Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

acceptedVersion

Publication Date

2021

Abstract

Demographic researchers have identified five geographic regions around the world with unusually high proportions of nonagenarians and centenarians. Studies of these longevity hotspots or “blue zones” are now trying to distill lessons for how people everywhere can live long and active lives with minimal impediments. In this study, I compare lifestyle observations and longevity prescriptions derived from studies of blue zone centenarians with long-standing recommendations for the practice of nourishing life (yangsheng) to achieve a long and healthy life in the Daoist tradition. Observing a high degree of similarity across the four lifestyle domains of diet, exercise, mindset, and relationships, I find blue zone recommendations for successful aging closely resemble and seemingly validate many longstanding Daoist prescriptions for advancing human health and longevity. I conclude that although blue zone residents may not be consciously Daoist, they seem to represent unselfconscious models of Daoist living.

Keywords

Longevity, centenarians, lifestyle, Daoist

Discipline

East Asian Languages and Societies | Ethics and Political Philosophy

Research Areas

Political Science

Publication

Journal of Daoist Studies

Volume

14

First Page

128

Last Page

151

ISSN

1941-5516

Identifier

10.1353/dao.2021.0004

Publisher

Three Pines Press

Embargo Period

5-16-2021

Copyright Owner and License

Authors

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1353/dao.2021.0004

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