RT Article
T1 Spirit-writing altars and Daoist rituals in Qing Jiangnan
JF Studies in Chinese Religions
VO 8
IS 3
SP 385
OP 406
A1 Goossaert, Vincent 1969-
LA English
PB Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group
YR 2022
UL https://www.ixtheo.de/Record/1820791327
AB The study of late imperial spirit-writing altars has so far focused on their textual productions. The historical evidence, however, also shows that many of them operated as ritual service centers, providing for free a large range of rituals including healing, salvation of the dead, exorcism and more. The article surveys these activities and the ways in which ‘lay’ members were trained in ritual and practiced it not only for themselves but also for the local communities. In conclusion, the article questions the relevance of the commonly held distinction between ‘professional’ Daoist priests performing rituals, and ‘lay’ Daoists supposedly only interested in self-cultivation.
K1 amateur Daoists
K1 Doutan
K1 Daoist rituals
K1 spirit-writing
DO 10.1080/23729988.2022.2116857