What is it about?
In the religious system of the Han Empire, Laozi, author of the Daode jing, is in charge of the registry of immortals. Han dynasty pictorial evidence reveals that even the sages Confucius and his seventy-two disciples knelt before Laozi to complete the procedures for becoming immortals, thereby avoiding a rigorous judgment in the netherworld ... Afterward, riding celestial carriages and horses from hevean, one may ascend Mount Kunlun (the Chinese Mt. Olympus) to pay homage to the Queen Mother of the West, who presides over all the immortals...
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Why is it important?
Since the time of the renowned Daoist scholar Tao Hongjing (456–536 CE), the specific content of Han dynasty religious beliefs has been lost to history. Now we know, for the first time, the spiritual foundation of the Han Empire.
Perspectives
Winning through methodology: a historical approach grounded in religious studies to conduct interdisciplinary research on Daoist scriptures, archaeological data, and historical documents. Finally the gate openned and we got the treasures...
Chair-Professor Sheng Jiang
Shandong University
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This page is a summary of: Ascension Formalities, October 2025, De Gruyter,
DOI: 10.1163/9789004732759_008.
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