Has Taoism ever flourished in history?

Taoism is a native religion in China, which was formed after a long historical development.

The worship of nature and ghosts and gods can be traced back to primitive times. Primitive religion evolved from the earliest divination of communication between man and god to the worship of heaven and ancestors in Yin and Zhou Dynasties.

By the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, ancient religions had undergone remarkable rational evolution, which was different from social and cultural knowledge. In the contention of a hundred schools of thought, Taoism, Confucianism and Mohism are "outstanding people", and the rise of Yin-Yang School and Fairy School at that time had a certain influence in history.

By the end of the Han Dynasty, because of the war and the collapse of the Han Dynasty, there was an urgent need for religion, so Confucianism gradually became religious and Buddhism was introduced at this time. In this social background, the comprehensive traditional worship of ghosts and gods, immortal thoughts and magic numbers of yin and yang finally merged with the ideological trend advocated by Huang Lao in Han Dynasty. Taoist schools were also formed at this time.

The history 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 rise of Quanzhen religion in Yuan and Ming Dynasties and the decline after Qing Dynasty.

The origin period of Han, Wei and Jin dynasties

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 Knives (Shi Tian Knives).

During the reign of Emperor Shun of Han Dynasty (126- 144), Taiping Jing (that is, Taiping Jing, which is believed to be from Baoyuan Taiping Jing compiled by Gan Zhongke, a Qi man) was widely circulated. When he arrived at Emperor Ling of Han Dynasty, Zhang Jiao preached in Taiping Qing Dynasty, nicknamed Taipingdao, calling himself Teacher Dade, and his followers were all over Kyushu, which was already quite influential.

Later, the Yellow turban insurrectionary failed, and Taiping Road gradually declined. Also in the Eastern Han Dynasty, when Shun Di was in the Eastern Han Dynasty, Zhang Daoling learned Taoism in Hemingshan, Shu County, recruiting disciples to preach, and believers made five meters, so it was called the Five-door Rice Road (some studies also said that it was called the Five-door Rice Road because of its belief in five stars such as Beidou Nandou and its combination with esoteric Buddhism in Shu). Zhang Lu, the son of Zhang Heng and the grandson of Zhang Heng, fought in Hanzhong for many years, and then cooperated with the highest ruling authorities to spread the influence of Wudou Mi Dao from the southwest corner to the sea, and then developed into an authentic Taoist stone heaven.

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.

Tang and song dynasties

During the Tang and Song Dynasties, Tang Gaozu Li Yuan recognized Laozi Li Er as his ancestor, Song Zhenzong and Song Huizong also believed in Taoism extremely, and Song Huizong even called himself "Emperor Daojun", 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. Since the Han and Jin Dynasties, the Dante School of Taoism has been hidden. Under the vigorous advocacy of Han Zhongli, Lv Dongbin and others, Inner alchemy began to appear in the world. 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 Vietnam (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 Taoism in the Song Dynasty, the lineage of Shi Tian in Longhushan, Xinzhou was sealed, which began in the ninth year of Song Zhenzong Dazhong Xiangfu (10 16). According to "History of Song Dynasty", in the eighth year of Tiansheng (1030), Mr. Jia Yinci, alias Zhang Qian, was born in Longhushan, Xinzhou. When he arrived in Song Huizong, although he cherished Taoist Lin Lingsu, he only gave the Shi Tian family a general gift.

The emergence of Quanzhen religion in Yuan and Ming Dynasties

At the end of Song Dynasty and the beginning of Yuan Dynasty, Quanzhen Taoism advocated by Wang Zhongyang appeared in the north. Later, Wang Zhongyang's disciple Qiu Chuji preached for Genghis Khan in Mongolia, hoping that he would not kill innocent people. He was trusted by Genghis Khan and was granted the power to take charge of Taoism in the world by the rulers of the Yuan Dynasty. 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 respected as the founder, thus formally forming the pattern of two major Taoist schools, namely Quanzhen School in the North and Zhengyi School 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.

Post-Qing fading

After the Qing Dynasty, Taoism basically stopped developing. Since the Qing Dynasty, Manchu rulers believed in Tibetan Buddhism and suppressed Taoism, which was dominated by Han people. Taoism has since declined. 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, the Chinese Taoist Association was established in Chinese mainland on 1957 to manage the internal affairs of Taoism in China. After the Cultural Revolution, Taoism began to resume normal religious activities, but not many Taoist monks became monks.

