Websites for Daoist Studies

WEBLINKS

This is a critical list divided into academic and adherent websites. The most reliable electronic sources are found on the websites of educational institutions (.edu) and (technically non-profit) organizations (.org); less reliable resources are those of personal and commercial sites (.biz, .com, .info, .net). For academic information, individuals are best advised to use Google Scholar.

The following academic websites offer accurate and reliable information on the religious tradition which is Daoism. These websites help those with the interest to develop an informed perspective on the Daoist tradition.

The adherent websites are associated with physically existing organizations and more “tradition-based” forms of Daoism. Note that many of the most tradition-based Daoist teachers and communities do not have websites. The following websites are offered as a glimpse into the landscape of “global Daoism.” However, no teacher or organization is recommended. Potential adherents must use their own common sense in selecting a teacher and follow their own affinities. The “confirmed”/“unconfirmed” distinction simply refers to whether or not we have direct evidence to support the teacher’s or organization’s claims; it has nothing to do with issues of authenticity and legitimacy. For insights into the entire spectrum of self-identified Daoist organizations in America see Daoist Organizations in North America. Note that many of those organizations are part of a new form of hybrid spirituality best referred to as “Popular Western Taoism” (PWT), which has very little connection to the Chinese religious tradition which is Daoism.

We welcome contributions and suggestions for additional resources from scholars or historians of Daoism.

Academic: Western Languages

Center for Daoist Studies (CDS). Research and education branch of the Daoist Foundation, a non-profit religious and educational organization dedicated to preserving and transmitting traditional Daoist culture. Under the direction of Dr. Louis Komjathy (Ph.D., Religious Studies; Boston University) and Kate Townsend (LMP, L.Ac.). Provides accurate and reliable information on Daoism as a religious tradition, including recognition of non-Chinese forms of Daoism. Includes critical terms for Daoist Studies, links to basic and advanced resources for Daoist Studies, as well as opportunities for further education. Also facilitates a variety of research projects and Daoist culture-preserving activities. The homepage lists the following links: critical terms; basic resources; advanced resources; public offerings; projects; weblinks; and support.

Centre for the Study of Daoist Culture (CSDC). Associated with the Chinese University of Hong Kong and funded by the Hong Kong-based Fung Ying Seen Koon 蓬瀛仙館. Provides information on CSDC’s various activities and projects. The homepage lists the following links: background and aims; activities; courses; research; and new books in Daoist Studies.

Daoism and Science. Associated with the Institute of Religion, Science and Social Studies of Shandong University and under the direction of Dr. Jiang Sheng, Taishan Scholar and Professor of History at Shandong University. This is one of the main research organizations in China conducting detailed historical research on Daoism and science.

Daoist Iconography Project (DIP). Associated with the University of Hawaii at Manoa and the Honolulu Academy of Arts and under the direction of Dr. Poul Andersen of the University of Hawaii. The goal of the project is to create an online research database of the Daoist pantheon.

Daoist Studies Website. Created and maintained by Dr. James Miller (Ph.D., Religious Studies; Boston University) of Queen’s University. Contains important notifications on conferences, research on Daoism, and recent publications in Daoist Studies. It maintains a list of scholars interested in Daoism as well as the homepage of the AAR Daoist Studies Group. Also includes a website on American Daoist Cultivation, which has interviews with self-identified American Daoists engaging in popular appropriation. The homepage lists the following links: people; events; resources; articles; and AAR.

Golden Elixir Website. This is the homepage of Dr. Fabrizio Pregadio (Ph.D., East Asian Studies; Ca' Foscari University of Venice). It combines the previously independent Golden Elixir and Taoist Studies in the World Wide Web websites. It is one of the most authoritative and exhaustive online resources for Daoist Studies. Includes research guides and working bibliographies. The homepage contains the following major subdivisions: Chinese Alchemy; Taoism and the Taoist Canon; Digital Texts; The Encyclopedia of Taoism; Great Clarity; Taoist Studies; and Chinese Studies.

