TAOISM AND THE ARTS OF CHINA

Sep 22, 2026

Uploaded by Xiajie

Catalogue and exhibition volume examining Taoism’s role in traditional China and its influence on Chinese art, combining scholarship on Chinese religion with analysis of visual culture. The foreword frames the work as arising from a major exhibition and stresses Taoism’s importance in social and political history, alongside contemporary renewed interest. It highlights two complementary modes of Taoist practice—community spiritual needs and individual spiritual needs—supported by loans and financial backing from cultural institutions.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages419

Reading Time10 h 45 min

AccessFree to download

Foreword

Acknowledgments

Notes to the Reader

Map of China

Chronological Table of Chinese Periods and Dynasties

Taoism and the Arts of China - Stephen Little

Taoism: The Story of the Way - Kristofer Schipper

Taoist Architecture - Nancy Shatzman Steinhardt

Mapping Early Taoist Art: The Visual Culture of Wudoumi Dao - Wu Hung

Taoism and Art at the Court of Song Huizong - Patricia Ebrey

Catalogue of the Exhibition

The Formation of the Taoist Tradition

The Taoist Church

The Taoist Renaissance

TAOISMAND THE ART OF CHJNA ९ # TAOISM амр тне Артб ое Снгма 2 AND THE ARTS OF CHINA STEPHEN LITTLEWITH SHAWN EICHMAN WITH ESSAYS BY PATRICIA EBREYKRISTOFER SCHIPPER NANCY SHATZMAN STEINHARDTWu HuNG THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO IN ASsoCIATION WITHUNIVERSITY oF CALIFORNIA PRESS This book was published in conjunction with the eshibition "Taoismand the Arts of China."organized by The At Insitute of Chicago andpresentedin the mustum's Regenstein Hal frem November 4,2000,to January 7.2oot.The exchibition was also presented at the Asian ArtMuseum of San Francisco from February zi to May 13,2001. Copright o20oo by The Art Institute of Chicago For copright oof photographs,see Photography Credits,p.408. Allrights reserved.No part ofthis publication may be reproduced in anyform or by any electronic or mechanical means,including inormationtorage and retrievzl ystems,without prior witten permision from thePublications Department of The Art Institute of Chicago,except byareviewer,who mrquote bief pasages in a review "Tacism and the Arts of China"was supported by the E.Rhodes andLecna B.Carpenter Foundation,the Estate ofWliam Bronson Mitehelland Grayce Slovet Mitchel,the Heny Luce Foundation,the FreemanFamiy Foundation,and The wL5.Spencer Foundation. Major funding was provided by the National Endowment for theHumanities and the National Endowment for the Arts,dedicated toespanding the understanding of cultural and aristic heitage. First edition Printed in Belgium 05040302010 987654321 Published by The Art Iinsttute of Chicago1 South Michigan AvenueChicago.linls 6o6o3in association wihUniversity of Califomia Press2120 Berkeley wayBerkeley,California 94720 Produced by the Publications DepartmentofThe Art Institute ofChicago.Susan F.Rossen,Executive Director Edited by Rabertv Sharp.Asseciate Directer of Pulications,andCatherine A.Steinmann,Special Projects Editor,assisted by FaithBrabenec Hart Production by Sarah E.Guernsey.Producian Coordinator,assisted byStacey A.Hendricks,Production Assistant Unless otherwise noted,all photographs are by the Department ofImaging.Alan B.Newman,Executive Director Designed and typeset by Ed Marquand and Susan E Keky,ManquandBooks,Inc,Seatle,Washington Separations by Professional Graphics,Ine,Rockford,llinisPrinted and bound by Snoeck.Ducaju &Zon,Chent,Belgium LibraryofCongress Catalogingin-Publication Data LitleStephen,1954- Taclsm and the arts efChina/by Stephen Little with Shawn Eichman;wich essays by Patricia Ebrey…[et alj p.cm. 158N O-520-22784·◎(cloth:ak.paper)—150NO-520-22785-9(pbk.alk.paper) 1,Art,Taoist-China—Ezhibilions,2.Art.Chinese—Eahibifions. 3.Tanism—Chinz—Eshibitions,1.Eichman,Shawn,IL.Title. N8199.73 Ls82000704.94899514'0951—dcz100-34377 CovERAND BACK covre:details,Ondination Scrolof Empes Zhang(eat,no,57);rnONTISPIrCE,P.2:detail,The Eight immoraks,theThre Star,and the Quren Mothar of the West ar the Tunquehe Pond(cat.no.n18). ## 6.Foreword JAMES N.WooD z AcknowledgmentsSrPHNLITTL Notes to the Reader 0 Map of China 1 Chronological TableofChinese Periodsand Dynasties 13 Taoism and the Arts of ChinaSTEPHEN LITTLE 3 Taoism:The Story of the WayKR1STOEE ScHIPPE 7 Taoist ArchitectureNascy SATZMAN STFIKHARnr 7 Mapping Early Taoist Art:The Visual Cultureof Wudoumi DaoWu HuNG 95 Taoism and Art at the Court of Song HuizongATRICIAEREY CATALOCUE OF THE ExHIBITION IHE FQRMATION OE THETAOIST TRADITION 151.Laozi and the Origins of Taoism 1272.Heaven and Earth:Taoist Cosmology 147 3.Sacred Mountains and Cults ofthe lmmartals u.IHE IAOIST CHURCH 1631.The Beginnings of Religious Taoism 1892.Taoist Ritual 227 3.The Taoist Pantheon II.THE TAOIST RENA15SANCE 255 1.Taoism and Popular Religion 2752.Divine Manifestations ofYin:Goddessesand Female Saints 291 3.Zhenwu,the Perfected Warrior 334.Taoist Immortals 3375.Inner Alchemy and Its Symbolism 3576.The Sacred Landscape 84 Chinese Names

FAQs

What is the main focus of TAOISM AND THE ARTS OF CHINA?

It explores Taoism’s pivotal role in traditional China and how that influence shaped Chinese art, using scholarship and exhibition research to connect spiritual practice with artistic achievements.

Which two modes of Taoist practice does the book emphasize?

The book highlights two complementary modes: Taoism serving the spiritual needs of the community and Taoism serving the spiritual needs of the individual.

How is the volume structured beyond the foreword?

It includes acknowledgments and reader notes, maps and chronological tables, essays by multiple scholars, and a catalogue section covering major developments in Taoist tradition, church, and renaissance.

Sep 22, 2026

Uploaded by Xiajie