Questions about Taoism

Taoism is a traditional religion that originated in ancient China. Its influence in ancient China was second only to Buddhism. In the traditional culture of China, Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism are regarded as various theoretical theories and practical methods.

Taoism has different appellations in its early stage of formation. Many people in pre-Qin hundred schools of thought used to call their theories and methods "Tao". Confucianism, Mohism, Taoism, Yin and Yang, and even Buddhism all called themselves "Tao" for various reasons. Confucianism first used the word "Tao" and called the theories of Wang Zhidao and Confucius "Tao". When Buddhism was first introduced into China, it was translated into Tao, so it was also called Tao. At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, five doorways appeared, calling themselves "Tao" and taking the meaning of "Tao is good". Since then, in order to show their uniqueness, other factions have stopped calling themselves "Tao" and become the special names of Wudou Rice Road.

Taoism now refers to a religion based on China's ancient religious beliefs, inheriting some religious concepts and practice methods such as Fang and Huang, and gradually forming a religion with "Tao" as the highest belief, Laozi as the leader, Laozi's Tao Te Ching as the main classic and cultivation of immortals as the pursuit. The main methods of Taoist immortality can be roughly summarized into five kinds, namely, taking medicine (elixir and external elixir).

Teaching and doctrine

From the very beginning, Taoism regarded Laozi's Classic of Tao Te Ching as the basic classic, and regarded "Tao" and "virtue" as the basic beliefs. Taoism believes that "Tao" is the source and master of all things in the universe, omnipresent and all-encompassing, and everything evolved from "Tao". And "virtue" is the embodiment of "Tao". Respecting God in Sanqing is the initial personification of Tao, and it also represents three important processes of the creation of the universe (Tao gives birth to the first, the second, the third and all things-Tao Te Ching). Sanqing gave birth to the gods of heaven, earth, universe and nature, known as the first deity. All these are the evolution of Tao, Tao and Tao body are internally integrated, and Tao is infinitely full of the universe. Therefore,

Taoism takes the Taishang Laojun (that is, the moral Buddha) as its leader, that is, Laozi. In addition, there are other sayings about the highest god of Taoism in the Taoist scriptures of different sects in history. First, Jade Qing's deity is the highest god; Second, the deity of Shangqing Lingbao is the highest god; Thirdly, ethical purity is the highest god; Finally, it evolved into a trinity theology theory.

Taoism is born again, hates death and pursues immortality. It believes that people can make their own decisions in their lives and don't have to obey the heavens. People think that as long as people are good at cultivating health, they can live forever. Therefore, there are many ways to practice: alchemy, eating, breathing, fetal interest, massage, guidance, room, avoiding valley, thinking, offering symbols and chanting.

Taoist theology can be said to be a religious doctrine after the mystification of Taoist thought, which may not be completely consistent, but the similarities and differences between them are worth pondering. However, ancestors were called Taoists of Laozi and Zhuangzi, and praised many Taoist classics such as Tao Te Ching (Laozi) and Nanhuajing (Zhuangzi). After all, they absorbed and inherited many Taoist thoughts. In addition, it is also influenced by the Book of Changes, Yin and Yang, Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, and ancient myths and stories.

history

origin

Although Taoism takes Laozi as its ancestor, its thought is not completely consistent with Laozi's thought, and it is more due to the fact that Huang used Laozi's famous words to cultivate health in the early Han Dynasty. Another source of Taoism is Fang Xiandao, which began in the Warring States and flourished in Qin and Han Dynasties. In addition, you can also pursue the worship of ghosts and gods in Shang Dynasty.

In the process of its gradual formation, the interaction between Taoism and Buddhism (the influence of Buddhism on Taoism and the influence of Taoism on Buddhist China) was also worthy of attention.

Development history

The development of Taoism can be roughly divided into four periods: the origin of Han, Wei and Jin Dynasties, the prosperity of Tang and Song Dynasties, the emergence of Quanzhen religion in Yuan and Ming Dynasties and the decline after Qing Dynasty.

