Research projects

We examined the relationship between mountain worship as holy sites (Dongtian) and local Daoism and surveyed the network of Daoist sites located on mountains and pilgrimages to there. We also studied the historical development of this network. We surveyed grottoe heavens so-called small grottoe heavens and studied their historical development. We compiled data on the present state of their Daoist monasteries and their local geographic features such as the overall landscape and caves linked to belief in the grotto heavens. Some of our findings have already been published in the academic journal Dohten-fukuchi kenkyu No.7 and 8, composed of eleven academic articles. And we also held the international conference “Holy sites and pilgrimages : Second colloque Franco-Japonais sur les lieux saints taoistes, Paris, March 24-25, 2017”. Based on our research, the compilation of a historical narrative for the development of the concept of Daoist holy sites and pilgrimages has become possible.

We examined the relationship between mountain worship (belief in grottoe heavens) and local Daoism and surveyed the network of Daoist sites located on mountains. We also studied the historical development of this network. We surveyed the ten main locations of grottoe heavens and other small grottoe heavens and studied their historical development. We compiled data on the present state of their Daoist monasteries and their local geographic features such as the overall landscape and caves linked to belief in the grotto heavens. Some of our findings have already been published in the academic journal Dohten-fukuchi kenkyu No.4, 5 and 6, composed of fourteen academic articles and five translations. And we also have published the book titled Daoist Sacred Sites and Local Gods, composed of twelve articles in coordination with French scholars. Based on our research, the compilation of a historical narrative for the development of the concept of grotto heavens has become possible.