Overview

Scholars of Daoism in the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) have paid particular attention to the interaction between the court and certain Daoist priests and to the political results of such interaction; the focus has been on either emperors or Daoist masters. Yet in the Ming era a special group of people patronized Daoism and Daoist establishments: these were the members of the imperial clan, who were enfeoffed as princes. In addition to personal belief and self-cultivation, a prince had other reasons to patronize Daoism. As the regional overlords, the Ming princes like other local elites saw financing and organizing temple affairs and rituals, patronizing Daoist priests, or collecting and producing Daoist books as a chance to maintain their influence and show off their power. The prosperity of Daoist institutions, which attracted many worshippers, also demonstrated the princes' political success. Locally the Ming princes played an important cultural role as well by promoting the development of local religions. This book is the first to explore the interaction between Ming princes as religious patrons and local Daoism. Barred by imperial law from any serious political or military engagement, the Ming princes were ex officio managers of state rituals at the local level, with Daoist priests as key performers, and for this reason they became very closely involved in Daoist clerical and liturgical life. By illuminating the role the Ming princes played in local religion, Richard Wang demonstrates in The Ming Prince and Daoism that the princedom served to mediate between official religious policy and the commoners' interests.

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9780199767687

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Combining expertise in Daoism and enviable mastery of primary sources, Richard Wang has produced the most probing account of Ming imperial princes' patronage of Daoism available in any language today. Exploring the interplay of religious communities, social status, the imperial family, and cultural production, Wang demonstrates the importance of princely houses to urban life on the borders and in the hinterland, places too often neglected in studies of early modern China. --David Robinson, Robert H.N. Ho Professor in Asian Studies and History, Colgate University Contrary to a major misunderstanding in current historiography, Daoism lies at the core of Chinese elite culture. Richard G. Wang offers definitive proof of this through an exquisite description of the Ming princes and their Daoist lives of self-cultivation, ritual performances, and aesthetic pursuits. These princes are neglected figures of the Chinese past, but their story illuminates many facets of cultural, social and intellectual history-in a beautiful, Daoist way. --Vincent Goossaert, Deputy Director of Groupe Societes-Religions-Laicites (EPHE-CNRS), France This fascinating and timely book addresses a previously unstudied problem: relations between the Daoist church as an institution and the Ming princely establishment. Richard Wang makes significant contributions to both Ming studies and religious studies. His excellent archival research and sophisticated analysis provide exemplary methodology while revealing exciting new materials. The book should reach a wide audience of Sinologists in addition to anyone interested in Chinese history or religion. --Suzanne Cahill, Professor of Chinese History, University of California at San Diego

<br> Combining expertise in Daoism and enviable mastery of primary sources, Richard Wang has produced the most probing account of Ming imperial princes' patronage of Daoism available in any language today. Exploring the interplay of religious communities, social status, the imperial family, and cultural production, Wang demonstrates the importance of princely houses to urban life on the borders and in the hinterland, places too often neglected in studies of early modern China. --David Robinson, Robert H.N. Ho Professor in Asian Studies and History, Colgate University<p><br> Contrary to a major misunderstanding in current historiography, Daoism lies at the core of Chinese elite culture. Richard G. Wang offers definitive proof of this through an exquisite description of the Ming princes and their Daoist lives of self-cultivation, ritual performances, and aesthetic pursuits. These princes are neglected figures of the Chinese past, but their story illuminates many facets of cultural, social and intellectual history-in a beautiful, Daoist way. --Vincent Goossaert, Deputy Director of Groupe Soci t s-Religions-La cit s (EPHE-CNRS), France<p><br> This fascinating and timely book addresses a previously unstudied problem: relations between the Daoist church as an institution and the Ming princely establishment. Richard Wang makes significant contributions to both Ming studies and religious studies. His excellent archival research and sophisticated analysis provide exemplary methodology while revealing exciting new materials. The book should reach a wide audience of Sinologists in addition to anyone interested in Chinese history or religion. --Suzanne Cahill, Professor of Chinese History, University of California at San Diego<p><br>

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Assistant Professor of Chinese Language and Literature, University of Florida

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