Xu Dishan on the Way of Taoism

Author: Xu Dishan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: The study of Taoism as a formal discipline in mainland China is a relatively recent development. In the early 20th century, the term "National Studies" gained prominence, and Taoist studies were included among its various fields, though often only touched upon occasionally. After the May Fourth Movement, scholars of literature, history of medicine, history of chemistry, and other fields began to study Taoism using Western academic frameworks, achieving significant results. Among them were Xu Dishan's works such as Comprehensive Index of the Daozang, Taoist Thought and Taoism (Issue 2 of Yanjing Academic Review, 1927), and The Fundamental Thought of Taoism and Its Attitude Toward Human Life (Volume 1, Issue 2 of Reading Quarterly, 1935). The 1920s and 1930s were known as the dawn of Taoist studies, and Xu Dishan's History of Taoism (Shanghai Commercial Press, 1934) was a prominent achievement of this period. Xu Dishan became a "pioneer in systematically organizing the history of Taoism," and the book was regarded as a "monograph on Taoism" and an "pioneering work that sought to systematically organize the emergence and development of Taoism." Three years later, Fu Qinjia's History of Chinese Taoism (Commercial Press, 1937) was published, marking the establishment of Taoism as an independent field of study. Seven decades later, Taoist studies had become an international discipline, with "a large influx of talent entering and cultivating this fertile ground." Throughout history, renowned Taoist scholars include Ge Hong (Hong), Tao Hongjing during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, Cheng Xuanying, Li Rong, Wang Xuanyan, Sima Chengzhen, Wu Yun, and Li Jian during the Tang Dynasty; Du Guangting and Tan Qiao during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms; Chen Tuan, Zhang Bouduan, Chen Jingyuan, and Bai Yuchan during the Song Dynasty; Wang Chongyang, Qiu Chujie, Yu Yan, Du Daojian, Lei Siqi, and Zhang Yu during the Jin and Yuan Dynasties; Zhang Yuchu, Zhao Yizhen, and Lu Xixing during the Ming Dynasty; and Wang Changyue, Li Xiyue, and Huang Chang during the Qing Dynasty.
This book is based on History of Taoism. The first edition of History of Taoism only had an upper part, and the author passed away seven years later. According to the preface, the upper part of the book "describes Taoism and prepares for various Taoist practices," while the lower part "discusses the development of Taoism's doctrines and principles." Some say that the lower part had surviving manuscripts, but none have been found to date, so the book remains complete, with "explaining Taoism" ultimately being less comprehensive than "doctrines and principles."
This book is suitable for researchers or enthusiasts of Taoism and the history of Taoism, scholars or enthusiasts of modern Chinese culture, scholars or enthusiasts of religious studies, and researchers of Xu Dishan.