Daoist Studies Summer Seminar

The Daoist Studies Summer Seminar 道學沙龍 (est. 2021; DSSS) is the flagship event of the Center for Daoist Studies 道學中心 and the preeminent annual gathering for New Daoist Studies (NDS) as articulated by Dr. Louis Komjathy 康思奇. Utilizing a Daoist study-practice approach (SPA), DSSS 2021 focused on Daoist literature and Daoist translation; DSSS 2022 explored a tradition-based approach to Daoist study-practice, community, and being; DSSS 2023 focused on the Dàodé jīng 道德經 (Scripture on the Dao and Inner Power) as a classical Daoist contemplative and mystical work; and DSSS 2024 explored the history and practice of Daoist Yǎngshēng 養生 (Nourishing Life). DSSS 2025 will take place from July 7-11, 2025, with a focus on critical issues in Daoist Studies.

Daoist Translation Committee

As the impetus behind and outgrowth of the DSSS, our research group has established the Daoist Translation Committee 道教翻譯學會 (DTC). Currently consisting of twelve members, this is a collaborative collective with the goal of producing accurate and reliable scholarly and literary translations of Daoist literature. The project is partially intended to offer a new model and forum for Daoist Studies, beyond the toxic careerism, factionalism, and small-mindedness of mainstream Sinology and academia more generally. This may be thought of as “New Daoist Studies” (NDS), including as informed by and informing a Daoist scholar-practitioner approach (SPA). The DTC held its inaugural planning meeting on January 9, 2022 and decided to focus on the Bàopǔzǐ nèipiān 抱朴子內篇 (Inner Chapters of Master Embracing Simplicity; DZ 1185; ZH 980; dat. 320) by Gé Hóng 葛洪 (Bàopǔ 抱朴 [Embracing Simplicity]; 283-343). The DTC in turn met on the first Sunday of each month, completing one chapter per meeting. On November 5, 2023, we completed our draft annotated translation. We are now moving on to revising the translation and completing the annotations. We also are beginning more intensive meetings through our six associated Working Groups, namely, Alchemy, Intertextuality, Meditation, Ritual, Text-Criticism, and Tradition. We hope to compose the entire draft manuscript by the end of 2024, and then publish our complete annotated translation and interpretive study in 2025. This will be the first title in our Daoist Translation Series (DTS).

~ Principles of Daoist Translation ~

Daoist Research Group

Our Daoist Research Group 道學研究圓 (DRG) is conducting longterm research on a variety of topics, including Daoist body-maps, Daoist commentary literature, Daoist meditation, female Daoist practice, and Western Daoism. Individuals who participate in the Daoist Studies Summer Seminar (DSSS) and our Scholars-in-Residence (SIR) program become part of this lively, collaborative, and growing scholarly salon and think tank. We also offer mentorship opportunities for younger and aspiring scholars and translators with an affinity for the CDS Approach to Daoist Studies.

Daoist Studies Archive

The center continues to build our Daoist Studies Archive 道學檔案館 (DSA), which aspires to be the most comprehensive and complete collection of Daoist materials outside of East Asia. Our most recent major acquisition was the Dàozàng jīnghuá 道藏精華 (Essential Blossoms from the Daoist Canon). We continue to gather funds to purchase additional Daoist textual collections and related Daoist material culture such as art, calligraphy, manuscripts, and ritual paraphernalia.

Daoist Indexing & Cataloguing

Other key current projects include new indexes of Daoist collectanea and encyclopedias and a new series of standardized numbering systems for additional “extra-canonical” and “supplemental” Daoist textual collections. These are being undertaken in our “Daoist Studies Guides” (DSG) series, with the catalogue project framed as “Supplements to Title Index to Daoist Collections” (STIDC). As with the earlier publication (Komjathy 2002), this work will help to ensure greater access to and consultation of the various collections.

Daoist Education

Our directors and senior teachers offer educational opportunities to high schools and colleges. The associated presentations may involve formal public lectures, classroom talks, and/or practice sessions. We also provide guidance to educators on teaching Daoism in an accurate and informed manner, including alternative materials to remedy the ubiquitous deficiencies of World Religions textbooks and non-specialist presentations. Finances permitting, we request an honorarium in the form of a donation to the Daoist Foundation. Interested individuals also may access the following independent website.

Daoist Outreach & Mentorship

We also continue to provide a variety of resources, including formal consultations and training sessions, for Daoists and Daoist sympathizers interested in deepening their understanding of the Daoist tradition as such.