The love of beauty: aesthetic standards in the six dynasties and the enhancement of appearance in the Shangqing scriptures
During Early Medieval China, aristocratic groups experienced changes in their standards of emphasis on body aesthetics. During this period, appearance was a necessary standard of reference for aristocrats when evaluating people; as a result, the aristocracy emphasized appearance and the pursuit of i...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group
2024
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| In: |
Studies in Chinese Religions
Year: 2024, Volume: 10, Issue: 1, Pages: 1–21 |
| Further subjects: | B
early medieval China
B Daoism B Shishuo xinyu 世說新語 B Jiuzhen zhongjing 九真中經 B Shangqing 上清 scriptures B Appearance |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | During Early Medieval China, aristocratic groups experienced changes in their standards of emphasis on body aesthetics. During this period, appearance was a necessary standard of reference for aristocrats when evaluating people; as a result, the aristocracy emphasized appearance and the pursuit of improving it. These social changes affected the religious sphere. Shangqing Daoism, popular among aristocratic groups in the Southern Dynasty, had a pronounced tendency to cater to such a change. In order to convince the aristocracy, Daoists of the Shangqing movement argued that their practices would improve even one’s external appearance. This article summarizes the transformation and meanings of the aristocracy’s body aesthetic standards, especially for men, during this period and discusses the influence of this transformation on Daoism, especially the Shangqing tradition. Some scriptures claim that by using their methods, the practitioner’s body will change over time, which is very much in line with aristocratic beauty standards. The change in appearance is both the result of the practitioner’s pursuit and the proof that the practitioner is on the right track of the Dao. |
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| ISSN: | 2372-9996 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Studies in Chinese Religions
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1080/23729988.2024.2354612 |