At present, there are more than 50,000 Quanzhen and Orthodox believers in Chinese mainland, and there are more than 5,000 officially opened Taoist temples. Taoist organizations include Chinese Taoist Association, provincial local Taoist Association and regional (city) local Taoist Association.

Taoism in Taiwan Province Province

Taoism in Taiwan Province Province basically came to Taiwan Province Province with early Han immigrants. At the end of the Japanese occupation, many people believed in Taoism to show their national position. Therefore, Taoism has been suppressed and Taoist temples have been repeatedly destroyed, which needs to be preserved as Buddha statues or folk gods. This mixed phenomenon has continued to this day, which has also led to the separation of Taoism and Buddhism in Taiwan Province.

1949, Zhang Enpu, the 63rd generation Shi Tian of Zhengyi Road, arrived in Taiwan Province Province. After the appearance of 1969, the National Congress of Taijiang West Province promoted Zhang Enpu's nephew Zhang Wei as the agent to preside over the teachings, and now lives in Han Dynasty House in Taiwan Province Province.

In 2008, Zhang was in charge of feathering, and now it is the 64th generation of Daozhen.

According to the statistics of Taiwan Province Provincial Civil Affairs Department, Taoism is the largest religion in Taiwan Province Province.

Taoist deities

Taoism is a polytheism. There are many kinds of gods worshipped by Taoism. Here are only some of them with high status and influence.

Taoist Sanqing

Sanqing

1. Sanqing refers to the Buddha of Yuan Dynasty, the Buddha of Lingbao and the Buddha of morality. They are the highest gods of Taoism, and they are actually the trinity of Tao. The concept of "Sanqing" began in the Six Dynasties, but at this time, "Sanqing" mostly refers to "Sanqing realm", that is, Taiqing realm, Yuqing realm and Shangqing realm, where three great gods, Shenbaojun, Tianbaojun and Lingbaojun, lived respectively. Later, "Sanqing" gradually became the popular name of Buddha, Lingbao Buddha and Moral Buddha in Yuan Dynasty, and "Sanqing Land" also became its residence.

Yus

2. The Four Emperors are the four heavenly emperors after Sanqing. Specifically, they refer to the Jade Emperor Xuan (in charge of everything), the Han Emperor in the Arctic (in charge of the stars), the Emperor Gou Chen (in charge of everything) and the Emperor Shang Gong (in charge of Wan Lei and the military revolution on the ground).

Liu Yu

3. Six imperial powers: Taoism once had the saying of "six imperial powers", namely: Tianjinque, which ruled ten thousand days, Milla, who had the supreme natural wonder, gave it to the Jade Emperor, Gouchen, who ruled the mutiny of Wanlei, the emperor who ruled all kinds, Dong Jiqing, who ruled all kinds, and Taiyi, who saved the suffering. This statement originated from the concept of "Liuhe" in ancient China. The so-called "Liuhe" refers to the huge space of the universe, that is, up, down and four directions (east, west, south and north).

Master Tian Xuan.

Master Tian Xuan refers to Yang Zhida Buddha. Master Heaven and Earth, teach mana to be in charge of mana.

The Jade Emperor

Jade Emperor Jade Emperor seems to be the highest god in the sky in the eyes of ordinary people. Some people think that it was developed from the highest god "Emperor" or "God" in the Yin and Shang Dynasties. In the map of the true spiritual position of early Taoism, there were the names of "Jade Emperor Daojun" and "Gao Jade Emperor", but their ranks were not high, only ranked 1 1 and 19 on the right side of the Jade Qing Sanyuan Palace. Song Zhenzong said that Zhao, his distant ancestor, received an order from the Jade Emperor and gave the gobbledygook to him. Therefore, the Jade Emperor was named as "Emperor Tai's father Tian Kai holds a royal calendar with a real body", and later Huizong added it as "Emperor Tai's father Tian Kai holds a royal calendar with a real body", which greatly improved the prestige of the Jade Emperor among the people and made the belief of the Jade Emperor deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. Taoism mostly regards the Jade Emperor as one of the "Four Emperors" under the "Sanqing", and thinks that he is the "king who will always lead the universe" after the "Sanqing", and his function is to "accept the orders of Sanqing, examine the imperial court in Wei Zi" and "take charge of minor matters and submit major ones". On the ninth day of the first month of each year, on the birthday of the Jade Emperor, Taoist temples and people often hold a "Jade Emperor Meeting".