The formation of Taoism is a slow development process. As two landmark events in the final formation of Taoism, one is the spread of Taiping Jing, and the other is Zhang Daoling's Five Mi Dou Roads. During the Shundi period of the Eastern Han Dynasty (126- 144), Taiping Ching was published and widely circulated. When he arrived at the Lingdi of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Zhang Jiao preached in Taiping Qingling, nicknamed Taipingdao, calling himself the teacher of Dade, and his followers were all over Kyushu, which was already quite influential. Later, the Yellow turban insurrectionary failed, and Taiping Road gradually declined. It was also in the Eastern Han Dynasty, when Emperor Shun Di of the Eastern Han Dynasty, that Zhang Ling returned to Mingshan in Shu County to learn Taoism and recruit disciples to preach, so the believers gave him five measures of rice, so he called it five measures of rice. His grandson, Zhang Lu, stayed in Hanzhong for many years, and later cooperated with the supreme ruling authorities to spread the influence of Wudou Mi Dao from the southwest corner to the sea and become an authentic Taoism.

During the Jin and Southern and Northern Dynasties, with the prevalence of alchemy and the deepening of related theories, Taoism gained great development. At the same time, Taoism also absorbed the popular metaphysics at that time and enriched its own theory. In the first year of Jianwu in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Ge Hong systematically expounded the theory of immortals since the Warring States Period and wrote Bao Puzi, which was the first systematization of Taoist theory and enriched the ideological content of Taoism. In the Northern and Southern Dynasties, with the support of Taizu of the Northern Wei Dynasty, Kou established the "North" Road and Lu established the "South" Road.

During the Tang and Song Dynasties, Tang Gaozu Li Yuan recognized Laozi Li Er as his ancestor, and Song Zhenzong and Song Huizong also believed in Taoism, so Taoism was highly respected and became the state religion. At this time, Maoshan, Gezhi and other factions appeared, and Shi Tiandao also re-emerged. In theory, Chen Tuan and Zhang Boduan's "Inner Dan Theory" is very popular.

At this stage, Taoism not only developed in China, but also spread to other parts of Asia through migration and cultural exchange. For example, at the end of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, after Wudou Midao failed to launch an uprising in the south of China, Lu Xun led his troops to Jiaozhou. Vietnamese Li Tuo helped Lu Xun attack Jiaozhou Fucheng and committed suicide after failure. This is the earliest record of Taoism being introduced into Vietnam. In addition, for example, the Heaven Road in South Korea or the Shintoism in Japan combines the sun god, worships the emperor and worships the gods. However, apart from Vietnamese Taoism, Korean Tiandao or Japanese Shintoism is quite different from Taoism in its religious content.

During the Jin Dynasty, Quanzhen Taoism advocated by Wang Zhongyang appeared in the north. Later, Qiu Chuji, a disciple of Wang Zhongyang, preached for Genghis Khan in Mongolia, and was trusted by the rulers of the Yuan Dynasty to take charge of Taoism in the world. At the same time, in order to cope with the rapid rise of Quanzhen religion, the original Shi Tian Taoism in Longhushan, the Shangqing School in Maoshan and the Lingbao School in Gezaoshan were merged into one, and Zhang Tianshi was regarded as the founder of the orthodox school, thus formally forming the Taoist pattern of Quanzhen religion in the north and orthodox school or two schools in the south.

Judy, the Yongle Emperor of Ming Dynasty, claimed to be the embodiment of Zhenwu Emperor, and gave great support to Zhang Sanfeng and Wu Tang who sacrificed Zhenwu. At this time, Taoism is still dominant in various religions in China.

Since the Qing Dynasty, Manchu rulers believed in Tibetan Buddhism and suppressed Taoism, which was dominated by Han people. Taoism has since declined.

Modern Taoism

After the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Taoism has basically stopped developing. After entering the modern society, Taoism declined even more. After the founding of People's Republic of China (PRC), with the implementation of the new religious policy of the China government, some previous Taoist rules and regulations failed because they violated the current laws. 1957, the Chinese Taoist Association was established to manage the internal affairs of Taoism in China. In the Cultural Revolution, Taoism, like other religions in China, suffered a catastrophe. It was not until the end of the Cultural Revolution that Taoism resumed its normal religious activities, but the population who believed in Taoism was not universal.