Open Directory Project. The Open Directory Project (ODP), also known as DMOZ, is the largest, most comprehensive human-edited directory of the World Wide Web. Connected with the Google search engine (www.google.com), it is constructed and maintained by a vast, global community of volunteer editors. It indexes almost four million websites, involves almost 60,000 editors, and consists of almost 500,000 categories. DMOZ is an acronym for Directory Mozilla, reflecting its loose association with Netscape's Mozilla Project. In terms of Daoism and Daoist Studies, DMOZ contains numerous indexed and categorized links. While most of these websites present inaccurate information on the Daoist tradition, there is some helpful information for finding Daoist teachers and organizations in North America and for understanding the ways in which “Daoism” is constructed and presented in the West. These web-links may be found under the following categories and subcategories: Society and Religion and Spirituality/Taoism.

Pluralism Project. Under the direction of Dr. Diana Eck (Ph.D., Religious Studies; Harvard University) of Harvard University, this is the website of Harvard University's Pluralism Project, which aims at documenting the religiously pluralistic landscape of America. In terms of the study of Daoism, the website's directory contains contact information on Daoist organizations in North America, which is somewhat outdated and has major omissions. Note that the project’s researchers utilize the principle of self-identification as the criterion for “Daoist.” This means that groups such as Yiguan dao, a Taiwanese popular religious tradition which calls itself “Daoist” because of legal restrictions on religious identification in Taiwan, is placed under “Taoism” in the directory. Some groups also utilize such recognition to increase their legitimacy and cultural capital.

Russell Kirkland’s Homepage. Connected to the University of Georgia’s website, this is the homepage of Dr. Russell Kirkland (Ph.D., Chinese Language and Culture; Indiana University), a professor of Chinese religions specializing in Daoism at the University of Georgia. It allows access to Kirkland's university course syllabi and various publications. The homepage lists the following links: curriculum vitae; publications; syllabi; study guides; and links.

Taoism and the Arts of China. This is a website associated with the art exhibition “Taoism and the Arts of China.” The exhibition was sponsored by the Art Institute of Chicago and organized by Stephen Little. It displayed Daoist art and material culture at the Art Institute from November 4, 2000 to January 7, 2001 and at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco from February 21 to May 13, 2001. It also included a symposium at the Art Institute on December 2 and 3, 2000.

Taoism Information Page. This website provides decent basic information on the history and study of Daoism and related subjects. It is based at the University of Florida and is maintained by Dr. Gene Thursby (Ph.D., Religion; Duke University) of the University of Florida. The homepage lists the following links: introductions to Daoism; Chinese language and culture; classical texts; acupuncture, alchemy, and Fengshui; Buddhism and Confucianism; Chinese philosophy; Daoism and martial arts; Daoism and modernity; Daoist commercial sites; and other information sources.

Taoist Culture and Information Centre. Based in Hong Kong, this website contains helpful and accurate information on the Chinese Daoist tradition. Its historical understanding of Daoism was refined through the assistance of Stephen Bokenkamp (Ph.D., Chinese Literature; University of California, Berkeley) of Arizona State University (formerly of Indiana University). The homepage lists the following links: general presentation of Daoism; Daoist beliefs; Daoist scriptures; religious activities and rituals; Daoism and human civilization; the Daoist world today; and the Fung Ying Seen Koon and the Daoist Culture Database.

Temples, Urban Society and Taoists Project (T&T). Under the direction of Dr. Vincent Goossaert at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (Paris, France). This research group is investigating the relationship between Daoist temples and practicing Daoists from a historical and anthropological perspective.

Zenfolio. Associated with Dr. Thomas Hahn, curator of the Wason Collection at Cornell University, this webite contains galleries of documentary photography. It includes photographs of Chinese sacred sites and historical photographs of Daoists and Daoist temples.

