Download or read book Early Chinese Religion, Part Two: The Period of Division (220-589 Ad) (2 Vols.) written by John Lagerwey and published by Handbook of Oriental Studies.. This book was released on 2019-02-07 with total page 1582 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: After the Warring States, treated in Part One (ISBN 9789004392670) of this set, there is no more fecund era in Chinese religious and cultural history than the period of division (220-589 AD). During it, Buddhism conquered China, Daoism grew into a mature religion with independent institutions, and, together with Confucianism, these three teachings, having each won its share of state recognition and support, formed a united front against shamanism. While all four religions are covered, Buddhism and Daoism receive special attention in a series of parallel chapters on their pantheons, rituals, sacred geography, community organization, canon formation, impact on literature, and recent archaeological discoveries. This multi-disciplinary approach, without ignoring philosophical and theological issues, brings into sharp focus the social and historical matrices of Chinese religion.