Sources

The Encyclopedia of Taoism

Citation Formats

General Reference

Divinity Atlas. "The Encyclopedia of Taoism." Accessed August 30, 2026. https://www.divinityatlas.com/sources/the-encyclopedia-of-taoism.

APA Style

Divinity Atlas. (n.d.). The Encyclopedia of Taoism. Retrieved August 30, 2026, from https://www.divinityatlas.com/sources/the-encyclopedia-of-taoism

BibTeX

@misc{divinityatlas-the-encyclopedia-of-taoism,
  author = {Divinity Atlas},
  title = {The Encyclopedia of Taoism},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://www.divinityatlas.com/sources/the-encyclopedia-of-taoism},
  note = {Accessed August 30, 2026}
}

This reference was assembled specifically to give Daoism the kind of dedicated, specialist encyclopedia that older general reference works on Chinese religion had not attempted, with entries on individual texts, deities, schools and practices written by scholars working in Daoist studies specifically rather than China specialists writing more generally. That specialization, not the name of its publisher, is the real basis for treating it as a strong source here. This record has not independently traced a documented history of revisions between printings. It is a strong source for established facts about Daoist religion, its textual canon and its historical schools. As a reference work its entries summarize a field, so a claim needing depth on one specific lineage or a live textual controversy may need a dedicated specialist study alongside it.

Facts

Assessment

Reliability Tier

Tier one: an academic reference work of roughly eight hundred entries by forty six named specialist contributors, edited by Fabrizio Pregadio, published by Routledge and recognized by the American Library Association as an outstanding reference source.

Notes

Standard scholarly reference encyclopedia on Daoism (Taoism), covering texts, deities, schools, practices and history from antiquity through the modern period. Use for established facts about Daoist religion, texts and practice.

Citation

Author

Fabrizio Pregadio (ed.)

Publisher

Routledge

Publication Year

2008

URL

https://goldenelixir.com/publications/eot.html

Source Type

reference

Cross-Tradition Connections

Associated With

China

This source names China directly: "studies specifically rather than China specialists writing more generally."

Source The Encyclopedia of TaoismFabrizio Pregadio (ed.)

Claims Backed By This Source (1,106 claims)

This source backs 1,106 claims across the atlas. As facts: 810 well-attested, 19 scholarly debate, 4 popular myth - corrected, 1 open question. As cited relationships: 133 holds, 6 connected, 2 held Differently. Plus 131 entities citing it as a general reference with no single fact or relationship attached.

Disposition By Topic

Deities, 384 claims: 309 well-attested, 8 scholarly debate, 33 holds, 34 general references.
Articles, 172 claims: 157 well-attested, 1 connected, 14 general references.
Denominations, 64 claims: 47 well-attested, 8 holds, 3 connected, 2 held Differently, 4 general references.
Historical Figures, 55 claims: 30 well-attested, 7 scholarly debate, 12 holds, 6 general references.
Practices, 55 claims: 43 well-attested, 2 scholarly debate, 3 holds, 7 general references.
Doctrines, 40 claims: 18 well-attested, 17 holds, 5 general references.
Sacred Sites, 33 claims: 27 well-attested, 2 holds, 4 general references.
Beliefs & Restrictions, 28 claims: 22 well-attested, 6 general references.
Religious Events, 28 claims: 14 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate, 1 open question, 7 holds, 5 general references.
Religious Roles & Titles, 24 claims: 15 well-attested, 4 holds, 5 general references.
Esoteric Texts, 23 claims: 16 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate, 3 holds, 3 general references.
Mantras, 23 claims: 17 well-attested, 4 holds, 2 general references.
Scriptures & Texts, 22 claims: 8 well-attested, 10 holds, 4 general references.
Disciplines, 14 claims: 7 well-attested, 4 holds, 3 general references.
Religious Organization & Structure, 14 claims: 10 well-attested, 2 holds, 2 general references.
Religious Symbols, 12 claims: 6 well-attested, 4 popular myth - corrected, 1 holds, 1 general references.
Literary Works, 11 claims: 5 well-attested, 5 holds, 1 general references.
Spread Events, 11 claims: 4 well-attested, 6 holds, 1 general references.
Organizations, 10 claims: 8 well-attested, 1 holds, 1 general references.
Subcategories, 10 claims: 7 well-attested, 3 general references.
Pantheons, 9 claims: 8 well-attested, 1 general references.
Parts of the Soul, 9 claims: 6 well-attested, 1 connected, 2 general references.
Sources, 9 claims: 8 well-attested, 1 holds.
Open Questions, 8 claims: 6 well-attested, 1 connected, 1 general references.
Sacred Objects & Ritual Items, 8 claims: 4 well-attested, 1 holds, 3 general references.
Religious Offices, 6 claims: 4 well-attested, 1 holds, 1 general references.
Rituals, 6 claims: 1 well-attested, 3 holds, 2 general references.
Figures, 4 claims: 2 well-attested, 2 general references.
Prayers, 4 claims: 1 well-attested, 2 holds, 1 general references.
Mythical Creatures, 3 claims: 3 general references.
Holidays & Festivals, 2 claims: 1 holds, 1 general references.
Religions, 2 claims: 1 holds, 1 general references.
Sacred Architecture, 2 claims: 1 holds, 1 general references.
Bodies of Water, 1 claims: 1 general references.