Abstract

This paper provides an analysis of the gradual degeneration of philosophical-libertarian Taoism (the Lao-Zhuang tradition, including Neo-Taoism) into religious-authoritarian Taoism (the Huang-Lao tradition, including Taoist religion). It emphasizes not only the influence of Yang Zhu and Hui Shi on early Taoist philosophy but also the influence of Legalism (and Indian Buddhism) on later religious-authoritarian Taoism. The main thesis of the paper is that the transformation of Taoist political thought was caused primarily by the rulers' policy.

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