The Norton Anthology of World Religions: Daoism

by Jack Miles (Editor), James Robson (Editor)

The Norton Anthology of World Religions offers a beautifully designed library of more than 1,000 primary texts, accompanied by headnotes, annotations, glossaries, maps, illustrations, chronologies, and a dazzling general introduction by Pulitzer Prize winner Jack Miles. This collection “will unsettle some current certainties about the nature of faith and, in so doing, may help its readers arrive at a nuanced and accurate perception of our predicament in this dangerously polarized world” (Karen Armstrong, New York Times).

Unprecedented in scope and approach, The Norton Anthology of World Religions: Daoism brings together over 150 texts from Daoism’s origins in the Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 B.C.E.) to its vital, international present. The volume features Jack Miles’ illuminating General Introduction—“Art, Play, and the Comparative Study of Religion”—as well as James Robson’s “Daoism Lost and Found,” a lively primer on the history and guiding values and practices of Daoism.

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction

816 pages, Paperback

First published February 15, 2015

About the author

Jack Miles (b. 1942) is an American author and winner of both the Pulitzer Prize and the MacArthur Fellowship. His work on religion, politics, and culture has appeared in numerous national publications, including The Atlantic Monthly, The New York Times, The Boston Globe, The Washington Post, and The Los Angeles Times.

-Wikipedia

Reviews

[Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

DISCLAIMER: I did not read all the works, being more interested in the descriptions and information provided.

This anthology was spectacular. The essays included at the start of each section offer great insights into the history of the religion and how it changed during that period, as well as part of the political and social factors that caused such changes. The descriptions for each of the works was nice, allowing me to get an understanding of the work, then reading it if it piqued my interest, but still being able to learn the basic points of the text, as well as learn about it in a socio-historical context even if I didn't want to read it. I would highly recommend this for anyone interested in Daoism, not just because it contains snippets (and sometimes whole pieces) of material that can be hard to find for the English speaker.

[David A Townsend · Rating 5 out of 5]

The basics; and the beauty.

[Ted Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a reference work and textbook. Like other reviewers I have not read all of it. I have not read much of it. I do recommend after the Jack Miles introduction you read James Robson's introduction to Daoism. That is the main reason I am jumping ahead to post a review.

Daoism is much more multivalent, complex, ambiguous, and culturally embodied in China than I had been taught decades ago at university. The density in literary selections, historical introductions to chapters of the texts, and the Robson introduction make this clear but I have little concise or clear idea what Daoism is.

Professor Robson writes as clearly as possible as he covers a mass of information, detail, and history. Daoism is not a simple notion gradually made complicated by superstition and innocent additions but something that went in and out of favor with governments and grew both within and without dominating authority.

The transliterated language of Daoism is alone an obstacle to me. The list of names compounded over centuries is an obstacle. However, there is some sort of tendency within all that history to compel my interest and enough promise, elusive though it is, to demand my attention.

[Emily O. · Rating 5 out of 5]

With comparatively little scholarship on the religion, Daoism is somewhat difficult to study and understand. This book organizes what is a very complex history of Daoism in ways that are clear and compelling. Here, Daoist history is recounted in its social, political, and religious contexts; is supplemented with primary texts; and is interwoven with helpful syntheses. This is a book I will consult frequently as I continue to study Daoism.

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an exceptional reference book, offering a comprehensive collection of Daoist texts spanning an impressive timeline—from pre-Daoist divination texts that shaped early Daoism to 20th-century scientific and Western interpretations of Daoist principles. Each text is thoughtfully introduced by an essay, and the book’s sections, such as “Classical Daoism” and “Modern Chinese History,” are prefaced with broader contextual essays. These essays are brilliantly written and justify the cost of the book on their own.

The diversity of the texts is remarkable, allowing readers to explore according to their interests. The anthology includes excerpts from Daoist classics like the 'Daodejing' and 'Zhuangzi', mythology, historical accounts, medical writings, and surprising contributions like essays from Oscar Wilde, Ursula K. Le Guin, a communist critique of "superstitious" forms of Daoism, and even an excerpt from RZA’s 'The Wu-Tang Manual'. This eclectic mix ensures something for every reader, whether they are new to Daoism or seasoned scholars.

Daoism often feels like the most misunderstood of the major world religions, but this anthology takes significant strides toward addressing that gap. I was pleasantly surprised that Norton included Daoism in this prestigious collection, given how often it is overlooked in favour of more prominent religions. Their commitment to curating this anthology is commendable.

Whether you’re a curious newcomer or already on a Daoist journey, this book is a fantastic resource. It’s been invaluable to me as I explore Daoism more deeply, and I highly recommend it.