Daoist Nuns in Taiwan: A Case Study of the Gaoxiong Daode yuan.

The Gaoxiong Daode yuan is the first and only community of celibate female Daoists in Taiwan. Established in 1960, it draws on practices from both the Zhengyi (Orthodox Unity, i.e., Celestial Masters) and Quanzhen (Complete Perfection) schools. The article argues that while the majority of Taiwan Daoists follow the Zhengyi tradition, the priestesses and nuns at the Daode yuan have adopted Quanzhen practices to create their own unique religious tradition. Their unique syncretism represents major modifications of the Daoist tradition and serves as an example of the interaction among different schools as they adapt to modern religious and social needs while preserving traditional roots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]