Linked Faiths: Essays on Chinese Religions and Traditional Culture in Honour of Kristofer Schipper

It is a recognized fact that the boundaries between the various religions in China, and those between religion and culture in general, have always been fluid. This can only be duly acknowledged by careful research from many angles - and by many experts. It is exactly these mutual influences that form the leading theme in this Festschrift in honour of Kristofer Schipper, taken up by a selection of his many pupils and colleagues. The 13 contributions span over two millennia, ranging from the late Zhou to the 1990s. Topics include divination, religious puppet theatre, the art of translating, late Ming Christianity, and literature. The major focus, however, is Taoism and its connections with medieval society, popular cults and medicine. Special mention, in this connection, should be made of an extensive analysis and translation of a 4th century poem from the Taoist Canon, and a study of the social circle of a leading Tang dynasty Taoist.