Daoists and doctors : the role of medicine in six dynasties Shangqing Daoism
This dissertation examines the salvific and therapeutic practices of medieval Chinese Daoist organisations. Drawing on the most detailed ethnographic record of medical treatment in early medieval China, the Zhenâgao çèȘ" [Declarations of the Perfected], this study examines the work of Yang Xi and the Xus of Jiankang, early members of the Shangqing (Highest Clarity) School. It argues that many of the familyâs activities were ultimately concerned with promoting health and curing disease: from tomb-quelling, to divination, to reports on the affairs of deceased relatives. Three main practices form the foci of the analysis: an account of how acupuncture, massage and drugs were entangled with notions of salvation, and how related therapeutic concepts shaped some of the ultimate goals of Shangqing practice. The two research questions addressed are a) how did Shangqing practices function to both cure disease and to grant salvation, and what implications does this question have for modern histories that address religion and medicine as discrete enterprises? By situating the formation of the Shangqing repertoire within the broader context of the religio-medical market, this study maintains that therapeutic competition
Stanley-Baker, M.
Daoists and doctors : the role of medicine in six dynasties Shangqing Daoism. This dissertation examines the salvific and therapeutic practices of medieval Chinese Daoist organisations. Drawing on the most detailed ethnographic record of medical treatment in early medieval China, the Zhenâgao çèȘ" [Declarations of the Perfected], this study examines the work of Yang Xi and the Xus of Jiankang, early members of the Shangqing (Highest Clarity) School. It argues that many of the familyâs activities were ultimately concerned with promoting health and curing disease: from tomb-quelling, to divination, to reports on the affairs of deceased relatives. Three main practices form the foci of the analysis: an account of how acupuncture, massage and drugs were entangled with notions of salvation, and how related therapeutic concepts shaped some of the ultimate goals of Shangqing practice. The two research questions addressed are a) how did Shangqing practices function to both cure disease and to grant salvation, and what implications does this question have for modern histories that address religion and medicine as discrete enterprises? By situating the formation of the Shangqing repertoire within the broader context of the religio-medical market, this study maintains that therapeutic competition
doctor role medicine dynasty examines salvific therapeutic practice medieval chinese organisation drawing detailed ethnographic_record medical treatment early_medieval china study_examines work yang early member clarity school argues many family activity ultimately concerned promote health cure disease tomb divination report affair decease relative three_main practice form foci analysis account drug entangle notion salvation relate therapeutic concept shape ultimate goal practice question_address practice function cure disease grant salvation implication question modern history address religion medicine discrete enterprise situate formation repertoire within_broad context medical market study maintains therapeutic competition