| Precious Volumes: An Introduction to Chinese Sectarian Scriptures from the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries Contributor(s): Overmyer, Daniel L. (Author) |
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ISBN: 067469838X ISBN-13: 9780674698383 Publisher: Harvard University Press OUR PRICE: $57.37 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: July 1999 Annotation: "Precious volumes," or "pao-chü an," were produced by popular sects in the Ming and early Qing dynasties. These scriptures were believed to have been divinely revealed to sect leaders and contain teachings and ritual instructions that provide valuable information about a lively and widespread religious tradition outside mainstream Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. Largely neglected until now, they testify to the imagination and devotion of popular religious leaders. This book, the most detailed and comprehensive study of "pao-chü an" in any language, studies 34 early examples of this literature in order to understand the origins and development of this textual tradition. Although the work focuses on content and structure, it also treats the social context of these works as well as their transmission and ritual use. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Religion | Eastern - History | Modern - 17th Century |
| Dewey: 299.51 |
| LCCN: 99-19188 |
| Series: Harvard-Yenching Institute Monograph |
| Physical Information: 1.43" H x 6.39" W x 9.29" (1.74 lbs) 444 pages |
| Themes: - Chronological Period - 16th Century - Chronological Period - 17th Century - Cultural Region - Chinese - Ethnic Orientation - Chinese |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Precious volumes, or pao-chüan, were produced by popular sects in the Ming and early Qing dynasties. These scriptures were believed to have been divinely revealed to sect leaders and contain teachings and ritual instructions that provide valuable information about a lively and widespread religious tradition outside mainstream Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. Largely neglected until now, they testify to the imagination and devotion of popular religious leaders. This book, the most detailed and comprehensive study of pao-chüan in any language, studies 34 early examples of this literature in order to understand the origins and development of this textual tradition. Although the work focuses on content and structure, it also treats the social context of these works as well as their transmission and ritual use. |
Contributor Bio(s): Overmyer, Daniel L.: - Daniel L. Overmyer is Professor of Chinese Studies at the University of British Columbia and Professor of Religion at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. |