Early Daoist Dietary Practices

Focusing on the early medieval herbal recipes found in the Lingbao Wufuxu (The Preface to the Five Lingbao Talismans of Numinous Treasure), this study analyses Daoist asceticism and ideas regarding the body, health, grain avoidance diets, the Three Worms, and immortality.

Shawn Arthur is associate professor of Religion at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. His teaching and research focus on early Daoism; Chinese religions; the intersection of religion, culture, medicine, and the body; and method and theory in the study of religion.

Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: The Wufuxu's Recipe Structure and Content Chapter 3: Dietary Regimens: From Herbs to Qi Chapter 4: Healing and Improving the Physical Body Chapter 5 : Beyond Physical Health: The Wufuxu's Extraordinary Claims Chapter 6: Daoist Grain Avoidance Today Chapter 7: The Wufuxu's Ingredients and Fasting Chapter 8: Analyzing Dietary Ideals and Practices Chapter 9: Conclusion