Compiled according to An Outline History of Chinese Taoism by the Chinese Taoist Association, and a series of works by Professor Li Yangzheng of the Chinese Taoism College, this book also contains related research findings from both within and outside China. Composed of seven chapters, the book gives an overall systematic introduction to the past and present of Chinese Taoism, including basic concepts of Taoism, scriptures, and organizations. Taoist figures, immortals, Taoist temples, and health preservation. The book provides extensive detailed and accurate data, as well as insightful perspectives through advanced academic achievements, and is therefore of significant historical value for greater understanding and study of Chinese Taoism culture and folk customs.

Li Yangzheng, a researcher in Taoism, was born in 1925 in Gong'an County, Hubei Province, and graduated from National Wuhan University in 1949.When the Chinese Taoist Association was founded in 1957, he joined the organization and devoted himself to Taoist research under the guidance of the reputed Taoist scholar Chen Yingning. Li Yangzheng used to be the Deputy, Dean of the Chinese Taoist College.His published works include An Introduction to Taoism. Taoism and Chinese Society, Modern Chinese Taoism, Taoism and Various Pre-Qin Schools of Thought, among others. He has also compiled A Handbook of Taoism, The Taoist Culture Series, A Collection of Materials on the History of Taoism, The Great Dictionary of Taoism (with coeditor Min Zhiting), etc., as well as published almost a hundred academic articles.