For centuries Daoism (Taoism) has played a central role in the development of Chinese thought and civilization, yet to this day only a few of its sacred texts have been translated into English. Now Stephen R. Bokenkamp introduces the reader to ancient scriptures never before published in the West, providing a systematic and easily accessible introduction to early Daoism (c. 2nd-6th C.E.). Representative works from each of the principal Daoist traditions comprise the basic structure of the book, with each chapter accompanied by an introduction that places the material within a historical and cultural context. Included are translations of the earliest Daoist commentary to Laozi's 'Daode jing (Tao Te Ching)'; historical documents relating the history of the early Daoist church; a petitioning ritual used to free believers from complaints brought against them by the dead; and, two complete scriptures, one on individual meditation practice and another designed to rescue humanity from the