Yang Rubin’s Daoism and the Ancient Dao-Techniques
Independent Scholar, China
Abstract
This review examines Daoism and the Ancient Dao-Techniques, a recent monograph by Professor Yang Rubin, which offers a bold reconstruction of Daoist origins through the lens of mythological typology and comparative religion. Challenging linear historical paradigms, Yang traces the philosophical foundations of Daoism to pre-philosophical, shamanic practices referred to as gu zhi daoshu. Focusing on the archetypal figures of Huangdi, Laozi, and Zhuangzi, the book reveals a complex spiritual structure underlying the Daoist tradition. This review evaluates the book’s methodological innovations, textual interpretations, and implications for future studies in Daoist philosophy and early Chinese thought.
Keywords:
Daoism; myth and philosophy; Huang-Lao; Laozi and Zhuangzi; Chinese intellectual historyData Availability Statement
Not applicable. This manuscript is a book review and does not involve empirical data.
Copyright Notice & License:
This work is published in Three Teachings Studies: Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism (TTS) and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
Under this license, users are free to share and adapt the material for any purpose, including commercial use, provided that appropriate credit is given to the original author(s), the journal (TTS), and the source, a link to the license is provided, and any changes made are indicated.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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References
Yang, Rubin. Daoism and the Ancient Dao-Techniques. Shanghai: Shanghai Guji Publishing House, 2023.
