What's the difference between a god and a fairy?

The difference between gods and immortals in Taoism

Fairy, apart from it, is a man's mountain, which means that a man becomes a fairy after practicing "mountain" "Mountain" is the "mountain" among "mountain, medicine, life, physiognomy and divination" in metaphysics. Generally speaking, it is a way to strengthen the body and cultivate the mind. Then, immortality means that people live for a long time and reach a certain ideological realm.

Taoism is divided into immortals.

Ge Hong may be the first person to clearly distinguish between the two ("God governs heaven, ..., immortals govern wind and rain, ..." quoted from the History of Taoism in China edited by Mr. Ren), and he thinks that "immortals are different, so you can't learn."

That is to say, there are essential differences between God and man, and there are natural insurmountable boundaries. It is impossible for human beings to achieve a heterogeneous state-divinity through cultivation and other means.

Immortals, on the other hand, are not so far away, at least in terms of fonts, which are closely related to people. Immortals are only "enlightenment" between people, and they are the goals that people can achieve through hard work. In Ge Hong's view, a master like Lao Zi is not "miraculous", but "Taoist expert" and "Taoist master", who can "help from heaven and follow from it".

Just a god who can learn, not a god who can only look up.

In other words, immortality is a model of people with a will, a goal, precedent and hope of spiritual practice, and God can only guide and help people to become immortals at most. God is the realm that people always need to look up to.

Looking around, the lineage of Taoist immortals is really chaotic (although Tao Hongjing and other people have also summarized it), "... there are many Taoists, many deities, many emperors, many star officials, many mountains and rivers, and many ghosts and gods. There are even hundred schools of thought in the pre-Qin period, the famous fairy alchemist, the Queen Mother of the West, Dong and other mythical figures since the Qin and Han Dynasties, emperors and princes and so on. , ... "

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Generally speaking, Taoist immortals are divided into the following categories:

One kind is the supreme god with personality, high above. This kind of god generally appears as the object of worship and the manager of the fairy. They are interpreters and educators of important Taoist classics, and they are also guarantors of the authority of the classics. This kind of deities include yuanshi county Tianzun, Taiwan Businessman Avenue Jun, Shifang Feixian Renshen, Sanqing and so on. They are the real masters of heaven and earth. They are also the thinking objects of their rethinking of the Qing school.

The other is the inner God.

"Keep all joints of the human body, open doors, plug dead households, regulate qi and produce fluid, and soothe the nerves." There are names, images, clothing colors, residences, functions, family members, etc. , mainly as the object of introspection, thinking, chanting, in order to achieve the purpose of returning to the gods and getting sick, and even living forever. For example, the word "word" is too primitive, the brain god is nimble and rooted in the mud pill, the eyes are clear and the words are mysterious, the nose god is clever and firm, the ears god is idle, the tongue god is full of words, the teeth god is full of words, and the one side god is the mud pill, and the mud pill nine really has a room. Fiona Fang is an inch here. He wears purple clothes and a flight suit, but he thinks it's a long life. "

The word "Shen Xin Dan Yuan" nourishes the spirit, the word "lung Shen Hao Hua" is empty, the word "liver dragon" contains the light, the word "Yu Yu guides smoke and turbidity" nurtures the baby, and the word "kidney god Xuan Ming" nurtures the fetus. The primate of the spleen is in the word "soul stops", and the gallbladder dragon glows, and the five internal organs are full of vitality, all in the heart, day and night.

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The third category is the common gods of folk beliefs inherited by Taoism from the worship of nature and ghosts and gods in ancient religions. This kind of god is usually thought to be able to bring misfortune and happiness to those who are in their own hands. Such as sun god, moon god, star god, mountain god, river god, wind god, Raytheon, household god, kitchen god and so on. , is usually a common sacrifice.

● Taoist immortals are divided into the following categories:

Taoist immortals are divided into three categories according to Ge Hong:

"According to Yunxian, the staff sergeant ascends, which is called the fairy. A sergeant swam in a famous mountain and was called a fairy. Corporal slough after death first, this is called corpse XieXian "

. In the folk, almost all historical and cultural celebrities are affectionately regarded as immortals who descend to earth or fly away, and they don't want to see them eventually become a pile of rotten bones like mortals. For example, in Dujiangyan, the temple built to commemorate Li Bing and his son has also become a Taoist resort, and many Taoist priests and nuns are busy organizing people's worship activities. The complexity and confusion of Taoist immortals can be seen from this.

Although Ge Hong made a distinction between immortals and immortals, it was only an indispensable link in his argument of the immortal thought that immortals can learn, and it was not clearly defined for the purpose. Therefore, his distinction was not sufficient, even unconscious, so that his own use of the words "immortals" and "immortals" in Fairy Biography was not very standardized (though not very standardized).