God of the stars

The god of the stars occupies a high position in Taoism, and there are mainly five obsidians (five stars)-Suixing (Jupiter), Zhenxing (Saturn), Taibai (Venus), Chen Xing (Mercury) and Huo Xing (Mars). In addition, there are five stars in the east, west, north and south, as well as 28 stars, Ziwei Academy Star, Taiwei Academy Star and Tianshi Academy Star. Among them, the most respected is "Doum". "Doum" is a female figure. According to legend, she gave birth to the Big Dipper, which can cure diseases. In addition, Beidou and Nandou Xing Jun are also highly respected by the world. According to Du Renjing, Beidou is the master of death and Nandou is the master of life, so many people hold "Beidou Club" and "Nandou Club". Among the four star gods, there is also the influential Quartet Twenty-eight Star King. Among the 28 lodgings, seven lodgings in the east (horn, horn, fork, room, heart, tail and dustpan) form a dragon, which is called Qinglong; The seven nights in the south (well, ghost, willow, star, Zhang, wing and bird) form a bird shape, which is called Suzaku; Seven huts in the west (Kui, Lou, Stomach, Ang, Bi, Dog and God) make up a tiger, which is called White Tiger. The seven northern lodges (barrels, cows, women, emptiness, danger, houses and walls) form a turtle shape, which is called Xuanwu. Qinglong, Baihu, Suzaku and Xuanwu are collectively called the "Gods of the Four Sides".

Sanguanhuang

The "three officials" of the great emperor are the "three officials" of heaven, earth and water. There are many theories about their origins, either from the natural worship of heaven, earth and water by ancient religions in China, or from the three gases of gold (the main source), earth (the main source) and water (the main source) in the five elements, or that they are Yao, Shun and Yu. "Three Officials" played a very important role in early Taoism. For example, at the end of the Han Dynasty, Taoism in Shi Tian held a ceremony of "three officials' calligraphy" when praying for patients, that is, the patient's name and confession were written on paper and presented to the three officials of heaven, earth and water respectively. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the "three officials" cooperated with the "three yuan" to become the "Emperor of Heaven in the Upper Yuan Dynasty", "Emperor of Land in the Middle Yuan Dynasty" and "Emperor of Water in the Lower Yuan Dynasty". According to legend, Heaven can bless, Earth can condemn and Water can help Eritrea, born on the 15th of the first month, 15th of July and 15th of October respectively. In order to pray for blessings, eliminate sins and eliminate disasters, people all over the country often hold "Shangyuan Fair", "Zhongyuan Fair" and "Xiayuan Fair" in these three days.

God of literature

Wenchang Emperor Wenchang, originally named as a star, is also called Wenquxing or satellites. In ancient times, it was considered to be the star in charge of moire's reputation. In the Han Dynasty, it refers to the fourth star of Wenchang Palace in the sky-four stars. Emperor Wenchang, who became a Taoist and folk belief, was related to Zhang Yazi (also known as Zhang Xiezi or Zhang Zi), a zitong god in Shu. During the Anshi Rebellion, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty avoided the rebellion and entered Shu. He dreamed that Zhang Yazi appeared and made him the left prime minister. At the end of the Tang Dynasty, in order to avoid the chaos in Huang Chao, Tang Xizong personally worshipped Zitong God and made Zhang Yazi King of Jishun. After the worship of Emperor Taizong, Zitong God Zhang Yazi changed from a local god to a god worshipped by the world. In the Song Dynasty, Zitong God was sealed by the emperor many times, and won the trust of scholars for predicting the fame of the imperial examination. In the third year of Yuan Yanyou's reign (13 16), Zhang Yazi was named "Lu Di, who helped Yuan Wenchang" and was appointed as the god of loyalty, filial piety and honesty. At this point, Zitong God and wenchang star God became one, and they were called Wenchang Emperor. After the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, Wenchang Palace and Wenchang Temple were built in many places, and people held a "Wenchang Fair" on the birthday of Emperor Wenchang on the third day of February.

