Daoism is one of the major religious traditions of the East, but in the
past has not been as well known as Buddhism and Hinduism. With the
increased interest in Eastern religions, and alternative spiritual
traditions, interest in Daoism is increasing. Introducing Daoism is a
lively and accessible introduction to this fascinating religion.
Introducing Daoism presents Daoism's key concepts and major practices
in an integrated historical survey. From Daoism's origins in antiquity,
through the Tang, Ming, and Quing dynasties, and into the present day,
Livia Kohn explores Daoism's movements and schools, including: Daoist
philosophy, the organized religion, and Daoist health practices. Each
chapter introduces the main historical events of the period, the leading
figures in Daoism, and Daoist scriptures and practices, as well as
covering a wealth of fascinating topics such as Chinese cosmology,
Daoist understanding of the body, rituals and doctrine, meditation,
mythology, and poetry. Livia Kohn examines the connections between the
defining concepts, history, and practices of Daoism, and key issues in
Asian and Western comparative religions, making this the essential text
for students studying Daoism on World Religions courses.
Illustrated throughout, the book also includes text boxes, summary
charts, a glossary which includes Chinese characters, and a list of
further reading to aid students' understanding and revision. The
accompanying website for this book can be found at
www.routledge.com/textbooks/9780415439978.