The difference between gods and immortals

"Immortality"

Generally speaking, it refers to a person who practices Taoism, who is omnipotent, unpredictable and immortal. That is to say, "immortal, therefore, protect the truth of life and swim outside." "Immortals" are also called "immortals" and "real people", collectively referred to as "immortals". In fact, there is a difference between gods and immortals. God is a congenital natural god, and he was also called a congenital saint before heaven and earth were divided. Those who exist in nature are the real saints. According to "Surrounding Park", it belongs to another kind of god and "can't learn". For example, Sanqing Zun Shen, Jade Emperor, Antarctic Xianweng and other immortals can't be cultivated by ordinary people in the world. Immortals are people who practice Taoism in the secular world the day after tomorrow. They are also called immortals. It is the immortal who achieves immortality through long-term cultivation. The word "God" in China's ancient books has rich connotations, including "divine power", which is hard to predict, and drivers call it God. For example, Yi said, "Yin and Yang are unpredictable gods", and one day he said, "God is the only one, which comes too soon." There are also spirits that call God, such as "Confucius said,' Qi is also the prosperity of God, and spirit is also the prosperity of ghosts'." "And" the essence of saints is called God, and the essence of saints is called ghost. "There are immortal people who are called gods, such as" Family Language ":"Those who don't eat, die and become gods. " It can be seen that "God" includes not only innate gods, but also essential gods and the desire for eternal life. Taoism says that immortality is immortal. At the end of the Han Dynasty, Liu Xi's book Ming Shi explained: immortality, movement; Moved to the mountain, so its character maker is next to the mountain. Ge Hong said: If a husband becomes immortal, he will take medicine to preserve his health and prolong his life, so that his sin will not be born and foreign invasion will not enter. Although he won't die for long, he won't change his old body. If there is a suitable method, there is nothing difficult. Zhong and Lu believe that the so-called dividing line between immortals and human beings lies in the different conditions of Yin and Yang. Pure yang without yin is immortal; People are mixed with yin and yang. Passive hugs Yang is also a human being.

(2) the image and characteristics of immortals

As early as the pre-Qin period, fairy tales had been widely circulated in central China. "A Happy Tour in Zhuangzi" said: "The mountains shot by the ancients are inhabited by people. If the skin is ice and snow, it will be as graceful as a virgin. Don't eat grains, ride a dragon by cloud, but travel around the world. " In Yanqi seaside area, it is said that there are three sacred mountains, Penglai, Abbot and Liuzhou. There are immortals and medicines on the mountain. Animals are all white, and the palaces they live in are all made of gold and silver. There are also many vivid descriptions of immortals in Biography of Immortals: or bending over into the clouds. Flying without wings; Or ride a dragon in the clouds and build a day order; Or become a bird and beast, floating in the clouds; Or sneak in rivers and seas and soar in famous mountains; Or get angry when you take it, and get rid of it; Or go in and out of the world without knowing it, or hide from it. Immortals can be buried, dive into rivers and become invisible. They can do anything.

(3) the taste of immortals

The immortal system in the earliest Taoist classic "Taiping Jing" has six levels: "One is a god, the other is a real person, the third is a fairy, the fourth is a Tao, the fifth is a saint, and the sixth is a sage, all of which help heaven. God is God, real people are landlords, immortals are wind and rain masters, Taoist bishops are good or bad, saints care for the people, sages help saints, and people help Liuhe. " In Jin Dynasty, Ge Hong's "Bao Puzi" divided immortals into three classes: "A staff sergeant is called an immortal when he holds a lofty position; Middle-earth traveled to famous mountains and was called the earth fairy; The corporal dies first and dies, which is called the corpse to solve the fairy. " "Tianzang" divides immortals into five categories; People call it a fairy in the sky, a fairy on the earth, a daffodil in the water, and a fairy who can turn magical powers. Taizhenke is divided into nine categories: Shangxian, Gaoxian, Daxian, Shenxian, Xuanxian, Xian Zhen, Linghe and Magistrate.

(4) fairyland ruled by immortals

According to the Seven Signs of the Cloud, Taoism has thirty-six days (four days in the holy land, four days in Brahma, and twenty-eight days in the three realms). These thirty-six days have been ruled by Sambo Jun, and its desire realm is "lust", "yin and yang are handed over, and people are born". Above the desire world, there is a color world, no color world, "people live forever", but life and death are not broken. Four Brahma, also known as the human heaven and the holy disciple heaven, "life and death are difficult." Sanqing is the home of nine saints, nine true immortals.

