Declarations of the Perfected: Part Two: Instructions on Shaping Destiny

by Thomas E. Smith

Declarations of the Perfected is the first complete, annotated translation of Zhen’gao, Tao Hongjing’s (456-536) masterful compilation of the Shangqing or Higher Clarity revelations, setting the stage for the heyday of medieval Daoism. The present volume presents the Declarations’ second part (fasc. 5-8), which focuses on the various difficulties that Daoist practitioners are likely to encounter in a dangerous world, and how to overcome them. It begins with instructions of a more general nature, before moving on to problems faced specifically by Xu Mi (303-376) and his family and fellow officials. This volume also sheds much light on the history of its time—the kinds of moral and philosophical issues that were being debated, as well political intrigues in the Eastern Jin court.

120 pages, ebook

Published November 1, 2020

Reviews

[Edward Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not as interesting as the first volume, but sheds more light on the social context of the revelations.