Summary

Daoism is one of the great philosophical and religious traditions that grew and flowered in China. Unlike the great Western religions, Daoism has no one God or even a founding prophet. One of its central beliefs is that each person must follow his or her own path to the Dao, or “Way of Life.” By being so universal and yet so personal, Daoism has exerted a significant influence on the spiritual life of many cultures both in Asia and throughout the world.

Daoism, Fourth Edition traces the progress of Daoist thought, from the great Daodejing, or “The Book of the Way and Its Power” by Laozi, to the contemporary Tao of Physics by Fritjof Capra. Engaging sidebars, recommendations for further reading, a list of websites for additional information, and full-color photographs add to the well-written text. A glossary and bibliography make research easy and enjoyable for students.

Coverage includes:

• Meditation and the concept of wuwei
• Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism
• The growth and spread of religious Daoism
• Art and literature within Daoism
• Political turbulence in the 20th century
• The restoration of Daoism under China’s religious freedom clause
• The slow rebirth of Daoist monasticism
• The impact of tourism on the monastic tradition.

Specifications

eBook

About the Author(s)

The late Paula R. Hartz was a teacher and a textbook editor, and specialized in writing nonfiction and educational materials for elementary and secondary school students. She was the author of Baha'i Faith, Native American Religions, Shinto, and Zoroastrianism, all from Facts On File's World Religions series.

Series editor Joanne O'Brien has an M.A. degree in theology and has written a range of education and general reference books on religion and contemporary culture. She is coauthor, with Martin Palmer and Elizabeth Breuilly, of Religions of the World and Festivals of the World, published by Infobase, and, with Martin Palmer, of Atlas of Religion. She is a consultant to WWF, the World Bank, the World Council of Churches, UNESCO, and UNDP.

Series editor and religious historian Martin Palmer is the founder of International Consultancy on Religion, Education, and Culture (ICOREC), in 1983, and the secretary-general of the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC). He is the author of many books on world religions as well as a translator of ancient Chinese texts.