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To: Fedora
Re #69

Daoism you refer to is quite different from Daoism of Lao-tze and Chiang-tze. The former has the definite concept of heaven and god while the latter is devoted to the ever-elusive way of nature, Dao. No deities, nor heaven nor hell.

I did not know that it was inspired by Manicheism.

There is also a religious idea spread in both directions, this time, from India. The concept of vampire was said to have originated in India. It spread to the West, resulting in all these familiar Balkan vampire myths. It also spread to the East. Chinese folklores feature a "walking dead", pale as a corpse and with blood dripping from its mouth, never allowed to die and take the final rest.

70 posted on 03/31/2004 9:41:31 PM PST by TigerLikesRooster
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To: TigerLikesRooster
My main source for the information on Taoism I mentioned is Geoffrey Parinder, World Religions, pages 189, 338, and 351. I think there is also some mention of it in John Hardon, Religions of the World, Volume 1. If this is something you're interested in more information on I can get you the specifics if you'd like.

I am very interested in the information on vampire traditions you mention. Believe it or not I am writing a vampire novel on the side, which is one reason I do the historical research I am. My story involves a vampire-worshipping cult with a branch in India, which as you may know is also where the Rom ("Gypsies") of the Balkans are believed to originate; I'm planning to tie some Indian and Balkan traditions together in that way. I'd be interested in any more information or references you have on Asian vampire traditions and their parallels with Balkan traditions. Here is one site I've found useful:

Vampires of the World: Part VI: The Undead in Asia

71 posted on 03/31/2004 10:06:28 PM PST by Fedora
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