Taoist immortals

Taoism is a polytheistic religion, and the highest god is the Sanqing God originated from Taoism, that is, Yuanshi Tianzun, Lingbao Tianzun and Moral Tianzun, among which Moral Tianzun is the Taishang Laojun. In addition, Taoism developed Heaven, Jade Emperor and a series of officials according to human order, and absorbed the concepts of Buddhist hell and the world in the sea. As a subsidiary of the Heaven, it also developed the immortal official series of Yamaraja Temple and Crystal Palace, plus the four-value meritorious service, mountain gods, city gods, land gods, kitchen gods and other local immortal series. It also absorbed many western queens and the Eight Immortals in ancient China myths as "scattered immortals" outside the natural order. Therefore, there are many immortals in Taoism. All immortals created by local people and celebrities they worship, such as Mazu and Guandi, can be absorbed into the Taoist immortal system at any time. But generally speaking, temples only worship Sanqing God, and other gods can build their own temples.

In addition, Taoism believes that the human body is also a small world, so various organs on the human body, such as hair, facial features and so on. They are also stationed by immortals, and they also have corresponding practice methods.

Religious discipline

Taoist precepts are some norms that restrict Taoist thought and behavior. Taoist precepts have different contents according to different sects. Generally speaking, the commandments of Quanzhen school are stricter than those of Zuo Fu school. The main contents of the commandments are not to kill, not to drink and eat meat, not to steal, not to commit adultery and so on. Commandments are what believers must abide by, and Taoist priests must have a rite of passage to be counted as believers. According to the strictness of discipline, discipline can be divided into top-grade discipline, middle-grade discipline and inferior discipline. According to the musical number, there are three precepts, five precepts, eight precepts, ten precepts and twenty-seven precepts of Laojun.

In addition to the precepts, there are Taoist rules, which are a means of punishment for Taoist priests who violate the precepts. Specifically, different factions have different regulations.

On the basis of absorbing some contents of Buddhism and requirements of Confucianism, Taoist precepts have formed a set of their own unique contents. Taoist rules and regulations also change with time, and when they conflict with the laws of the regime, they will be adjusted appropriately.

Taoism

Taoist religious activities are very complicated, which are mainly divided into two categories: Taoist self-cultivation (called Taoism) and Taoist rituals, including Taoist scriptures, confessions, fasting, meditation, spells, forbidden spells, seclusion, riding chariots, exorcism, demon reduction, disaster relief, blessing, house art and so on.

Taoism has become a Taoism, including inner alchemy, outer alchemy, feeding and housing. External alchemy refers to burning minerals such as lead and mercury in alchemy sand and medicine to make pills that can make people live forever. Modern science believes that most of these pills are poisonous, and there were many fatal cases in ancient times. So later Taoism realized that it was dangerous to take and prepare external pills, so later generations turned to safer internal medicine. Wei Dan is also regarded as the pioneer of modern chemistry.

Inner alchemy refers to refining alchemy in the body through qi-flowing, qi-guiding, breathing and breathing, so as to achieve the goal of immortality. The terms of Waidan and Neidan are the same, but their meanings are completely different. For example, the human body is compared to a furnace that burns an alchemy pill, but it is still connected in theory. The teaching of ancient alchemy is mostly passed down from master to apprentice, which is difficult for outsiders to understand.

In addition, there are many Daoism in Taoism. For example, introspection, keeping quiet, thinking and breaking through the trough. These modern times are mostly classified as qigong. In addition, many Taoist priests of Quanzhen Sect practice martial arts. Chinese medicine theory also comes from Taoism.

Taoist rituals are collectively called "fasting rituals", in which fasting means purity and fasting means prayer, also known as Dojo. Taoism worships immortals, because they think immortals are quiet and noble, so they need to bathe and change clothes, do not drink or eat meat, and fast before sacrifice. Sacrificial activities are called "rites", and Taoism has absorbed many Buddhist contents in its development, with various names. Taoism believes that through these rituals, we can get rid of disasters and seek happiness. Divination is also a part of Taoism, including divination, drawing lots and measuring characters. In addition, Taoism is characterized by the use of symbols and reeds. Characters are some symbols painted on yellow paper with cinnabar. Taoism believes that it can be used to cure diseases, while Confucianism is considered to drive away gods. In addition, Taoism believes that oral spells can cure diseases, exorcise ghosts and spirits, and drive away wild animals. These are mainly the same spells.

