Laughing at the Tao: Debates among Buddhists and Taoists in Medieval China

By Livia Kohn

Book Description

Medieval China witnessed a fascinating clash of spiritual worldviews as Buddhism established itself alongside the indigenous traditions of Taoism and Confucianism. This scholarly exploration reveals the heated intellectual battles that shaped Chinese religious thought through the lens of a remarkable sixth-century document.

At the center of this religious drama stands Zhen Luan, a former Taoist who turned against his own tradition in 570 CE. His provocative text, the Xiaodao lun, systematically challenges Taoist beliefs, practices, and mythologies with sharp criticism and pointed arguments. Through this complete translation and analysis, readers gain access to the raw intensity of medieval religious debate.

Livia Kohn illuminates how these seemingly theological disputes masked deeper political maneuvering and cultural tensions. The work exposes the complex relationship between spiritual authority and state power, revealing how religious factions competed for influence in imperial China. Beyond the polemics, this text preserves valuable Taoist materials that might otherwise have vanished from history.

The book offers three comprehensive appendices that contextualize these debates within the broader sweep of Chinese intellectual development. For contemporary spiritual seekers, this work provides profound insights into how different wisdom traditions engage with each other, adapt to new cultural contexts, and evolve through constructive conflict. It demonstrates how religious dialogue, even when contentious, can deepen our understanding of diverse paths to spiritual truth.