Embodying Heaven: The Ancient Philosophy of Dance in China
Journal of Daoist Studies February 1, 2023 Christina Panera 4 citations
Dance plays a key role in religious movements by engaging the mind, senses, and emotions, enabling practitioners to reach a higher state of consciousness interpreted as religious experience. Examining Confucian and Daoist philosophies over time, the work explores the experiential, sensual, and performative dimensions of dance. Confucian ritualistic choreography and Daoist flowing improvisation each express an individual's ideal "meeting point," striving to fulfill the Chinese ideal of the heavenly "being."