Four heavenly teachers

"Shi Tian" used to be an honorific title for people with moral integrity in ancient times. Later, Taoism called Zhang Daoling Shi Tian. The "Four Celestial Teachers" are four important real people in the history of Taoism, namely Zhang Daoling, Ge Xuan, Xu Xun (decorated by Xu Jingyang) and Handcuffs. They are the four gods in front of the Jade Emperor Tong Ming.

the God of Wealth

Wu Caishen Zhao Gongming of Guan Gong; The God of Wealth is Bigen and Fan Li. In addition, people believe in the God of Wealth, such as the Five Saints, Chai Rong, the mother who loves money, Hehe Erxian, Lishi Xian Guan, Wenchang Emperor and Shen Wansan. As far as the universality of belief and the relationship with Taoism are concerned, they are the God of Wealth, the Five Saints, the Harmony Immortals and the Wenchang Emperor. Zhao Gongming, also known as Marshal Zhao Gong. Today, Taoism mainly worships him as the god of wealth, but he is also one of the four Taoist marshals.

Four bailiffs protect the law

In the Taoist Hui Yuan, the names of the four marshals are Tian Peng Yu Zhenshou Yuan Zhenjun, Tian Yuren Ling Zhifu Zhenjun, Yi Sheng Baode Chu Qing Zhenjun and You Shengzhen Wuling Ying Zhenjun ... Volume 15 says: "Marshal Tian Peng shines on me, Marshal Tian Yu protects me with his sword, sage and true gentleman protects me with his halberd, and mysterious and innocent helps me with fire and water." It shows that the jade seal, jade sword, spurge, fire, water and earth are the artifacts of the four marshals. In addition, the thirty-ninth volume also named four marshals after the Four Saints, calling Tian Peng Yu Zhenshou Yuan Zhenjun Tian Pengyuan Shuai Zhenjun, God bless Ren Zhifuling Zhenjun as Tianyu Marshal Zhenjun, Yi Sheng Baode Chu Qing Zhenjun as Yi Sheng Bao Zhenjun, and Sheng Zhenwuling as Zi Di, and Yu Xu as Tian Xuan God. This is another name for the four grand marshals of Taoist protection.

Four bailiffs

Ma (Emperor), (One), (Marshal Wen) and Guan Yu (Guan Jun). When a Taoist priest prays at the Dojo, he usually invites four marshals to help exorcise evil spirits.

Wang lingguan

Wang Lingguan is a Taoist protector of mountain gods, similar to Wei Tuo of Buddhism. Some books say that he is the commander-in-chief of the Five Hundred Lingguan in Wudang Mountain, and his name is Marshal Huaguang, also known as the Five Lingguan. In the Song Dynasty, there appeared a "train king Lingguan", and the Lingguan guarding the Taoist temple gate generally refers to this Wang Lingguan. Wang Lingguan was upright and upright, hated evil as hatred, picketed the heavens and the earth and spared no effort to eliminate evil, so the people praised him. "Three eyes can see clearly what's going on in the world, and a whip can wake everyone up."

the Eight Immortals

The Eight Immortals refer to the eight Taoist immortals widely circulated among the people: Tie Guai Li (Li Xuan), Han Zhongli (Zhong Liquan), Zhang Lao Guo, Lan Caihe, He Xiangu (He Xiaoyun), Lv Dongbin (Lv Yan), Han Xiangzi and Cao Guojiu (Cao Jingxiu). In the history of Taoism, there are indeed eight kinds of people who were not invented by later generations. These are only a small part of the gods worshipped by Taoism. In fact, there are thousands of gods worshipped by Taoism, and most of them are respectfully invited during fasting ceremonies. For example, in the Tang and Song Dynasties, Taoist classics such as The Complete Collection of Taoist Models and The Customization of Doors included a large number of Taoist immortals' names. In addition, Taoist classics also record the deeds of various immortals, such as The Legend of the Immortal in the Han Dynasty, The Legend of the Immortal in the Jin Dynasty, The Immortal Style and a Mirror of Taoism in the Yuan Dynasty, etc., all of which record the deeds of immortals in past dynasties.