The Emergence of Daoism: Creation of Tradition

At the core of Daoism are ancient ideas concerning the Way, the fundamental process of existence (the Dao). Humans, as individuals and as a society, should be aligned with the Dao in order to attain the fullness of life and its potential. This book presents the history of early Daoism, tracing the development of the tradition between the first and the fifth centuries CE. It discusses how several Daoist movements emerged during this period, such as the Celestial Masters in the second century. Other relatively well-known lineages include the Upper Clarity and the Numinous Treasure lineages that appeared in the fourth century. The labels applied to these lineages refer to either textual or ritual categories and are very difficult to determine socially, and they obscure the social reality of early medieval China. The book argues that these lineages should be understood not as schools but as narrowly defined associations of masters and disciples, and it goes on to describe these diverse social groupings as '¬Ücommunities of practice'¬". Shedding new light on a complex and multifaceted phenomenon, the formation of Daoism as a new religion in early medieval China, this book presents a major step forward in Daoist Studies.

1. Cults of Immortality 2. Blood Rites and Pure Covenants 3. Powers of Inscription 4. Sexual practice among medieval Daoists 5. The development of Daoist ritual 6. Conclusion