Main classics

Taoism regards Laozi's Tao Te Ching and Zhuangzi's Nanhua Ching as the two most important classics. In addition, Taoism also imitated the Buddhist tripitaka to create a collection of Taoist works, including not only philosophy and Taoist theory, but also works on alchemy, health care, medical care and qigong. There are mainly orthodox Taoist scriptures, Taoist scriptures and the continuation of Wanli Taoist scriptures. At present, only the orthodox Taoist scriptures of the Ming Dynasty have been circulated, and other versions have been lost. Most of the existing Taoist classics are included here. The number of Taoist scriptures is very large, and the main classics of various factions are also different.

Zhouyi Shentongqi is the earliest single crystal and is called the ancestor of single crystal. In addition, Bao Puzi is also a basic classic of Dante School. Taiping Jing and Old Xiangzi Jules are also the main classics of early Taoism. Huang Tingjing and The True Classic of Shangqing Dadong are the main classics of Shangqing Classic left, and Maoshan School also attaches great importance to them. Du Hewen is the main classic of Lingbao School and School. Yin Fu Jing and Chang Jing Qing Jing are also two very important Taoist classics that Taoist priests must recite. In addition, the Jade Emperor Sutra and the Heart Seal Sutra are also one of the daily lessons of Taoists.

Although the Southern Sect of Taoism took Fuyong and Zhai Zhi as the main body, after the Northern Song Dynasty, it also advocated three religions and one principle, and cultivated the inner alchemy, resulting in such classics as Wu Zhen Jing and Four Hundred Words at that time. Taoism, the northern Sect of Quanzhen religion, advocates the unity of the three religions, the gathering of spirits and spirits, the understanding of nature, and the integration of Confucianism and Taoism. Focusing on the three classics of Tao Te Ching, Xiao Jing and Prajna Heart Jing, it advocates "filial piety and purity, honesty and simplicity".

religious sect

A Taoist priest on Mount Tai (this picture is not an orthodox robe, not a row of buttons and flags, but a Hanfu style with a collar)

As far as practice is concerned, Taoism is mainly divided into two schools-Zuo Fu School and Dante School. The former advocates using spells to cure diseases and exorcise ghosts, while the latter advocates refining elixir and seeking immortality, which is different from the external and internal veins.

Generally speaking, the spread of Taoism began in the Song and Yuan Dynasties. There are five influential schools in the history of Taoism:

Justice Road: There are Lingbao School, Justice School and Jing Ming School below.

Quanzhen Road: There are two schools, Nanzong and Beizong. There are also many tribes, such as the Dragon School, the Encounter Fairy School, the Namo School, the Suishan School, the Lushan School, the Huashan School and the Static School.

True Taoism: Founded in the Jin Dynasty, it gradually declined after the Yuan Dynasty.

Taiyi Road: It was built in the Jin Dynasty and gradually declined after the end of the Yuan Dynasty.

Jing Ming Dow: Founded in the Southern Song Dynasty, it declined after the Ming Dynasty.

After the Ming dynasty, Taoism was divided into orthodox school and quanzhen school, and all other schools were under these two schools. At present, the Baiyun Temple in Beijing has the general classics of all the true sects, and there are 86 Taoist sects, but actually there are only 80.

Righteousness Road: Righteousness Road was Wudoumi Road in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, and was later renamed Shitian Road and Righteousness Road. Its Taoist priests can practice at home, do not abstain from meat, marry and have children. Its Taoist temple is generally called "descendants temple".

Quanzhen religion: Quanzhen religion flourished in the Jin and Yuan Dynasties and was the largest and most important school of Neo-Daoism in the Song and Yuan Dynasties. Representative figures are Wang Zhongyang and Qiu Chuji. Quanzhen religion emphasizes cultivation, and its Taoist must become a vegetarian. Its Taoist temple is generally called "the ten-square jungle".

Taoist culture

Taoism had different influences on politics, economy, philosophy, literature, art, music, painting, architecture, medicine, pharmacology, health preservation, qigong, chemistry, martial arts, astronomy and geography in ancient China. In addition, it also has a profound impact on China people's way of thinking, ethics, folk customs, ethnic relations, national psychology, national character and so on.

Influence on China culture

Taoism has influenced all aspects of China culture to varying degrees.

