Chang'an Taoism and Taoist Temples

Author: Fan Guangchun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-02-01
Features: Xi'an is a historically and culturally renowned city both domestically and internationally, with profound socio-economic foundations, rich cultural heritage, and a long-standing tradition of civilization. Throughout the historical development of the Chinese nation, the ancient capital of Xi'an has held an extremely important position, played a significant historical role, and left behind magnificent epic poems and vast, dynamic historical scrolls. As the saying goes, "Eight rivers flow around Chang'an, and since ancient times, the Central Plains have been the state of emperors." Xi'an, known in ancient times as Chang'an, is one of the important birthplaces and cultural origins of the Chinese nation. In ancient times, the "Lantian Ape Man" thrived here, and over 6,000 years ago, the Banpo ancestors settled here, engaging in agriculture and hunting, and developing the distinctive "Banpo Culture." Since the 12th century BC, King Wen of Zhou established Fengjing here, marking the beginning of Xi'an's glorious history as a royal capital that dominated China for millennia, becoming the political, economic, and cultural center of a unified multi-ethnic nation. Xi'an has become a world-renowned ancient capital, alongside cities like Athens, Rome, and Istanbul. Even today, the pagodas and steles in the city, the mausoleums outside the walls, the continuous city walls and palace ruins, and the vast collection of precious cultural relics, as well as the artistic and cultural traditions like Zhou music, Qin sounds, Han styles, and Tang rhythms, still bear witness to the grandeur, luxury, openness, and elegance once present here. Compiling the large series "Ancient Capital Xi'an" aims to provide people with a deeper understanding of Xi'an. It allows readers to touch upon the historical context and cultural characteristics of Xi'an, to feel its soul, and to introduce Xi'an to the world, further bridging the cultural exchange between the East and the West. The series is organized chronologically and thematically, with each chapter either following a timeline or discussing specific categories, but maintaining a consistent structure to ensure systematic, accurate, comprehensive, and focused introductions to Xi'an. While maintaining academic rigor, the series strives to be accessible to a broader audience, bringing history to the masses and combining rigorous scientificity, profound knowledge, and artistic appeal. This book consists of eight chapters and two appendices, covering topics such as the historical origins of Taoism in Chang'an, the relationship between Huang-Lao philosophy and the Taoist ancestral court, the rise and fall of Taoism in Chang'an, and the development of Taoism in Chang'an after the Ming and Qing dynasties.