杨尔曾 [yang er zeng]. (2007). The Story of Han Xiangzi: The Alchemical Adventures of a Daoist Immortal (Philip Clart, Trans.). Seattle: University of Washington Press.

First English language translation of the 17th century novel, 韩湘子全传 [han xiang zi quan zhuan]. Han Xiangzi is one of the Eight Immortals.

Ethnographic work that is organised around four spirit medium case studies. Provides a good understanding of what is an amorphous and adaptable belief system.

Combined with Kohn's Daoism and Chinese Culture (2001), The first half of the book has short paragraph descriptions of major scriptures, beliefs, and festivals while the latter half surveys the major Taoist sites in China (mountains, grottos, temples, etc.) and explains the significance of each location.

Looks at the history of Chinese religion, particularly theological adaptations of the Taoist priesthood. Suggests that the current organisation of the pantheon of deities and the current role of the clergy as ritual leaders in ceremonies for deities were consolidated during the Song.

Catalogue of Mazu research materials.

Ethnographic look at Chinese popular religion and spirit mediumship in Penang. Covers the history of popular Chinese religion in Penang, especially its links with community leadership. Rich in historical material, it explores the role of religion in the preservation of community solidarity and identity. Her second book on the subject, The Way That Lives in the Heart, is published in 2006.

Looks at Wutong (五通), a regional folk deity also variously known as or associated with 五顯 (Wu Xian), 華光 (Hua Guang), 馬元師 (Ma Yuan Shi aka Marshal Ma), etc. Wutong was first officially recognised during the Southern Sung dynasty & became dominant in Ming-era Jiangnan. He examines the distinction between vernacular culture and culture imposed from outside by the elite. The literature is well reviewed with von Glahn quoting extensively from Chinese texts and other scholars of Chinese religion. He draws an evolutionary picture of Chinese religion and links changing worship patterns to the monetization of Chinese culture, esp. during the Sung (a topic von Glahn has researched extensively before).

Each deity is given a 2-3pg writeup and most have some sort of accompanying line drawing.

Dell'Orto, Alessandro. (2002). Place and Spirit in Taiwan: Tudi Gong in the Stories, Strategies and Memories of Everyday Life. London: RoutledgeCurzon. (NLB call no.: 299.51 DEL)

Reports on author's fieldwork on Tudi Gong.in the 1990s. Two places in Taiwan were studied: a district of Taipei and an inland village. He reports a range of beliefs and activities in order to preserve the multivocality of the data experienced. Contains a range of Tudi Gong stories.

This is a translation and commentary of the creatures in a Zhou/Han era 'travel guide' that lists strange peoples, animals and gods. It has 345 creatures listed with descriptions, what they do, what they mean, and how to placate them (especially in the case of gods). Illustrations are from a late Ming woodcut edition (1597), the oldest extent one for this work. For the full English translation of the Mountain-Sea Guide, Strassberg recommends the translations done by Anne Birrell (1999) & Cheng Hsiao-Chieh et al (1985).

Detailed description of the Nine Emperor Gods festival in Phuket based on visits in the years 1994-2000.

Good introductory survey of the different practices and movements both past and present.

Kohn, Livia (ed.). (2000). Daoism Handbook. Leiden; Boston: Brill. (NLB call no.: 299.514 DAO) Available at LKCRL L7 and available for reference use at JRL.

Little, Stephen & Eichman, Shawn. (2000). Taoism and the Arts of China. Chicago; Berkeley: Art Institute of Chicago; University of California Press. (NLB call no.: 704.94899514 LIT) Available at LKCRL L8.

Book published in conjunction with an exhibition by The Art Institute of Chicago. The exhibition is said to be the first American art exhibition on the theme of Taoism. The exhibition has an online website at <http://www.artic.edu/taoism/>.

Yü, Chun-Fang. (2000). Kuan-yin: The Chinese Transformation of Avalokiteśvara. New York: Columbia University Press. (NLB call no.: 294.34211 YU) Available at LKCRL L7.

Comprehensive study of the evidence on how Avalokiteśvara was sinicised and feminised in the 10th to 12th centuries.

Jordan, David K. (1999). Gods, Ghosts, & Ancestors: Folk Religion in a Taiwanese Village (3rd ed). < http://weber.ucsd.edu/~dkjordan/scriptorium/gga/ggacover.html>.

Shahar, Meir. (1998). Crazy Ji: Chinese Religion and Popular Literature. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Asia Center.

Book traces the history of 濟公 (济公/Jigong) aka 道濟 (道济/Daoji) aka 濟顚 (济颠/Jidian) aka 方圓 (方圆/Fangyuan) aka 湖隱 (湖隐/Huyin). It starts with the earliest extant recorded lore (from 16th century Hangzhou) of a 12th century itinerant Chan monk named 道濟. Covers his gradual inclusion into Buddhism during the Ming & Qing. The stories and how they have developed over time is examined up until the books Journey to Purgatory (1978) & Journey to Paradise (1981). The appendices contain lists of significant works (from 1569 onwards) and plays (pre-20th century) about Jigong.

Robinet, Isabelle Robinet. (1997). Taoism: Growth of a Religion (Phyllis Brooks, Trans.). Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. (NLB call no.: 299.514 ROB) Available at LKCRL L7 and available for loan from several Community Libraries.

Traces the history of Taoism.

Nicely illustrated directory of Chinese popular deities.