Academic: Asian Languages

Daojiao wenhua 道教文化 (Chinese). Website associated with the Hong Kong-based Ching Chung Taoist Association (Ching Chung Koon 青松觀 [Azure Pine Temple]) and the Hong Kong Taoist College (Xianggang daojiao xueyuan 香港道教學院). Provides indexes to Daoist textual collections and Chinese language publications on Daoism.

Daojiao wenhua ziliao ku 道教文化資料庫. (Chinese). Associated with the Hong Kong-based Fung Ying Seen Koon 蓬瀛仙館., but entries supplied by major mainland Chinese and Hong Kong scholars. Provides information on Daoist beliefs, history, literature, personages and gods, sacred sites, and so forth.

Daojiao yu zongjiao yanjiu suo 到教與宗教研究所 (Chinese). Website of the Institute of Religious Studies at Sichuan University. Provides information on research activities as well as digital and online publications. Includes an English language mirror site.

Adherent: Western Languages

Associacion de Taoismo Espana (Spanish Taoist Association). Established by the Chinese immigrant and Longmen Daoist priest Tian Chengyang 田誠陽 (24th generation), this is a Longmen 龍門 (Dragon Gate) organization located in Barcelona, Spain. Emphasis placed on Longmen training. Longmen lineage of Quanzhen Daoism (unconfirmed).

Association Taoiste Lao Zhuang. Formerly Sanyuan Taoist Association, this is a Longmen organization located in Paris, France. Under the direction of the Longmen Daoist priests Xinyi 信一 (Huang Zaijia) and Xinming 信明 (Igor Scerbo). Emphasis placed on Longmen training. Longmen lineage of Quanzhen Daoism (confirmed).

Associazione Taoista d’Italia (Italian Taoist Association). This is a Wudang (Mount Wudang) organization located in Caserta, Italy. Under the direction to Vincenzo di Ieso (Xuanzong 玄宗). Emphasis placed on Wudang training. Wudang lineage (confirmed).

Belgian Taoist Association (BETA). Martial arts organization located in Antwerp, Belgium. Under the direction of Dr. Dan Vercammen (Ph.D.). Emphasis placed on Chinese internal martial arts, especially those associated with Mount Wudang. Daoist lineage unclear.

British Taoist Association (BTA). Religious organization located in Essex, England. Under the direction of the Longmen Daoist priests Shijing 世靜 (Alan Redman) and Shidao 世道 (Peter Smith), among others. Emphasis placed on meditation and Daoyin. Longmen lineage of Quanzhen Daoism (confirmed)

Center of Traditional Taoist Studies (CTTS). Non-profit religious organization located in Weston, Massachusetts (USA). Under the direction of Alex Anatole, a Russian immigrant and self-identified Daoist priest. Emphasis placed on martial arts training. Daoist lineage unclear.

Ching Chung (Azure Pine) Taoist Association (CCTA). Non-profit religious organization with branches located in San Francisco, California (USA), Sydney, Australia, and Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada). Hong Kong-based Longmen temple, with loose connections to the Longmen lineage of Quanzhen Daoism. Emphasis placed on ritual and charitable activities. Family-based Longmen lineage (confirmed).

Da Yuen Circle. Formerly Orthodox Daoism in America. For-profit organization located in Oakland, California (USA). Under the direction of the medium and formerly self-identified Daoist priest Liu Ming 劉明 (Charles Belyea). Emphasis placed on channeled teachings associated with Liu Ming. No Daoist lineage affiliation.

Daoist Foundation (DF). Non-profit religious and educational organization located in San Diego, California, with a Daoist association in Olympia, Washington (USA). Under the direction of Dr. Louis Komjathy (Kang Wanrui 康萬瑞;; Ph.D.; C.S.O.), a Daoist scholar-practitioner and ordained Daoist priest of the Huashan 華山 (Mount Hua) lineage of Quanzhen Daoism, and Kate Townsend (Tang Wanqing 唐萬清; L.Ac.; LMP; C.S.O.), an ordained Daoist priest of the Huashan lineage and doctor of Chinese medicine. Emphasis placed on integrated and holistic tradition-based Daoist training. Huashan lineage of Quanzhen Daoism (confirmed).

