Grotto Heaven - Time-Swept Landscapes

Author: Zhang Xiaohong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: As a native religion of China, Taoism can be said to embody, to some extent, the essence of Chinese culture—its inclusive and eclectic nature. A specific manifestation of this is the vast and diverse pantheon of deities in Taoism. To provide a place for these numerous deities to dwell, Taoist theorists constructed a unique system of divine geographical locations, which they named the "Hole Heavens and Blessed Lands." In Taoism, it is said that there are the "Three Mountains and Five Ranges," as well as the "Ten Major Hole Heavens, the Thirty-Six Minor Hole Heavens, and the Seventy-Two Blessed Lands." This demonstrates that the number of Taoist sacred sites is indeed substantial. On the other hand, these Hole Heavens and Blessed Lands scattered across the land are closely tied to the history of China, particularly the development of Taoism. This book explores the history of Taoism in China, fully revealing the cultural forms presented by the sacred sites created by Taoism.