Exorcist Taoism, Shamanism and Buddhism in the Analysis of Religious Taoism in the Periods Sung to Yüan

Abstract

Exorcist Taoism, Shamanism and Buddhism are components of Chinese religious life in the Sung and Yüan periods. The presentation shows the impact of shaman and Buddhist elements on Taoist exorcism and also considers essential tendencies of pre-Sung Taoism. The Taoists of the Sung and Yüan periods inherited from the T'ang period almost antique exorcist traditions that had developed in still earlier epochs of Chinese history and continued unabated to flourish in the periods in consideration. The presentation shows that shamanism, mostly represented through mediums and Tantric Buddhism did neither alter nor end the original constitution of Taoist exorcism which is also featured.