Making transcendents

By Robert Ford Campany

Book Description

In ancient China, a remarkable spiritual quest emerged that would reshape our understanding of transcendence itself. Robert Ford Campany reveals how individuals in the third century BCE began pursuing the path of the xian, seeking to become deathless beings with extraordinary abilities that transcended ordinary human limitations.

This scholarly exploration challenges long-held assumptions about spiritual seekers in early Chinese society. Rather than depicting these transcendence-seekers as isolated hermits withdrawing from the world, Campany demonstrates how they actively engaged with their communities as healers, diviners, and storytellers of mystical experiences. Their apparent secrecy served not as withdrawal but as a strategic presentation of their spiritual authority.

Drawing from traditional Chinese texts including hagiographies and historical records, the author examines how individuals cultivated and expressed their roles as spiritual adepts. He analyzes the cultural patterns that defined these transcendent figures and explores how their reputations were constructed, sometimes in surprising ways that reveal the social dynamics of spiritual authority.

The book traces how these early practitioners navigated relationships with family members and government officials while maintaining their spiritual identities. Through careful analysis of biographical narratives, Campany shows how the pursuit of transcendence functioned as a recognized social role rather than an escape from society.

This investigation offers fresh insights into how spiritual transformation operates within cultural contexts, providing a nuanced perspective on the intersection of personal spiritual development and social engagement in early medieval China.