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The Writ of the Three Sovereigns - From Local Lore to Institutional Daoism (Paperback)
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The Writ of the Three Sovereigns - From Local Lore to Institutional Daoism (Paperback)
Series: New Daoist Studies
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In 648 CE, Tang imperial authorities collected every copy of the
Writ of the Three Sovereigns (Sanhuang wen) from the four corners
of the empire and burned them. The formidable talismans at its core
were said not only to extend their owners’ lifespan and protect
against misfortune, but also propel them to stratospheric heights
of power, elevating them to the rank of high minister or even
emperor. Only two or three centuries earlier, this controversial
text was unknown in most of China with the exception of Jiangnan in
the south, where it was regarded as essential local lore. In the
span of a few generations, the Writ of the Three Sovereigns would
become the cornerstone of one of the three basic corpora of the
Daoist Canon, a pillar of Daoism—and a perceived threat to the
state. This study, the only book-length treatment of the Writ of
the Three Sovereigns in any language, traces the text’s
transition from local tradition to empire-wide institutional
religion. The volume begins by painting the social and historical
backdrop against which the scripture emerged in early
fourth-century Jiangnan before turning to its textual history. It
reflects on the work’s centerpiece artifacts, the potent
talismans in celestial script, as well as other elements of its
heritage, namely alchemical elixirs and "true form" diagrams.
During the fifth and sixth centuries, with Daoism coalescing into a
formal organized religion, the Writ of the Three Sovereigns took on
a symbolic role as a liturgical token of initiation while retaining
its straightforward language of sovereignty and strong political
overtones, which eventually led to its prohibition. The writ
endured, however, and later experienced a revival as its influence
spread as far as Japan. Despite its central role in the development
of institutional Daoism, the Writ of the Three Sovereigns has
remained an understudied topic in Chinese history. Its fragmentary
textual record combined with the esoteric nature of its content
have shrouded it in speculation. This volume provides a lucid
reconstruction of the text’s hidden history and enigmatic
practices while shedding light on its contributions to the
religious landscape of medieval China.
General
Imprint: |
University of Hawaii Press
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Country of origin: |
United States |
Series: |
New Daoist Studies |
Release date: |
September 2020 |
Authors: |
Dominic Steavu
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Series editors: |
Lai Chi-Tim
• Stephen Bokenkamp
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Dimensions: |
229 x 152mm (L x W) |
Format: |
Paperback
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Pages: |
384 |
ISBN-13: |
978-0-8248-8832-9 |
Categories: |
Books
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LSN: |
0-8248-8832-4 |
Barcode: |
9780824888329 |
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