A World of Their Own: Daoist Monks and Their Community in Contemporary China

Download or read book A World of Their Own: Daoist Monks and Their Community in Contemporary China written by Adeline Herrou and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2013 with total page 285 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Following the fate of a small Daoist community temple, the Wengongci in the town of Hanzhong, Shaanxi, the author examines the structure of the temple, the monastics living in it, its surrounding lay community, and the gods worshiped in its confines. In a second part, she outlines the individual's path as a Daoist monastic today, from the choice of the religious life through the various forms of training to advanced ordinations and activities in the society. Finally, she discusses the greater community of the Dao in terms of pseudo-kinship structures and gender issues.