Daoist Magic. For-profit medical and shamanic organization located in Pacific Grove, California (USA). Under the direction of Dr. Jerry Alan Johnson (DMTC), a doctor of Chinese medicine and ordained Zhengyi 正一 (Orthodox Unity) Daoist priest. Also associated with the International Institute of Medical Qigong. Zhengyi (Longhu shan and Maoshan) lineage (unconfirmed).

Fung Loy Kok International Retreat Center. Associated with the Toronto-based Fung Loy Kok (FLK; Penglai yuan 蓬萊閣), which originates from the Hong Kong Daoist organization of the same name. Emphasis placed on Taoist Tai Chi (Moy Lin-shin) and chanting. This retreat center is the first traditionally built Daoist temple in North America.

Sociedada Taoista do Brasil (Brazilian Taoist Association). This is a Zhengyi 正一 (Orthodox Unity) Daoist community located in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Emphasis located on community rituals. Zhengyi (Taiwan) lineage (confirmed).

Taoist Studies Institute. Non-profit educational organization located in Seattle, Washington. Under the direction of Harrison Moretz. Emphasis placed on Taiji quan and Qigong. No known Daoist lineage affiliation.

Wudang USA. For-profit martial arts organization located in Fort Collins, Colorado. Under the direction of the self-identified Longmen and Wudang Daoist priest Zeng Yunxiang (“Master Chen”). Emphasis placed on Wudang martial arts. Wudang and Longmen lineages of Quanzhen Daoism (unconfirmed).

Adherent: Asian Languages

Chinese Daoist Association (Zhongguo daojiao xiehui 中國道教協會; CDA; a.k.a. Chinese Taoist Association). Official Chinese organization overseeing organized Daoism in mainland China. Located in Baiyun guan 白雲觀 (White Cloud Monastery; Beijing). Under the direction of Ren Farong 任法融, (b. 1937), former abbot of Louguan tai and the current president. Headquarters of the Longmen (Dragon Gate) lineage of Quanzhen Daoism and the Daoist seminary.

Hong Kong Taoist Association (Xianggang daojiao lianhe hui 香港道教聯合會). Hong Kong-based Daoist organization that serves networking function for various Hong Kong temples, organizations, and communities.

Singapore Taoist Mission (Xinjiapo daojiao xiehui 新加坡道教協會; STM). Singapore-based religious and educational organization. Under the direction of the Longmen Daoist priest Lee Zhiwang. Emphasis placed on community building and education. Longmen lineage of Quanzhen Daoism (confirmed).

Yuen Yuen Insitute (Yuanxuan xueyuan 圓玄學院; YYI). Hong Kong-based Daoist temple focusing on ritual and charitable activities. Associated with the Tong family, a prominent and influential Hong Kong Daoist family. Family lineage with associations with the mainland Chinese Longmen lineage of Quanzhen Daoism (confirmed).

Chinese Studies Websites

China WWW Virtual Library. Associated with the Sinological Institute of Leiden University and under the direction of Hanno Lecher, this website provides various bibliographies related to Chinese Studies.

Joseph Alder’s Homepage. Connected with Kenyon College (USA), this is the homepage of Joseph Adler (Ph.D., Religious Studies; UC Santa Barbara). Includes many links to his syllabi with links to electronic resources for the study of Chinese philosophy and religion.

Michael Saso’s Homepage. This is the homepage of Dr. Michael Saso, Professor Emeritus of the University of Hawaii and ordained Zhengyi priest.

Barend ter Haar’s Homepage. Connected with Leiden University (Netherlands), this is the homepage of Barend ter Haar (Ph.D., Chinese Language and Culture; Leiden University). Includes helpful bibliographies on various topics related to Chinese culture, religion and society.