Some sects in Taoism pass on some martial arts and qigong from master to apprentice. For example, the Wutang School, a famous martial art, is said to have been handed down by many Taoist priests on Wudang Mountain. Taoist martial arts are also different from many martial arts. They pay attention to roundness and softness, which fully embodies the teachings of Taoism. Among them, simple Wushu routines like Tai Ji Chuan have gradually become people's daily fitness activities. Taoist Qigong is also a major school of Qigong in China. The cultivation method of Quanzhen Daoism is basically Qigong, which has made great contributions to the exploration and development of Qigong.

Taoist regimen also inherits and develops the collateral theory in Huangdi Neijing, a traditional medicine in China. In addition, there are many Taoist priests who study medical skills and have made great contributions to the development of Chinese medicine, such as Ge Hong and Tao Hongjing.

Taoist alchemy has an important influence on the invention of gunpowder.

Li Bai, a great poet in the Tang Dynasty, was deeply influenced by Taoism. He has traveled around the world, seeking immortals to visit Taoism, and even being an alchemist. He can be said to be a devout Taoist. This experience had a very important influence on his character, poetry creation and even life experience. Li Bai was called to Chang 'an and was recommended by many Taoist priests and friends who believed in Taoism, such as Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty. In the process of seeking immortality, he traveled all over the five mountains and brought him a lot of materials. Concepts such as "immortality" and "feathering" often appear in his poems.

The Journey to the West, one of China's four classical literary masterpieces, tells the story of four people, including the Buddhist Tang Priest, who went to the Western Heaven to learn Buddhist scriptures. However, Taoist concepts such as heart monkey, horse, goddess, and yuan god are widely used in the book, and a Taoist system with the jade emperor as the core is also constructed. There are also many Taoist figures and monsters in the book, but most of them are villains.

The most famous novel with Taoism as its core is Romance of Gods. The essence of the Shang and Zhou wars described in the book is the dispute between the two factions of Taoism about the interpretation and interception of religion. All kinds of fairy treasures in the book also belong to the Taoist system.

Taoism and Taoism

The words "Tao" and "Tao" are often misused. Historically, these two words refer to many different contents and have been confused; Others advocate equating the two. However, if Taoism is understood as a school of philosophical thought initiated by Laozi and Zhuangzi and recreated in Wei and Jin Dynasties, and as a religion gradually formed and further developed in Han Dynasty, then although Taoism absorbed a lot of elements of Taoist thought in theory, even taking Laozi as the leader, the two cannot be confused, nor can it be said that Taoist theory is Taoist thought. As a religion, Taoism has its immortal worship and belief, its followers and organizations, a series of religious ceremonies and activities, and the inheritance of its main factions is generally clear. As a school of philosophical thought, Taoism's ideological evolution and representative figures should be the most important contents in its interpretation; The inheritance and evolution of Taoist thought after Wei and Jin Dynasties is still vague and difficult to explain, but its influence on literati in past dynasties is still discernible. From this point of view, it can also be said that the narrow sense of "Tao" refers to the school of philosophical thought represented by Laozi and Zhuangzi in the pre-Qin period.

The similarities and differences between Taoist theology and Taoist thought are really a long story. Let me give you an example: Taoism says immortality, immortality and spirituality, which is not mentioned by Laozi and Zhuangzi, nor can it be regarded as a reasonable extension of Laozi and Zhuangzi's thought. It can even be said that there is no contradiction with the way of nature.

The difference between Taoism and other religions

The ideal world of Taoism is different from the paradise of Buddhism and Christianity. There are two ideal worlds of Taoism, one is secular and the other is religious. The secular ideal world is clearly stated in Taiping Jing, hoping that the world will become a fair and peaceful world without disasters and wars. The ideal world of religion is "fairyland", and Taoism pursues immortality, so that it can transcend life and death and live a fairy-like life in fairyland. Different from other religions, Taoism does not think that people can reach fairyland after death, but that people's bodies can live forever through some form of exercise. After becoming immortals, they can also live in the world of ordinary people, be "living immortals" and live in fairyland. However, it is not easy to achieve immortality, so methods such as "autopsy" appeared later. Moreover, most of the fairyland mentioned is in reality. For example, many of the so-called "caves and blessed places" are some scenic spots in China.

Most religious teachings believe that life is full of misfortune or sin, and the soul can only be saved after death. But Taoism believes that living in the world is a beautiful thing and dying is painful, so Taoism pursues immortality. So there are many ways to keep fit, such as Qigong, which has been developed in Taoism.