This paper is an examination of the medical activities of Taoists during Eastern Han, Wei-Chin and Northern and Southern Dynasties, and of the healing arts which they employed. It also examines the relationship between Taoism, in its formative and early stages, and Chinese medical culture.
Relying on ‘hagiographic’ material and related records, we find that many Taoists functioned as medical practitioners during the Eastern Han and Six Dynasties period (ca. 2nd-6th century AD). Moreover, in the case of some Taoist lineages, medical practice was not merely a matter of individual interest but was of long standing and regular concern to the lineage itself. A number of Taoist scriptures are devoted to medical practice, providing detailed discussions of causes for disease as well as methods for healing. A number of Taoists depended on medical practice for their livelihood, either as a source of income or as a means of attracting donations from Taoist adherents.
Healing methods practiced and advocated by Taoists, generally fell into four types: physicians’ methods, methods of “nurturing life,” shamanistic methods and healing rites developed by Taoists themselves. Although these four types of practice were not completely synthesized into a single system and Taoists held differing views concerning their respective uses, we may generally conclude that Taoism, since first forming a distinct medical system, influenced the development of Chinese medicine and of medical culture more generally.
Taoists were successful in attracting numerous adherents and disciples through their healing arts during periods of “severe plagues” in medieval China. The establishment of some Taoist sects and lineages was based on the success of such practices. In conclusion, medical practice was one of the primary methods of Taoists for spreading their beliefs, converting disciples, attracting adherents and forming religious communities in medieval China.
Taoist, healing, immortal, nurturing life, hagiography
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