Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Princeton Readings in Religions v
3. Note on Transliteration vii
4. CONTENTS ix
5. Contents by Tradition xi
6. Contents by Chronology xiii
7. Contributors xv
8. Introduction 1
9. The Unseen World
10. 1. Deities and Ancestors in Early Oracle Inscriptions 41
11. 2. Laozi: Ancient Philosopher, Master of Immortality, and God 52
12. 3. The Lives and Teachings of the Divine Lord of Zitong 64
13. 4. City Gods and Their Magistrates 72
14. 5. The Earliest Tales of the Bodhisattva Guanshiyin 82
15. 6. A Sutra Promoting the White-robed Guanyin as Giver of Sons 97
16. 7. Zhu Xi on Spirit Beings 106
17. Communicating with the Unseen
18. 8. The Inner Cultivation Tradition of Early Daoism 123
19. 9. Body Gods and Inner Vision: The Scripture of the Yellow Court 149
20. 10. An Early Poem of Mystical Excursion 156
21. 11. Declarations of the Perfected 166
22. 12. Seduction Songs of One of the Perfected 180
23. 13. Answering a Summons 188
24. 14. Visions of Manjusri on Mount Wutai 203
25. 15. Ny Dan the Manchu Shamaness 223
26. 16. Teachings of a Spirit Medium 229
27. Rituals of the Seen and Unseen Worlds
28. 17. Spellbinding 241
29. 18. Record of the Feng and Shan Sacrifices 251
30. 19. The Scripture on the Production of Buddha Images 261
31. 20. The Purification Ritual of the Luminous Perfected 268
32. 21. Saving the Burning-Mouth Hungry Ghost 278
33. 22. The Law of the Spirits 284
34. 23. Shrines to Local Former Worthies 293
35. 24. Daoist Ritual in Contemporary Southeast China 306
36. 25. Calling on Souls and Dealing with Spirits: Three Lahu Ritual Texts 327
37. 26. A Funeral Chant of the Yi Nationality 337
38. Earthly Conduct
39. 27. Abridged Codes of Master Lu for the Daoist Community 347
40. 28. The Scripture in Forty-two Sections 360
41. 29. The Scripture on Perfect Wisdom for Humane Kings Who Wish to Protect Their States 372
42. 30. The Buddhism of the Cultured Elite 381
43. 31. Buddhist Ritual and the State 390
44. 32. Biography of a Buddhist Layman 397
45. 33. The Book of Good Deeds: A Scripture of the Ne People 405
46. 34. Supernatural Retribution and Human Destiny 423
47. 35. Stories from an Illustrated Explanation of the Tract of the Most Exalted on Action and Response 437
48. 36. Record of Occultists 446
49. 37. Imperial Guest Ritual 471
50. Index 489