This role of Taoist priests reflects the definition of Taoism as a "liturgical framework for the development of local cults", in other words a scheme or structure for Chinese religion, proposed first by the scholar and Taoist initiate Kristofer Schipper in The Taoist Body (1986). Taoshi are comparable to the non-Taoist ritual masters () of vernacular traditions (the so-called Faism) within Chinese religion.
This role of Taoist priests reflects the definition of Taoism as a "liturgical framework for the. development of local cults" in other words a scheme or structure for Chinese religion, proposed first by the scholar and Taoist initiate Kristofer Schipper in The Taoist Body (1986). Taoshi are, comparable to the non-Taoist ritual masters () of vernacular traditions (the so-called Faism) within Chinese religion