The British Daoist Association英国道教协会

Type

Overseas Daoist Temples

Location

United Kingdom · England · (No permanent temple; activities held in rented premises) · A legally registered unincorporated membership association in the United Kingdom, with no fixed premises

First built

1996 · Founded by Shi Jing; recognized by the China Taoist Association since its founding. The correct name is 'The British Daoist Association,' not 'British Taoist Association'

Overview

The British Daoist Association (BDA) was founded in 1996 by Shi Jing, a legally registered unincorporated membership association in the United Kingdom that has been recognized by the China Taoist Association since its founding, and is the leading Daoist organization in Britain. The Association explicitly states that it has no temple or fixed premises, renting venues for its regular practice sessions, lectures, and retreats — a form quite representative of Daoism in Europe: most European Daoist organizations exist as associations and practice communities rather than being centered on a temple, in contrast to the temple-centered model of East Asian Daoism. The Association's work centers on the study of the classics, the practice of internal alchemy and health cultivation, the study of ritual, and exchange with the Daoist community in China. Note on the name: the commonly seen 'British Taoist Association' is a mistaken form. No independently reliable public source gives details of the Association's membership size or corporate registration.

Highlights

• Britain's leading Daoist organization (1996)
• Explicitly has no temple or fixed premises
• Recognized by the China Taoist Association
• Organized as an association and practice community