" (Theobold, "Daoism," 2000) During this time, most critical to its populist embrace, Daoism developed a substantial pantheon of deities that made the religion even more comprehensible and accessible, even to the semi-literate while its more abstract concepts still earned "imperial respect," although "it never again existed as an imperial cult but flourished as the religion of the masses" after the Song Dynasty. (DeBarry, Chan & Bloom, p.258) One of the reasons for Daoism's collapse as an imperial cult amongst later emperors might be the fact that Chinese historians saw the veneration of the "passive" Taoist religion as one factor in the downfall of Northern Song "and the numerous registers and incantations did not prove to be an effective weapon against intruders." (Theobold, "Daoism, 2000)

The central objective of Taoism may be said to be a long and serene life," rather than to rule effectively. (DeBarry, Chan & Bloom, p.256) However, even though Taoism fell out of favor as the religion of the emperors, its influence continued to permeate Chinese society, even after the Song Dynasty collapsed. The democratic inroads that justified the participation of the emerging middle class in state administration ensured that the philosophy of the Tao was felt, if not officially,...

The Tao continued to permeate popular literature and culture, and encouraged the cultivated expression of beauty and stylization in art and dress. Confucianism and the Tao would remain in debate and dialogue forever more.
Works Cited

DeBarry, William, Wing Tsit Chan, & Irene Bloom. Sources of Chinese

Tradition. Volume One. Columbia University Press, 1960.

Hansen, Valerie. "The Beijing Qingming Scroll and Its Significance for the Study of Chinese History." Journal of Sung-Yuan Studies. 1996. Reprinted by Asian Topics in World History. [28 Nov 2006] http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/song/readings/urban_life.htm

The Song Dynasty in China." Asian Topics in World History. 2004. [28 Nov 2006] http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/song/

Social Changes: Family and the Status of Women." Asian Topics in World History.

2004. [28 Nov 2006] http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/song/social/family/family.htm

Theobold, Ulrich. "Chinese Philosophy: Neo-Confucianism." 2000. [28 Nov 2006] http://www.chinaknowledge.de/Literature/Classics/neoconfucianism.html

Theobold, Ulrich. "Daoism." 2000. [28 Nov 2006] http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Song/song-religion.html#daoism