Heya.
The following is from a chunk of work I was doing on Asian mysticism for a d20 product that will, sadly, not see the light of day, now. Since it is sitting here gathering dust on my harddrive, I am dropping it here for your use.
Please note two things: I am not an expert on the culture(s) in question. Likewise, there are a great many aspects of these that are by necessity sanded down from far more complex concepts. These are to the actual systems of mysticism and belief of Asia as the standard D&D demon-summoner is to real-world goetia. This is intended to neither insult, nor demean anyone's culture - it is intended to be fun for gaming, rather than anthropology.
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Traditions of Asian Magic
We look at it, and we do not see it, and we name it 'the Equable.' We listen to it, and we do not hear it, and we name it 'the Inaudible.' We try to grasp it, and do not get hold of it, and we name it 'the Subtle.' With these three qualities, it cannot be made the subject of description; and hence we blend them together and obtain The One.
— Tao te Ching (Legge translation)
There are many traditions in Asia, most of them quite old. Where occultism has seen a resurgence in Europe and the Western world, it has never been forgotten in Asia, which has never had a single dominant faith that preaches the innate wickedness of magic. These traditions and practices have utterly influenced one another through the years, as well, so that even the most dedicated fang shih may find himself using a Confucian ancestor invocation at some point, or a shaman of the Ainu tribes of Japan may have picked up a Buddhist mantra that he uses for specific purposes.
Wind and Water (Arcane)
The enlightened practitioners of feng shui understand that energy flows through the world, pouring over everything like sheets of water and the breath of the wind. This energy may coalesce into paths, the way water flows into streams and rivers. These are called dragon lines, called such because it is believed that the positive manifestation of this energy, ch'i, which means "breath," is the breath of the Celestial Dragon. However, in each cycle of breath there are periods where breathing does not occur, and should these be extended out, they are death to the breather. Likewise, there are inauspicious flows of this energy as well, called sha, which also means "death."
Through history, the flows of ch'i and sha have occurred naturally, though perhaps altered here and there by practitioners of feng shui (literally, "wind and water," because of the tendencies of this energy to flow with naturally occurring winds and water), geomancers known as fang shih. These occultists have worked to mitigate the influence of sha, and concentrate ch'i, giving those around them more prosperous and healthy lives.
Alchemy and Immortality (Arcane)
The application of Taoist principles in the world of magic is perhaps one of the most common forms of arcane magic in Asia. The adept of Taoist alchemy understands that all things are influenced by one of the Five Elements, and by the interplay of Yin and Yang to some degree. By adjusting these influences within things around them and in themselves, the Taoist occultist can produce truly spectacular results, if the legends of Asia are to be believed.
There are two stages of Taoist alchemy practiced by its adepts: external and internal alchemy. External alchemy uses elemental and Yin-Yang energy that is manifest in physical things, such as herbs, potions, the parts of animals and certain stones. Through the careful intermixing and altering of energy influences in these things, the alchemist achieves his results. Those who truly master these ways grow beyond them, however, and come to learn to influence the flows of energy alone, first by swallowing the (often poisonous) physical components of external alchemy and transmuting them internally, and then simply altering their own flows of energy to achieve their desired results. It is said that those who master Taoist alchemy can become immortal.
The Diamond Thunderbolt (Arcane)
A Buddhist-derived arcane practiced, the "Diamond Thunderbolt," or Vajrayana practices are made up of combinations of other Buddhist practices paired with unique mantras (chants used for meditation), mudras (hand symbols used in meditation) and mandalas (visual symbols used in meditation), the invocation and command of the powers of spirits and personal union with buddhas and local god-forms. Originally springing from Tibet, there are Vajrayana monasteries throughout Japan and China as well.
Invocation of the Celestial Dragon (Divine)
Many places, particularly those influenced by China in the past, maintain the belief in a Celestial Bureaucracy. This pantheon of gods is made up of hundreds of local gods, all overseen by a mighty Dragon Emperor in Heaven and the bureaucracy of immortals and gods beneath him meant to see that all things happen in their proper way and time. This belief system is quite old in China and has influenced every other practice that has arisen there: it is in separable from the precepts of Confucianism and Taoism, for example, and can even be found in some elements of Buddhism. As a result, many mystics utilize the powers and invocations of the Celestial Dragon's courts to work their miracles, though none do this exclusively; these practices are invariably taught as part of some other mystical or even arcane tradition.
The Spirits of the Land (Divine)
Shamanism can be found nearly anywhere in Asia, from the sky-worshipping remnants of the Mongol religious practices to the shamanic practices of Southeast Asia. Shamanism can even be found in the midst of the most civilized places in Asia; many peasant communities in China still maintain someone who practices the old dealings with spirits.
In Japan, the Shinto faith is shamanistic, teaching its adherents the proper respect for and rituals to the kami, the spirits of the island nation. The Emperor is of divine ancestry, and all major landmarks, such as the towering Fujiyama, have major spirits associated with them. The traditional rites of passage are often Shinto in performance, though an increasing number of Japanese families make a point of having both Shinto and Buddhist rituals for such occasions.
All shamans are assumed to perform some kind of magic, even if its simply satisfying the spirits of a place so that no one is harmed, or driving away wicked spirits. Truly adept shamans, however, are known to be able to call upon the spirits to amazing ends, weaving whips of fire from the very air and calling down storms upon their foes.
Ancestor Reverence (Divine)
Often going hand-in-hand with shamanism, ancestor reverence is perhaps most prevalent in China, due to the influence of Confucianism, which teaches filial piety. As a result, the native ancestor worship was grafted to Confucian doctrines early on. Many powerful necromancers and dealers-with-spirits are Confucian in practice, turning the usually simple magics found in the Confucian Book of Rites to impressive ends, calling up the spirits of the departed to possess their foes, heal the wounded or drive away illnesses.
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A Note on Magical Syncretism
Syncretism is the order of the day in Asia, especially in magical and religious systems. Rare is the magical order or tradition that attempts to maintain some kind of pristine order of practice; it is assumed that when an adept finds something that works that he is capable of using, he will do so, adding that bit of lore to the body of his own practices.
One excellent example of this is the yamabushi ("mountain-warriors") or shukenja of Japan. These magicians practice an art known as shugendo ("the way of mastering power through asceticism"), they utilize Buddhist-style ascetic practices, seeking to strengthen their own spirits and bodies. This is done in natural environments, however, seeking to additionally draw upon the power and favor of the kami in their attempts. In game terms, a shukenja or other syncretic magician may use either arcane or divine magic; a rare few are even multi-classed, allowing them to utilize the secrets of both.
There are also a variety of other traditions of magical use that seem to span the variety of traditions, belonging truly to the traditions of a nation, such as the use of prayer strips and other paper magics, or the burning of joss sticks, which can all be found in nearly every standard tradition of magic in Asia.
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