The Lü Dongbin spirit-writing cults and morality books of late Qing China

Record summary

Lü Dongbin, the Daoist immortal Lüzu, was frequently presented in late Qing spirit-writing circles as a source of moral instruction, healing guidance and revelations. Daoist and lay charitable halls produced morality books and devotional texts claiming transmission through planchette or other forms of mediumship. This is useful for comparison with automatic writing, saintly intercession and the transformation of older figures into modern revelatory authorities. Individual books and halls differ in date and doctrine, so a research record should identify a particular title, locality, printing history and attributed spirit rather than relying on generalized Lüzu tradition.