This book presents the first in-depth analysis of a monumental scroll known as the Ordination Scroll of Empress Zhang, dated 1493, from the collection of the San Diego Museum of Art. Through images and text, this scroll documents the ordination of Empress Zhang (1470–1541), wife of the Ming-dynasty Hongzhi emperor (r. 1488–1505) by a Heavenly Master of Zhengyi Daoism. It is a key source in the study of the history of Daoist ordinations, and a rare surviving record of the relationship between a Ming empress and the Heavenly Masters. Through detailed analysis of different historical perspectives and the Ordination Scroll itself, this book offers new insights into Daoist practices, Daoist material and visual culture, and the lives of imperial women in Ming China. By combining a rigorous attention to the specific object with a broad awareness of cultural context, this important book marks a real advance in our understanding of the agency of imperial women in Ming China, and the role of