If any subject lends itself to treatment in an edited volume, it is Chinese Religions; It is a recognized fact that the boundaries between the various religions in China, and those between religion and culture in general, have always been fluid. This can only be duly acknowledged by careful research from many angles – and by many experts. It is exactly these mutual influences that form the leading theme in this Festschrift in honour of Kristofer Schipper, taken up by a selection of his many expert pupils and colleagues.

The thirteen contributions span over two millennia, ranging from the late Zhou to the present. Topics include divination, religious puppet theatre, the art of translating, late Ming Christianity, and literature. The major focus, however, is Taoism and its connections with medieval society, popular cults and medicine. Special mention, in this connection, should be made of an extensive analysis and translation of a fourth century poem from the Taoist Canon, and a study of the social circle of a leading Tang dynasty Taoist.

Peter M. Engelfriet, Ph.D. (1996) in Sinology, Leiden University, is author of Euclid in China (Brill, 1998). Holding also a medical degree he presently, attached to Leiden University, focuses on the history of Chinese medicine.

Jan A.M. de Meyer, Ph.D. (1992) in Sinology, University of Ghent, specializes in medieval Taoism. He currently conducts research at Leiden University and is preparing a monograph on a major Taoist master of the Tang Dynasty.