Organized religious communitiesOrganized religious communities

• Organized religious communities perceived as Daoist religion appeared in Later (Eastern) Han dynasty (23-220 AD)

• Adopted some elements of earlier Daoism, particularly its social and political ideals

• Accepted Han cosmology and Huang-Lao Daoism• Believed that new order, new “heaven,” new regime,

and new age would come

• Offered healing and therapeutic objects to the needed

• Participated in popular religious culture– Nature gods (Heaven, Earth, stars, planets, rivers

and lakes, mountain and field, rain and wind, lightening and thunder …)

– Five emperors, the Great One, Lord Lao, ancestors, defied men (military and culltural heroes)

– Supernatural beings: ghosts and demons

• Daoist deities: Lord Lao, the Queen Mother of the West, Lord King of the East

The Celestial Master: The Celestial Master: A Reassessment A Reassessment

• Zhang Daoling and Daoism– Previously believed to have been the founder of

the form of Daoism, often called Religious Daoism, because it was viewed as “revolutionary” in many aspects of its religious practices, including its soteriology, as evidenced by its death ritual

– Now regarded as a Daoist leader who was capable of synthesizing and systemizing pre-Han religious thoughts and practices, including those associated with Laozi, Zhuangzi, and death ritual

The Way of Celestial MasterDaoist theory of healing made Daoism Daoist theory of healing made Daoism

appealingappealingZhang Daoling’s “The Way of Celestial Master” Zhang Daoling’s “The Way of Celestial Master”

advocates that illness is due to the patient’s sins advocates that illness is due to the patient’s sins and immoral deeds.and immoral deeds.

A patient is required to write down his sins and A patient is required to write down his sins and cast his written confession into a stream of cast his written confession into a stream of water, vowing to the gods that he would sin no water, vowing to the gods that he would sin no more, on penalty of deathmore, on penalty of death

Followers are required to observe a set of three Followers are required to observe a set of three times nine precepts that convey austerity and times nine precepts that convey austerity and moral disciplinemoral discipline

Daoist Theory of Healing: Scriptural Basis

The Taiping Jing (Scripture of Great peace), which was the scripture used by the Way of Great Peace under the leadership of Zhang Jue Sickness is the expression of displeasure at human

misdeeds on the side of the spirits of Heaven and not the automatic effect of an imbalance or disharmony of energy (qi)

Heaven and earth cause the person to fall ill The person’s body becomes defiled and the qi leaves the

body Patient should purify his body to recall the departed qi

Requires confession

Theoretical Basis of Confession

The primordial qi (yuanqi) that existed in the time of creation divided the universe into three forms: Heaven, Earth, and humanity

The primordial qi is the spirit root (shen’gen), which manifests three psychosomatic factors called essence (jing), vital energy (qi), spirit (shen),

Spirit—associated with HeavenEssence—associated with EarthEnergy—associated with humanity

• Human body is a microcosm of the universe

•Right: The World in the Body (Source: Neijing tu)

The Rite of Confession

The sinner confesses his/her sinsThe sinner confesses his/her sins Beats his/her breastBeats his/her breast Throw himself/herself to the ground and knock Throw himself/herself to the ground and knock

his/her headhis/her head Self-blame: repenting his/her sins and accusing Self-blame: repenting his/her sins and accusing

himself/herself of various misdeedshimself/herself of various misdeeds Show this inner shame to the entire community and Show this inner shame to the entire community and

thus be exoneratedthus be exonerated Sometimes, sinners also undergo self-punishmentsSometimes, sinners also undergo self-punishments

Uphold Precepts: The Middle nine precepts

1.Do not study false texts.2.Dot not covet high glory or vigorously strive for

it.3.Do not pursue fame and praise.4.Do not do things pleasurable to ears, eyes, or

mouth.5.Always remain modest and humble.6.Do not engage in frivolous undertakings.7.Always be devout in religious services, of

respectful mind and without confusion8.Do not indulge yourself with fancy garb or

tasty food.9.Do not overextend yourself.

The highest nine precepts

1.Do not delight in excess, since joy is as harmful as anger.

2.Do not waste your essence or qi.3.Do not harm the dominant qi.4.Do not eat beings that contain blood to

delight in their fancy taste.5.Do not hanker after merit and fame.6.Do not explain the teaching or name Dao to

outsiders.7.Do not neglect the divine law of Dao.8.Do not try to set things in motion.9.Do not kill or speak about killing.

