Traces of a Daoist Immortal: Chen Tuan of the Western Marchmount by Louis Komjathy
Traces of a Daoist Immortal is a Daoist-infused tour de force on the Daoist mountain hermit Chen Tuan (Xiyi [Infinitesimal Subtlety]; d. 989) and his fellow hidden immortals. Breaking various academic taboos, including hyper-historicism, social constructivism, and conformist mentalities, here Komjathy, in an aspirational gesture towards unbridled inquiry, offers annotated translations and scholarly introductions to ten major works associated with the Daoist immortal. The book also contains a cutting-edge, mythopoetic introduction that addresses the life and legend of Chen Tuan, his connection to the Western Marchmount of Huashan (Mount Hua; Huayin, Shanxi), Daoist views about sleeping, dreaming, waking, as well as Daoist time-being.