Schipper, Kristofer. (1995). The Taoist Body (Karen C. Duval, Trans.). Petaling Jaya, Malaysia: Pelanduk Publications. (NLB call no.: 299.2514 SCH) Available at LKCRL L7 and available for loan from several Community Libraries.

Schipper is Dutch but whose academic career has been in France. In Taiwan during the 1960s, he underwent apprenticeship under a Taoist priest and was ordained (Celestial Master [天师] tradition). This is an ethnographic book covering what he learnt about Taoism then. It was originally published as Le Corps Taoïste in 1982 by the Librairie Arthème Fayard, Paris. In the field of Taoist studies, he is a often cited by Western authors.

中国道教协会 [zhong guo dao jiao xie hui] & 苏州道教协会 [su zhou dao jiao xie hui]. (1994). 道教大辞典 [dao jiao da ci dian]. 北京 [bei jing]: 华夏出版社 [hua xia chu ban she]. (NLB call no.: 299.51403 DJD)

Dean, Kenneth. (1993). Taoist Ritual and Popular Cults of Southeast China. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. (NLB call no.: 299 DEA) Available at LKCRL L7.

Based on the author's fieldwork in China during the mid-80s. It focuses on the worship of three gods at three temples in the Minnan [闽南] area. The gods and temples covered are Baosheng Dadi [保生大帝] at Ciji Gong [慈济宫] in the village of Baijiao [白礁] near Xiamen [厦门]; Qingshui Zushi [清水祖师] Chen Puzu [陈普足] at Qingshui Zushi Gong [清水祖师宫] in Penglai [蓬莱] upriver of Anxi [安溪]; and Guo Shengwang [郭聖王] aka Guangze Zunwang [廣择尊王] at Weizhen Miao [威镇庙] (aka Guoshan Temple aka Fengshan Si [凤山寺]) in Shishan [诗山] upriver of Anxi [安溪].

Looks at the ghost festival using medieval (5th to 11th centuries) sources. Makes heavy reference to the Buddhist Mu-lien myth as the basis for the ghost festival but acknowledges that the festival's origins are in folk religion & both pre-Buddhist & pre-Taoist.

Translation of 北游记 [bei you ji] which is the story of 玄天上帝 [xuan tian shang di].

Interesting description of religious life in Sanxia (Taiwan) where the author did his fieldwork. Weller focuses on the Universal Salvation (Seventh Month Hungry Ghost) Festival. He suggests that the festival is neither Taoist nor Buddhist but rather folk or popular religion. Calls folk or popular religion pragmatic and contextual while Taoism and Buddhism are 'ideologized'. Looks at efforts by the State, Taoism & Buddhism to impose their ideologies on the Festival. Useful work for thinking about the difference between 'ideologized' and popular religions.

Based on the author's 1969 University of Chicago thesis, it is an oft cited work and a good introduction to the subject of popular Chinese religion. Available online at the author's website: <http://weber.ucsd.edu/~dkjordan/scriptorium/gga/ggamain.html>

Festivals mentioned are New Year; Meeting of the Spring (worship of Hung Chu / 鴻拘 [hong ju]); Lantern Festival; 1M29: Passing of the Ninth / 過九 [guo jiu] (mentions Mu Lien / 目蓮 [mu lian] story); 2M12: Tu Ti Kung birthday; Ching Ming; Summer Equinox (offerings to Chu Yung / 祝融 [zhu rong]; 5M5: 端午節 [端午节 / duan wu jie] & mentions stories of the suicide drownings of Chu Yuan & of Miss Chao; 7M7: Chinese Valentine Day; Puan Tuan / 般段 [ban duan] & mentions worship of both deceased ancestors & of City God; Autumnal Ancestral Sacrifices; 8M15: Mid-Autumn Festival; Confucius birthday; 9M9: Double Nine / 重九 [zhong jiu]; 10M1: mentions sacrifies to dead, City God inspection & Fuang Kwei / 放鬼 [fang gui]; Winter Solstice; Sacrifice to the Genius of Hearth / 祭灶 [ji zao]; Feng Lung / 分龍 [分龙 / fen long]. Practices touched on include birth; child illness; growing up; birthdays; marriage; burial, eclipses, comets. Covers various deities & cults like Plucking the Lotus / 採蓮 [采莲 / cai lian]; Five Emperors / 五靈公 [五灵公 / wu ling gong]; Wang Tien Kung / 王天君[wang tian jun]; Pei Hsien / 裴仙 [pei xian]; Lin Shui Nai / 臨水奶 [临水奶 / lin shui nai)] or Chen Chin Ku / 陳靖姑 [chen jing gu]; Idol Processions / 迎春 [ying chun]; the stone pillar Tai Shan Shih Kan Tan / 泰山石敢當 [泰山石敢当 / tai shan shi gan dang].

Title: Jordan: China Resources Page
Author/Publisher: Jordan, David K
<http://weber.ucsd.edu/~dkjordan/chin/china.html>.
Extensive resource lists by a retired American professor who has studied Taiwanese popular religion extensively.

Title: Daoist Studies Website
Author/Publisher: Miller, James
<http://www.daoiststudies.org/>.
Resource lists by a Canadian professor.

Title: Taoism Culture and Information Centre
Corporate Author: Hong Kong Fung Ying Seen Koon Daoist Centre
<http://www.eng.taoism.org.hk/>.

Title: Journal of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society
Available through Hong Kong Journals Online at <http://sunzi1.lib.hku.hk/hkjo/>.
Short accounts by Keith Stevens on various dieties, temples and practices he observed in China, HK, Taiwan & SEA.