According to the Taoist scriptures, there are ten continents and three islands in the vast Baluhai, all of which are sparsely populated. Where immortals travel, there is fairy grass. Shizhou is Zuzhou, Yingzhou, Xuanzhou, Yanzhou, Changzhou, Yuanzhou, Liuzhou, Shengzhou, Fenglin and Juku. The three islands are Kunlun, abbot and Pengqiu. Among the famous mountains on the earth, there are ten caves, thirty-six caves and seventy-two blessed places, ruled by immortals and real people. Among them, ten holes and thirty-six holes are places where immortals are sent to rule. Seventy-two blessed places, between famous mountains and great rivers, are governed by real people and taught by gods, and there are many ways.

(5) Immortals exist and can be learned.

Taoism believes that immortals are real, and a large number of Taoist fairy tales, stories and legends demonstrate the existence of immortals with vivid examples. Ge Hong's "On Immortals" and "On Vulgarity" in Bao Puzi's Inner Chapter refute all kinds of views that doubt the existence of immortals and demonstrate that immortals exist. Some people think that there must be death in existence and death in life. This is human common sense. "I've never heard of it in the spring of ten thousand years. I've been watching it for a long time." "Bao Puzi" said: "The husband often lives and dies, and the reason is average. Their similarities and differences are uneven, possibly impossible and varied. It's strange, it's unreasonable, and things are wrong. If you don't take it, you can't take it. " It is believed that heaven and earth are infinite and electric cranes last forever, so not all people and things follow the law of life and death. Some people start from the fact that all people are born with natural gas and come to the conclusion that all people are born with life and death. Bao Puzi pointed out that people are different and things are changing, so there are special people who can become immortals. Most secular people don't "know", don't "walk the streets", don't believe in immortals, and are obsessed with fame and fortune. Nature can't be immortal, and you can't see immortals.

The chapter "Duishu" continues to prove the existence of immortals. Someone said, "A turtle can sting in the soil, and a crane can fly, so that people can sting in an instant, but not fly in an instant. How do they know their longevity and safety? " Bao Puzi pointed out that although people can't

"The ground stings" and "flies", but among all things, people are the most spiritual, and people have their own advantages over animals. "Real people only learn their way to prolong their life, learn their food to avoid the valley, and fly without learning their land thorns", which does not hinder the cultivation of immortals.

Taoism says that everyone has a way, "My life is in my absence", and everyone can cultivate immortality. First of all, Tao gives birth to all things, Tao lives in all things, and Tao is eternal. "Tao is invisible, so it can be made clear because of its birth" (see Neiguan Jing of Taishang Laojun) and "Life is different from Tao" (see Old Xiangzi Jules), so the "students" who keep the Tao can be as eternal as the Tao. "Deep-rooted" means "long-term vision". "Bao Piaozi's article. Zhi Li said, "Madam is in the air, and there are people in the air. As for everything in the world, nothing is born against the air. " Therefore, as long as you believe in it, keep one and return to the root, you will live forever.

Secondly, use the theory of the relationship between form and spirit to prove that you can cultivate immortality. Through the change of things and the action of drugs, it is analogized that immortals can succeed, immortals exist and immortals can learn. To this end, Taoism has formed a complete set of immortal theory and cultivation methods.

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Immortality is the only positive result of all practices before the concept of Buddhism was introduced into China. From the ancient Emperor of Heaven to the yellow turtle still enshrined in some places, they are all classified as immortals. In the text, the immortals got rid of the bondage of the reincarnation of everything in the world and wandered in the universe beyond time and space. They are immortal and omnipotent, and they are with heaven and earth. Some of them are immortals who created the world, and some are flying immortals who have been cultivated-although many immortals still retain many of their own thoughts and characteristics. From these concepts, we can know that the immortals in China mythology are closer to the gods in other foreign myths, but there are also some differences, which we will talk about later.

The so-called enlightenment and immortality. As the highest realm of Taoism in China mythology, immortals have always had the highest status. Even in Buddhist works, we can see these immortals and Buddhists sitting together. Today, many southern coastal cities and famous mountains still worship immortals-although many people have confused the concept of immortals.

According to the origin and attributes of immortals, immortals can be divided into five categories, namely, the famous heaven, earth, gods, people and ghosts (in order by realm).

The following is a description of the five immortals:

= = = = On "There are five levels of immortals" in Zhong You's Preaching Collection = = = = =

Zhong Yue said: "Buddhism is 30%, and there is a difference between small success, medium success and great success. There are five kinds of immortals: ghost immortals, human immortals, common immortals, immortals and immortals, all of which are immortals. Ghosts and gods can't do without ghosts, human beings and immortals can't do without people, earthly immortals can't do without the earth, immortals can't do without god, and immortals can't do without the sky. "

Lu said, "What is the so-called ghost fairy?"