Self-Cultivation Practices

• Three groups:– Literati Daoists:The Seven Sages of the Bamboo

Grove/ • Representatives: Xi Kang, Ruan Ji

– Alchemists• Representative: Ge Hong

– Two organized schools of Daoism • Maoshan/Shangqing (Highest Purity) School

– Representatives: Xu family, Tao family

• Lingbao (Numinous Treasure) School– Representative: Ge Chaofu

The Shangqing SchoolThe Shangqing School

Its emergence signifies a major expansion Its emergence signifies a major expansion of Daoismof Daoism

New worldview and new cosmology:New worldview and new cosmology:– New creator deity called New creator deity called Yuanshi tianwangYuanshi tianwang

(Heavenly King of Primordial Beginning)(Heavenly King of Primordial Beginning)– New Daoist celestial pantheon populated by New Daoist celestial pantheon populated by

divine beings in a hierarchical order modeled divine beings in a hierarchical order modeled upon this-worldly bureaucracyupon this-worldly bureaucracy gods of Dao, celestial immortals, demon kings,…gods of Dao, celestial immortals, demon kings,…

New concept of and approach to immortalityNew concept of and approach to immortality– Previously, attained immortality through Previously, attained immortality through

cultivating inner virtuecultivating inner virtue– Now, transferred one’s registered file from the Now, transferred one’s registered file from the

administration of death in Fengdu to that of life administration of death in Fengdu to that of life in the southern Palacein the southern Palace

New understanding of the human bodyNew understanding of the human body– Body is a storehouse of divine agenciesBody is a storehouse of divine agencies– Nomenclature of key parts are based on the Nomenclature of key parts are based on the

Yellow Court ScriptureYellow Court Scripture ( (Huangting jingHuangting jing)) Yellow Court—head, spleen; Dark Towers—kidneys, Yellow Court—head, spleen; Dark Towers—kidneys,

ears; Flowery Canopy—eyebrows and lungs; ears; Flowery Canopy—eyebrows and lungs; Spiritual Furnace—nose; Flowery Pond---mouth; Spiritual Furnace—nose; Flowery Pond---mouth; Jade Fluid or Sweet Spring---saliva,…Jade Fluid or Sweet Spring---saliva,…

4251

0011 0010 1010 1101 0001 0100 1011Yellow court

Wang Xizhi’s Hand-copy Yellow Court Scripture

Gate of Life

Cinnabar/elixir fields

4251

0011 0010 1010 1101 0001 0100 1011

Wang Xizhi’s Hand-copy Yellow Court Scripture

Numinous Terrace

Square Inch

Hall of Light

Shangqing’s Meditation PracticeShangqing’s Meditation Practice

Visualization of:Visualization of:– Colors associated with organs to strengthen Colors associated with organs to strengthen qiqi– Inner passways and palaces to learn the cosmic Inner passways and palaces to learn the cosmic

geographygeography– Gods and immortals residing there to acquire Gods and immortals residing there to acquire

familiarity with the divine beingsfamiliarity with the divine beings– planets and stars to emerge with their powerplanets and stars to emerge with their power

This practice could lead to This practice could lead to – a deep trance and go on a spiritual journey to a deep trance and go on a spiritual journey to

otherworldly realmotherworldly realm– Ascend to the higher heavens and walk on the Ascend to the higher heavens and walk on the

Big Dipper, known as Big Dipper, known as ““Pacing the netPacing the net”” ( (bugangbugang))

The Lord of the Dao; or the Lord of the Old in modern Daoist Temple

Stone Sculpture in Quanzhou, Fujian

Ge Hong (287-347? or 284-364?)

Master who Embraces Simplicity

The The Lingbao Lingbao SchoolSchool

Key concept:Key concept:– Talismans creates and Talismans creates and

maintains the worldmaintains the world

Founder: Ge Chaofu, a Founder: Ge Chaofu, a descendent of Ge Hongdescendent of Ge Hong

Lineage:Lineage:– Ge Xuan→Ge Hong→Ge ChaofuGe Xuan→Ge Hong→Ge Chaofu

Texts: Texts: – Scripture of the Five Lingbao Scripture of the Five Lingbao

TalismansTalismans ；；– Perfect Text in Five Tablets, Perfect Text in Five Tablets,

Written in RedWritten in Red

Ge Hong concocting the elixirs

The The LingbaoLingbao School School

WorldviewWorldview——a mix of a mix of – ShangqingShangqing’’s and Han Daoist cosmology s and Han Daoist cosmology

of the five phasesof the five phases– fangshifangshi ideas and practices ideas and practices– Celestial Master ritual Celestial Master ritual

DoctrinesDoctrines– emphasizes the notion of spells and emphasizes the notion of spells and

talismans, cosmic sounds and signs as talismans, cosmic sounds and signs as being key to both creation and being key to both creation and empowermentempowerment

•Use of talismans to• Get access to the otherworld and immortality• Gain peace and harmony for family, village, country and empire

Talisman composed of Cloud-shaped Seal Characters

Combined use of talismans, divine charts and diagrams can •bring effect to herbs, eight minerals, numinous mushrooms, cinnabar liquid•ward off or destroy demons, goblin, mountain spirit….

Talisman for protection in the mountain

Talisman of supreme heaven ruler of south pole

Talisman to establish contact with spirits of earth and wind