道教是源自中国的本土化宗教，初期修道者多于幽静山林辟洞室隐居静修。至唐代，李氏王朝奉道教为国教，大举兴建庙宇，神仙道观兴，以后经历代发展，道教建筑遍布中国各名山胜境，形成著名的十大洞天、三十六小洞天、七十二福地等宫观及丛林。Qiao Yun所著的《TAOIST BUILDINGS》分别介绍了泰山、华山、武当、青城诸山，以及白云观、永乐宫、楼观台、天师府、青羊官等著名官观，在山林市肆之间，纵览道教建筑的精巧艺术。

Map of Distribution of Taoist Buildings

Guide Map of the Area Around the Dai Temple on Mount Tai

Editor's Note

Preface 1

Preface 2

General introduction

The Beginnings of Taoism in China and its Essence

--Pursuit of Immortality, the World of Deities and Taoists

I. Origins and Evolution of Taoism

II. Faith and Theology of Taoism

III. System of Deities and Immortals in Taoism

IV. Taoist Functional Potency and Miraculous Arts

Outline of Taoist Architecture

--Characteristics of Design and Norms, from Zhi, Jing to the Palatial Monastery

I. Architectural Design and Norms

II. Site Selection and Deployment

In. Architectural Layout

IV. Structure and Construction

V. Architecture

The Grotto Haven, Blessed Sanctuary and Taoist Monastery

--Places for Offering Sacrifice, Practicing Asceticism, Preaching and Ceremonial Prayer

I. Fifth Grotto Haven on the Mount of Verdvant Land ~

II. Eighth Grotto Haven on Mount Mao

III. Celestial Masters' Residence on the Mount of the Dragon and Tiger

IV. Dai Temple

V. Memorial Shrine of Azure Glow on Mount Tad

VI. The Abbey of Jade Spring on Mount Hua

VII. Gazebo Terrace, the Prime Blessed Sancmal;y

VIII. Palaces and Temples on Mount Wudang

IX. Palace of Everlasting Bliss

X. Palace of Absolute Purity on Mount Lao

XI. Palace of the Blue Goat in Chengdu

XII. Monastery of White Clouds in Beijing

Notes on the Photographs

Northeast China

Jade Emperor Mansion in the Palace of Absolute Purity, Shenyang, Liaonlng

Hall of Lord Guan in the Palace of Absolute Purity, Shenyang, Liaonlng

Grand Hall in the Palace of Absolute Purity, Shenyang, Liaouing

North China

Memorial Gateway of Watching Stars in the Monastery of White Clouds, Beijing

Front Gate of the Monastery of White Clouds, Beijing

Hall of the Divine Guarding General in the Monastery of White Clouds, Beijing

Hall of the Jade Emperor in the Monastery of White Clouds, Beijing

Hall of the Three Pure and Quiet Ones and Four Celestial Lord Aides in the Monastery

 of White Clouds, Beijing

Interior of the Hall of the Jade Emperor in the Monastery of White Clouds, Beiiing

Interior of the Hall of the Founder Forefather Qiu in the Monastery of White Clouds, Beijing ...

Pavilion of Befriending the Crane in the Monastery of White Clouds, Beijing

Memorial Gateway in the Dad Temple, Taian, Shandong

Mansion of Retreat in the Monastery of White Clouds, Beijing

Gate of Benevolent Peace in the Dai Temple, Taian, Shandong

Interior of the Hall of the Heavenly Present, Dad Temple, Taian, Shandong

Statue of the Lord of the Eastern Sacred Mountain in the Hall of the Heavenly Present,

 Dad Temple, Taian, Shandong

Mural in the Hall of the Heavenly Present in Dai Temple, Tadan, Shandong

Mural Depicting the Lord of Mount Tad in the Hall of the Heavenly Present, Dai Temple, Tadan,

 Shandong

Pavilion Housing the Imperial Stone Stele, Dad Temple, .Tadan, Shandong

Detail of the Hall of the Heavenly Present and Iron Incense Burner in the Dad Temple, Taian,

 Shandong

Corner Tower of the Dal Temple, Talan, Shandong

Gate of the Dense and Sustainable, Dad Temple, Talan, Shandong

South Heavenly Gate and Stairs to Heaven on Mount Tad, Taian, Shandong

Side View of the Memorial Shrine of Azure Glow on Mount Tad, Tadan, Shandong

Ravine of the Inscribed Rocks on Mount Tad, Talan, Shandong

Epigraph Honoring Talshan Engraved on Mount Tad, Tadan, Shandong

Jade Emperor Summit on Mount Tad, Tadan, Shandong

Pond of the Queen Mother of the West on Mount Tai, Taian, Shandong

Palace of the Queen Mother of the West at the Pond on Mount Tai, Taian, Shandong

Great Hall in the Temple of the Central Sacred Mountain, Dengfeng, Henan

South Heavenly Gate on the Mount of the Heavenly Altar, Jiyuan, Henan

Palace of the Overt Terrace on the Mount of the Heavenly Altar, Jiyuan, Henan

Hall of the Highest Heaven in the Three Realms, Palace of the Overt Terrace, Mount of

 the Heavenly Altar, Jiyuan, Henan

Interior of the Hall of the Highest Heaven in the Three Realms, Palace of the Overt Terrace,