Zhong said, "The ghost fairy is the next one under the Five Immortals. Disenchantment in yin, the image of god is unknown, the ghost has no surname, and the three mountains are nameless. Although there is no reincarnation, it is difficult to return to Peng Ying. In the end, there is no return, only giving up when reborn. "

Lu Yue asked, "What skill and skill does this ghost fairy have?"

Zhong Yue said: "People who practice will not know the way at first, but want to be quick. If the shape is like wood, if the heart is dying, the gods will keep it and stick to it. It's a ghost of the spirit, not a fairy of pure yang. With one ambition, the spirit of yin will not go away, so it is called a ghost fairy. Although it is called a fairy, it is actually a ghost. Ironically, people who worship Buddha in ancient and modern times have worked hard here. "

Lu Yue said, "The so-called immortals are actually nothing."

Zhong Yue said, "Immortals are two below five immortals. Those who cultivate truth and reason don't understand Tao, gain a method in Tao and a skill in law, have a firm belief and never move. The qi of the five elements is misunderstood and solid. Eight evils must not be harmed. More sense of security and less illness is called being a human being. "

Lu Yue said, "This man is a fairy. How did he do it? "

Zhong Yue; "The man of practice, or smell. The evil is heavy and the good is thin, and it is difficult for all demons to change their original intentions, ending in Cheng Xiao. The cloud method is active and cannot be changed for life or at four o'clock. If you have absolute five flavors, you don't know there are six flavors, but if you forget the seven emotions, you don't know there are ten commandments. It's wrong for someone who gargles to spit it out. People who want to make up for it laugh quietly and think they are stupid. Those who are good things and take the breath of heaven and earth will never stop eating. Those who like to think and accept the essence of the sun and moon refuse to guide them. Sit alone and rest, knowing that there is nature. Bend over and do nothing without knowing. It's not the same as people who shrink scarabs and take advantage of women. Yang qi, eat woman milk, and an alchemist. Inferred by category, there are different numbers. However, it's all Tao. We can't stop at the main road, but stop at the middle of the main road, in order to achieve happiness and prolong life. What's more, there are many people in the world who are happy for a while, tired of persistence, diligent, chaotic, and sick, but can't prolong life. "

Lu said, "What is the so-called immortal?"

Zhong You said, "Immortals spend a long time, but they are talented. If you don't know the way, you will stop at a small successful method. Invisible jobs are only those who live in the world and never die, and there are no people who die in the world. "

Lu Yue said, "How do immortals do it?"

Zhong You said, "At the beginning, the theory of the rise and fall of heaven and earth was adopted, and the number of the sun and the moon was taken. Time is spent on me, and time is spent in Japan and China. Know the dragon and tiger first, and then match the hurdles. Distinguish between clear water and turbid water, and the climate is divided into morning and evening. Accept the truth, observe the two instruments, list three talents, and divide them into four images. Don't take any chances, gather six qi, seven treasures, gossip and visit nine continents. The five elements are reversed, and the qi is transmitted to the mother while the liquid is even. After three repetitions, it was burned into an elixir, suppressed forever, and refined into eternal life in the world, so it was called a fairy. "

Lu Yue said, "What is the so-called immortal?"

Zhong You said, "Immortals are tired of living with earthly immortals. They work hard and their joints are connected. They extract lead and add mercury, while gold extracts the top. Jade liquid belongs to Dan, refined into gas, five gases welcome Yuan, and three yang gather at the top. Get carried away, the fetus becomes immortal. Yin essence and yang essence, there is a body outside. Exquisite and immortal, extraordinary and sacred. Rejecting the customs and returning to the three mountains is also a fairy. "

Lu said, "What is the so-called immortal?"

Zhong Yue said, "The immortal of the earthly world is tired of being born in the world, work hard and get rid of it. It's called a fairy. Immortals hate living in Mishima and preaching to the world. He made meritorious deeds on the road, but the world did deeds and fulfilled his deeds. He was called a fairy when he was sent back to the cave by gobbledygook. As a fairy, when you are tired of living in caves, you should be a fairy official: a water official, a middle-level official, and a heaven official. Heaven and earth have great achievements, and ancient times have great achievements. The official was promoted and served in the 36 th hole, but he returned to the sunny day of August 1 and returned to the realm of nothingness and nature in Sanqing. "

The difference between immortals and gods

God exists naturally, and it is the first god, that is, Sanqing, and there are also gods who are sealed by virtue of good deeds the day after tomorrow, that is, post-gods, such as land gods and city gods. The first god is far above the fairy products of the five immortals. Then the immortal can't compare with the fairy products of the Five Immortals.