Research on Taoist Fiction by Du Guangting -- A Series of Theses on Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism

Author: Luo Zhengming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-12-01
Features: Daoist fiction is a typical religious literature, combining both religious and literary characteristics. According to the complexity of the text itself, Daoist fiction through the ages is generally divided into broad and narrow definitions. The research focus of this book primarily targets the narrow definition of Daoist fiction, which is centered on the purposes of propagation and moral instruction. Under the (promoting Daoism) background before the Tang Dynasty, Tang and Five Dynasties Daoist fiction flourished, and Du Guangting, who once served in the Former Shu Kingdom, became the culmination of nearly three and a half centuries of Daoist fiction development in this period. Based on clear selection criteria, this book conducts a relatively comprehensive investigation and statistics of Tang and Five Dynasties Daoist fiction, outlining its developmental trajectory and characteristics. Against this backdrop, it provides in-depth case studies of Du Guangting's several important Daoist fiction works from perspectives such as religion, literature, history, and textual studies. Building on this foundation, it reveals the Daoist thought and literary value embedded in Du Guangting's Daoist fiction, and offers a brief discussion on the relationship between Daoism and literature.