A Fourth-Century Daoist Family: The Zhen'gao or Declarations of the Perfected, Volume 1 by Stephen R. Bokenkamp (review)

Abstract

This new publication by Stephen Bokenkamp renders accessible in plain English the first part of one of the Daoist Canon’s most cryptic sources, the Declarations of the Perfected (Zhēn’gào 真誥). Consisting of a huge succession of purported “revelations,” the modern edition of this text included in the Zhōnghuá Dàozàng 中華道藏 volume  stretches over no less than twenty fascicles (pp. –). Compiled by Táo Hóngjı̌ng 陶弘景 (–), this collection presents utterances attributed to deities channeled by the medium Yáng Xī 楊羲 (–ca. ). It provides a rare insight into these early interactions with the deities, often explaining the context in which they were channeled, and the individuals involved. In short, these scriptures built the foundations of what became the Upper Clarity (Shàngqīng 上清) order of Daoism. In addition, editorial choices made by Tao Hongjing in selecting these sources are rigorously documented, showing how he attempted to verify the authenticity of the handwritten fragments he had access to and the historicity of their protagonists, thereby providing a wealth of historical information, which Bokenkamp carefully analyzes while abstaining from taking everything at face value. Before delving into this much anticipated translation and the trove of data it provides, a short disclaimer appears appropriate. Although my area of expertise does not formally extend to Daoism, I spent the last several years dealing with a Buddhist text compiled at the beginning of the fifth century that emerged in a context similar to that of the Declarations of the Perfected. Thus,  China Review International: Vol. , No. , 