The Emergence of Daoism: Creation of a Tradition By GilRaz. Routledge Studies in Taoism. London: Routledge, 2012 (paper 2014). Pp. viii +292. Hardcover, $168.00; paper, $53.95.

Abstract

In the early development of Daoism, various lineages emerged from the Chinese religious milieu. While their appearances are separated in time, these lineages did not supplant each other, but instead co-existed and developed through ongoing interaction and competition. This is reflected in their engagement with a complex array of practices. Raz illuminates this complexity by first defining Daoism through points of commonality broadly shared by the various lineages and then going on to examine how certain practices—immortality cults, talismans, transmission rites, sexual practices and textual systemization—played out among them. Through a discussion of the origins of each practice and an examination of how they were used in various lineages, Raz demonstrates how variation provided means for each lineage to distinguish itself from the milieu and from other Daoist lineages. Shifts in these practices and attitudes toward them thus become significant points of departure for understanding the evolution and refinement of Daoism. As a result, Raz's analysis brings new observations to familiar materials. A comprehensive overview of Daoism's rich early history may not yet—or ever—be possible, but this punchy book with analysis structured around practice rather than lineage is both refreshing and enlightening. This note marks the appearance of the paper edition, which increases the accessibility of this engaging work.