therese of Lisieux. They display the depth and breadth of Wu's thought, which led him to the conclusion that the wisdom in all of China's traditions--especially Confucian thought, Taoism, and Buddhism--points to universal truths that originate from, and are fulfilled in, Christ, and that the "marriage" of the East and the West in Christ is the key to a future concordant understanding.

"Stretching out my hand I feel the pulse of the stars," wrote Li Po, one of the most famous of the T'ang dynasty poets. This superlative study of the Golden Age of Chinese poetry, based on nearly 50,000 poems written by more than 2,000 poets, captures not only the pulse of that period but also the spirit and soul. Of this Tang blossoming, Dr. Wu says that for nearly thirteen centuries after Christ, poetry in Europe, with the exception of Juvenal, kept a death–like silence. It hibernated so long that when it woke up again in the person of Dante, the last poetic voice it could remember was that Virgil. It seems though Mother Earth purposely rocked Europe to sleep for some time that she might teach Asia to sing.

This book gives a fascinating survey of the early years of Chinese Zen (Chan) Buddhism, staying focused on the movement of Buddhism to the land where Taoism and Confucianism flourished. Wu's survey, combined with interesting translations from these earliest Zen masters, reveals a time of spiritual vibrancy and powerful personalities that help explain the later developments of Zen with which western readers are more familiar. 

Upon his conversion to Christianity early in his life, John C. H. Wu found the writings of Saint
Therese of Lisieux and her "little way of love" a profound source of inspiration. In this volume he takes up the three-fold path of Carmelite spirituality in a lucid and inviting way. Wu holds out the way for growth in sanctity for the ordinary person in the midst of life. This work is a gem, currently out of print. However, the Dr. John C. H. Wu Institute is working to publish a new edition in the near future.

This spiritual and philosophical classic, written centuries before the birth of Christ, and attributed to the sage Lao Tzu (Lao Zi) teaches the way of inner peace and authenticity. In our day, Lao Tzu’s words are as useful in mastering the arts of leadership in business and politics as they are in developing a sense of balance and harmony in everyday life. To follow the Tao or Way of all things and realize their true nature is to embody humility, spontaneity, and generosity. John C. H. Wu’s translation of the Tao Teh Ching (Dao De Jing) renders a subtle and difficult text accessible for a contemporary Western audience.

In addition to critical essays that explore the harvest of new insights provoked by Merton’s
encounters with the ancient sages, Merton & the Tao presents the complete and carefully annotated correspondence between Thomas Merton and John C. H. Wu.
Though Merton and Wu only met once, through their correspondence as fellow Christians, poets, and spiritual thinkers they were able to collaborate on a remarkable “rendering” of the Daoist classic The Way of Chuang Tzu into English and into the context of the 20th century.

This study of world religions through the lens of Thomas Merton’s inclusive religious interests
presents his timeless vision of all persons united in a hidden ground of love. And it reflects the
mentoring of John Wu, who was perhaps the most important influence on Merton’s
understanding of Eastern spirituality.