Roaming into the Beyond: Representations of Xian Immortality in Early Medieval Chinese Verse

Download or read book Roaming into the Beyond: Representations of Xian Immortality in Early Medieval Chinese Verse written by Zornica Kirkova and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2016-06-27 with total page 429 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In Roaming into the Beyond Zornica Kirkova provides the first detailed study in a Western language of Daoism-inspired themes in early medieval Chinese poetry. She examines representations of Daoist xian immortality in a broad range of versified literature from the Han until the end of the Six Dynasties, focusing on the transformations of themes, concepts, and imagery within a wide literary and religious context. Adopting a more integrated approach, the author explores both the complex interaction between poetry and Daoist religion and the interrelations between various verse forms and poetic themes. This book not only enhances our understanding of the complexities of early medieval literature but also reevaluates the place of Daoist religious thought in the intellectual life of the period.