Daoism: Images, Symbols, and Sacred Places

This gallery presents Daoist images and objects selected for close study. Use the images to consider deities, immortals, ritual objects, cosmology, texts, and sacred places.

These images are selected for study and comparison. Look closely at the source, rights note, caption, and category for each image before drawing conclusions.

Daoist Master Fei Zhangfang

Daoist Master Fei Zhangfang is a candidate image from The Metropolitan Museum of Art found with the curated search term ‘Daoist temple’. It is relevant to Daoism because it fits the page category: Daoist temple, Laozi or Daoist sage, Daoist deity/immortal, ritual object, talisman, altar, or text. It would help World Religions students connect a specific object, site, or practice with the tradition.

Category: Daoist deity/immortal

Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Rights/license: The Met Open Access / public domain

Why included: Kept from current material because it is relevant, but repetition is capped for variety.

The Daoist Immortal Liezi

The Daoist Immortal Liezi is a candidate image from The Metropolitan Museum of Art found with the curated search term ‘Daoist temple’. It is relevant to Daoism because it fits the page category: Daoist temple, Laozi or Daoist sage, Daoist deity/immortal, ritual object, talisman, altar, or text. It would help World Religions students connect a specific object, site, or practice with the tradition.

Category: Daoist deity/immortal

Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Rights/license: The Met Open Access / public domain

Why included: Kept from current material because it is relevant, but repetition is capped for variety.

Duck-Shaped Ewer with Daoist Priest

This image shows Duck-Shaped Ewer with Daoist Priest. It connects to Daoism through ritual/cosmological object. Students can use it to compare how objects, texts, places, and practices communicate religious ideas.

Category: Ritual/cosmological object

Source: Art Institute of Chicago

Rights/license: Public domain

Why included: Found through Art Institute of Chicago public-domain search for ‘Daoist talisman’.

Brushpot Depicting a Daoist Paradise

This image shows Brushpot Depicting a Daoist Paradise. It connects to Daoism through ritual/cosmological object. Students can use it to compare how objects, texts, places, and practices communicate religious ideas.

Category: Ritual/cosmological object

Source: Art Institute of Chicago

Rights/license: Public domain

Why included: Found through Art Institute of Chicago public-domain search for ‘Daoist talisman’.

Questions for Looking Closely

What specific details in the image connect it to this tradition?
What source information helps you interpret the image responsibly?
How does this image complicate a simple or stereotyped understanding of the tradition?
What comparison could you make with another image on this page?

Back to World Religions Image Gallery

Source note: Image records and rights statements are shown with each card. WordPress-hosted image files are used only after the source image or existing media URL has been verified.