Daoism and Women in Contemporary China
摘要
On Web sites such as Douban and Zhihu that are popular among young Chinese netizens, there are several posts inquiring about the sacred temples and shrines for people who are seeking good blessings on their love life, marriage, safe pregnancy and easy childbirth. Among the commonly mentioned places, a few Daoist names are easily noticeable: Yuen Yuen Daoist Monastery of Guangdong (Yuanxuan guan) is in possession of a stone that is naturally shaped like two people embracing one another. This celebrated Stone for Marriage (Yinyuan shi) symbolizes the feeling of affinity between two individuals and hence is worshiped by many young women who are in search of a companionate marriage. In addition, countless young women go to the White Cloud Monastery (Baiyun guan) in Beijing—one of “The Three Great Ancestral Courts” of the Quanzhen School of Daoism—to pay respect to the Jade Maiden of Heaven or Empress of Mount Taishan (Bixia Yuanjun). She is one of the most known Lady Immortals in the Heavenly Realm, famous for offering her blessings in finding a soul mate or having a baby.