Daoism and Monastic Life

"Daoism and Monastic Life" is tailored for undergraduate or introductory graduate-level students interested in religious studies, Chinese philosophy, or comparative monastic traditions.


📘 Course Title: Daoism and Monastic Life


🧭 Course Description:

This course explores the development, practices, and philosophy of monastic life within the Daoist tradition. From early Daoist communities to organized religious institutions, students will examine how monastic ideals, daily practices, ritual structures, and cosmology reflect the core teachings of Daoism. The course integrates historical study, textual analysis, and lived experience through case studies and ethnographic materials.


🎯 Course Objectives:

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Understand the historical emergence and evolution of Daoist monasticism.
  2. Analyze key Daoist texts in the context of monastic life.
  3. Describe the structure and practices of contemporary Daoist temples and monasteries.
  4. Compare Daoist monasticism with other religious orders (e.g., Buddhist or Christian).
  5. Critically reflect on the philosophical implications of withdrawal, discipline, and spiritual refinement.


📅 Course Outline (12 Weeks):

Week 1: Introduction to Daoism

  • Classical vs. Religious Daoism
  • Core concepts: Dao, De, Wu Wei, Ziran

Week 2: Origins of Daoist Communities

  • Early movements (Tianshi Dao, Shangqing)
  • Role of charismatic leaders and sacred geography

Week 3: Texts and Teachings

  • Dao De Jing, Zhuangzi, Neiye
  • Monastic implications of cosmological thought

Week 4: Formation of Daoist Monasteries

  • The institutionalization during the Tang dynasty
  • Relationship with the state and Buddhism

Week 5: Rules and Regulations

  • Monastic codes (qinggui)
  • Gender, hierarchy, and discipline

Week 6: Daily Life in a Daoist Monastery

  • Meditation, ritual, internal alchemy (neidan)
  • Work, diet, and seclusion

Week 7: Daoist Ritual Practice

  • Liturgy, offerings, festivals
  • Role of the monastic community in ritual performance

Week 8: Internal Alchemy and Cultivation

  • Physical and spiritual practices
  • Embodied cosmology and health

Week 9: Women in Daoist Monasticism

  • Nuns and female immortals
  • Texts and communities for women

Week 10: Daoism in the Modern World

  • Revival in contemporary China
  • Western interpretations and adaptations

Week 11: Comparative Monasticism

  • Buddhist, Christian, and Daoist monastic ideals
  • Solitude vs. community, salvation vs. immortality

Week 12: Student Presentations and Final Reflections

  • Field reports, textual analyses, or comparative studies


📚 Readings (Selected):

  • Daoism and Chinese Culture by Livia Kohn
  • Zhuangzi (Translated by Burton Watson)
  • The Taoist Experience by Livia Kohn
  • Primary sources from the Daozang (Taoist Canon)
  • Articles on contemporary monastic life in China


📝 Assignments:

  • Weekly reading reflections
  • Midterm essay on a historical monastic development
  • Field study or virtual ethnography (if possible)
  • Final project: research paper or presentation