| Disscussing the different connotations of immortal belief by historic materialist method, this thesis finds dramatic differeces in the roles Taoism plays in different social estates in traditional Chinese society. Taoists, through reading Taoist classics and philosophical contemplation, enjoy intellect consolation and meaning of life in the realm of Tao; while the folk people find a base of life and savior of sufferings.Proceeding with the origin and historic change of immortal belief, the thesis reveals the close connection between the theoretic developments of Taoist immortal belief and the motif of Chinese philosophy. However, in folk immortal belief, immortals always keep the immage of savior and gods with personality. With the development in the division of labour in worldly life, the group of deities worshipped by folk people expanded.Though differentiated in the above mentioned way, Taoism and folk belief have close correlations. Many deties of Taoism entered folk belief through various ways while many folk deities are absorbed into by Taoism into its deity system.
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