仙家之史：神仙集传在明清时期的衍变 = THE HISTORY OF IMMORTAL: THE DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSFORMATION OF DAOIST HAGIOGRAPHY IN MING AND QING DYNASTIES

Abstract

This study attempts to explore how a collection of Daoist hagiographies developed and transformed in the cultural context of Ming and Qing dynasties. The Daoist hagiographies emerging in Late Ming, though derived from their predecessors, show new characteristics. These works compiled by literati and book merchants in the Wanli Era (1573-1620) means Daoist hagiographies, after being interpreted and reworked by literati, enter into a much broader social space due to the interaction between the publishing industry and the literati circle. After Ming-Qing transition, the Lidai shenxian tongjian published in 1700 suggests further transformation of these Daoist hagiographies was encouraged by the booming publishing culture. The authors claimed that this book was based on the immortals’ biography in previous dynasties, and regarded this book as “History of the Immortals”. However, this book was written in the format of the chapter-divided novel and absorbed some elements of the popular fiction. It also imitates the popular historical books and integrates the dynastic history with the immortals’ biographies. Even though the Lidai shenxian tongjian has many characteristics of popular fiction, according to the commentaries of contemporary readers and the references made to by posterity, it still carries the religious authority.