The Flying Phoenix: Aspects of Chinese Sectarianism in Taiwan

by David K. Jordan, Daniel L. Overmyer

Anthropologist David Jordan and Daniel Overmyer, a historian of religions, present a joint analysis of the most important group of sectarian religious societies in contemporary those that engage in automatic writing seances, or worship by means of the phoenix" writing implement.

Originally published in 1986.

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Genres: History

352 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1986

Reviews

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strictly an academic text. But if you want to gain an insight into what historical Chinese religious societies may have looked like, it offers a glimpse.

Discusses three religious sects. Their common threads are lay participation and a certain syncretism of Chinese traditions. At the close, the authors consider the fascinating possibility that these organizations offer a participatory opportunity for spirituality and spiritual/social merit which more traditional forms of organized religion deny them. In this, they resemble similar sects in Western religions.