 Mount of the Heavenly Altar, Jiyuan, Henan

Roof Corner and Dougong of the Gloriette of the Jade Emperor in the Palace of

 the Overt Terrace, Mount of the Heavenly Altar, Jiyuan, Henan

Eave and Peristyle Column of the Gloriette of the Jade Emperor in the Palace of

 the Overt Terrace, Mount of the Heavenly Altar, Jiyuan, Henan

Dougong of the Hall of the Three Pure and Quiet Ones in the Palace of Everlasting Bliss,

 Ruicheng, Shanxi

Hall of the Three Pure and Quiet Ones in the Palace of Everlasting Bliss, Ruicheng, Shanxi

Hall of Chunyang in the Palace of Everlasting Bliss, Ruicheng, Shanxi

Hall of Chongyang in the Palace of Everlasting Bliss, Ruicheng, Shanxi

Mural of Lord Gouchen in the Hall of the Three Pure and Quiet Ones, Palace of Everlasting Bliss,

 Ruicheng, Shanxi

Mural Depicting the Visit to the Temple of Mount Bleak in the Hall of Chunyang, Palace

 of Everlasting Bliss, Ruicheng, Shanxi

Mural of the Deities of Eight Trigrams in the Hall of the Three Pure and Quiet Ones, Palace

 of Everlasting Bliss, Ruicheng, Shanxi

Mural of "Zhongli Quan Converting Lu Yan" in the Hall of Chunyang, Palace of Everlasting Bliss,

 Ruicheng, Shanxi

Mural in the Great Hall, Temple of the Deity of Water, Hongdong, Shanxi

Statue of the Deity of Water in the Great Hall, Temple of the Deity of Water,

 Hongdong, Shanxi

Stone Tablet of "the Prime Blessed Sanctuary Under Heaven", Gazebo Terrace,

 Zhouzhi, Shaanxi

Front Gate of the Palace of the Ancestral Sages, Gazebo Terrace, Zhouzhi, Shaanxi

Hall of Lord Lao, Gazebo Terrace, Zhouzhi, Shaanxi

Pavilion of Reaching Heaven in the Abbey of Jade Spring, Mount Hua, Huayin, Shaanxi

Inscribed Rock, Abbey of Jade Spring on Mount Hua, Huayin, Shaanxi

Stone Boat, Abbey of Jade Spring, Mount Hua, Huayin, Shaanxi

Long Gallery in the Palace of the Eight Celestials, Xi'an, Shaanxi

Hall of the Eight Celestials in the Palace of the Eight Celesrials, Xi'an, Shaanxi

Hal/of the Goddess Mother of the Great Dipper, Palace of the Eight Celestials, Xi'an, Shaanxi

Hall of the Founder Forefather Qiu, Palace of the Eight Celestials, Xi'an, Shaanxi

Tall Temple in Zhongwei, Zhongwei, Ningxia

Central China

Hall of the Three Pure and Quiet Ones, Monastery of Abstruseness, Suzhou, Jiangsu

Temple Gate, Palace of Supreme Heavenly Bliss on Mount Mao, Jurong, Jiangsu

Hall of Supreme Origin in the Palace of Supreme Heavenly Bliss, Mount Mao, Jurong, Jiangsu

Front View of the Palace of Prime Charm on Mount Mao, Jurong, Jiangsu

Front Gate of the Abbey of Baopu, Hangzhou, Zhejiang

Red Plum Pavilion in the Abbey of Baopu, Hangzhou, Zhejiang

Eight Trigrams Gateway in the Magic Spirit Fungus Garden, Celestial Master Residence,

 Mount of the Dragon and Tiger, Guixi, Jiangxi

Main Hall of the Celestial Master Residence, Mount of the Dragon and Tiger, Guixi, Jiangxi

Golden Summit of Mount Wudang, Danjiangkou, Hubei

Golden Hall of Mount Wudang, Danjiangkou, Hubei

South Escarpment Palace of Mount Wudang, Danjiangkou, Hubei

Purple Clouds Palace of Mount Wudang, Danjiangkou, Hubei

Imperial Stone Tablet in the Palace of Jade Emptiness, Mount Wudang, Danjiangkou, Hubei

Escarpment of Jade Emptiness, Mount Wudang, Danjiangkou, Hubei

Front Gate of the Monastery of Recurring to Trueness, Mount Wudang, Danjiangkou, Hubei

Eight Trigrams Pavilion, Palace of the Blue Goat, Chengdu, Sichuan

Front Gate of the Palace of the Blue Goat, Chengdu, Sichuan

Hall of the Tang Prince, Palace of the Blue Goat, Chengdu, Sichuan

Front Gate to the Palace of Blessedness, Mount of Verdant Land, Duiiangyan, Sichuan

Entrance Gate to the Mount of Verdant Land, Dujiangyan, Sichuan

Front Gate to the Palace of Supreme Purity, Mount of Verdant Land, Dujiangyan, Sichuan

Memorial. Gateway of the "Cdesdal Trail", Mount of Verdant Land, Duiiangyan, Sichuan

Outer Gate to the Celestial Masters' Grotto on the Mount of Verdant Land, Dujiangyan, Sichuan

Appendices

Glossary

Chronology of Major Events in the History of Chinese Architecture