Chaotian Palace is the largest, best-preserved ancient architectural complex of the highest rank still standing in the Jiangnan region. It sits atop Mount Ye in the heart of Nanjing. After making Nanjing his capital, Emperor Taizu of the Ming expanded and renovated the Taoist temple on Mount Ye, turning it into a royal sanctuary where the imperial family prayed for blessings and performed fasting rituals. As China's native religion, Taoism gave rise to a rich culture that permeated every aspect of Chinese life, from thought to society. This book, Chaotian Que, tells the story of the Taoist priests of Chaotian Palace, Wang Yangming's philosophy of the mind, and the Ryukyu Kingdom, all set in the ancient capital of Nanjing. Many people may know the Ryukyu Kingdom better by its present-day name: Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. How did such a dramatic transformation come about? What happened five hundred years ago? Let the author tell you all about it.
