Evolution of Taoism/DaoismDaoism in the Han (206 BCE-220CE)Daoism now adopted a new system of thought that integrated Yin-Yang cosmology and the so-called Five Phases (wxng) theory.

It also adopted the Huang-Lao Daoism, which figured prominently in political arenaIt blended Yellow Emperors and Laozis political philosophies It adopted the Yin-Yang cosmology and the theory of Five PhasesIt absorbed new medical and health methods, integrating them into self-cultivation practicesIt linked the ideal of untrammeled freedom inspired by Zhuangzis reference to immortals and immortality (or transcendence)

It adopted popular shamanism (techniques of ecstasy) and promoted the notion of ones ability to interact with the spirits. It expanded Zhuangzis metaphoric immortals into ethereal and substantially concrete living beingsIt gradually turned itself into an organized religion by absorbing elements of new millenarian cults

Yin-Yang CosmologyBasic premise: everything consists of one underlying cosmic energy, known as qiQi manifests itself in the interplay of Yin-Yang which results in five phases:Lesser yang, greater yang, yin-yang, lesser yin, greater yinThese five phases correlate with a wide array of social and natural objects and phenomena

Yin/yangphasedirect.colorseasonLesser yangwoodeastgreenspringGreater yangfiresouthredHot summerYin-yangearthcenteryellowsummerLesser yinmetalwestwhitefallGreater yinwaternorthblackwinter

Yin/yangorgan1organ2emotionsenseLesser yanglivergallangereyesGreater yangheartSmallIntestine Excitement/joytongueYin-yangspleenstomachworrylipsLesser yinlungsLarge intestinesadnessnoseGreater yinkidneysbladderfearears

The interaction of five phases can yield productive or destructive outcome/cycleWoodfireearthmetalwaterwoodMetalwoodearthwaterfiremental

woodfireearthMetalWater

Characteristics of changing DaoismAbsorbed the doctrine of ganying (stimulus and response)Something, usually an anomaly, happens on one plane of existence, will trigger an immediate echo/reaction on all the othersE.g., earthquakes find their parallels in human society and peoples bodiesHumans inner cultivation can impact the development and wellbeing of the world

Reread the DDJ, interpreting it in terms of longevity techniques, breathing exercise, and the parallel cultivation of body and state Texts supporting new interpretation: He Shang gongs commentary on the DDJ The Huainanzi The Huangdi neijing (Yellow Emperors Inner Classic)

Impacts: new Chinese calendar: based on ten celestial stems and twelve branches to form a sixty-year cycle Solstices and equinoxes are the high points of the seasonsA year is divided into 24 solar periods of about two weeks each which are named after weather patterns such as great heat, slight cold, great rain, slight snow etc. new understanding of human body

Human body was divided into five key storage centers of qiFive yin organs associated with the five phases : liver, heart, spleen, lungs, and kidneys.Six process centers of qiSix yang organs: gall bladder, small intestine, stomach, large intestine, bladder, and triple heater (sanjiao)Energy channel or meridian (mai)Basic 12 meridiansGoverning vessel (dumai) runs along the spineConception vessel (renmai) along the front torso

Meridian (energy channel) and Meridian points

Dumai: governing vesselRenmai: Conception VesselRuns along the spineLocated along the front of the torso

Reinterpreted the Chuci and the Zhuangzi to expanded the concept of immortality and post-mortem mortality. regarded xian (immortal), which was vaguely and metaphorically mentioned in the Zhuangzi, as really existent and palpable entity.

believed in the existence of immortal lands where immortals lived: Penglai Islands in the Eastern Sea Kunlun Mountains in the Eastern Central Asia ruled by Queen Mother of the West (Xiwangmu )

Queen Mother of the West, Han Stone Painting Books produced in Han times provided biographies of immortals of old and hagiographies of Laozi, the Yellow emperors and other mythical figures Liu Xiangs Liexian zhuan was the most famous

Xiwang Mu: Queen Mother of the West, Han stone sculpture Dongwang Gong: Lord King of the East

Searched for and studied further longevity techniques leading to immortality Transformed all qi into primordial qi Turned this refined qi into pure spirit Body and Mind Exercises Intensive meditation Trance training special diet: e.g., abstention from meat, alcohol, garlic, grains and ate only limited fruits Gymnastics, messages, and breathing exercisesThe Gymnastics Chart (Daoyin tu) from the tomb at Mawangdui, Hunan

Organized popular religious groups: Great PeaceThe Celestial Masters (the Way of Orthodox Unity) Integrated indigenous beliefs:Nature godsApotheosis of the Five EmperorsEstablished the Great One (Taiyi) as the central deity

Han Conceptions of ImmortalityExcavations of MWDs Han Tombs a testimony to the Han conceptions of immortalitySearch for immortality was probably one the utmost concerns during the HanHan ruling house was most interested in the idea of immortalityevidence is abundant in the unearthed Han tombs

T-shape Banner in the tomb of Marquis of Dai at MWD #1 was unearthed. Described as flying Garment (feiyi), the funerary banner, which shows Han conceptions of heaven, earth, and man. It was used to transpose the souls of the dead to the realm of the immortals and is the first extant example which illustrated visually, and quite literally, the route of the soul (or souls).

The corpse of Licans wife, Lady Xin Zhui, was unearthed in 1972 at MWD 1. When unearthed, the body remained soft, skin tissue tender and elastic, and retained certain degree of moisture. Visceral organs were all intact. 138 sweet melon seeds remained in her esophagus, stomach, and intestines.Feathered men depicted in Han murals

Organized DaoismThe Great Peace School: based on a series of texts called Scripture of Great PeaceReligious practices included Observed dietary abstentions from alcohol and meatUndertook meditation exercise known as guarding the one (shouyi)Worshiped ancestral, natural, and heavenly spirits

Religious practices included: Believed that the Lord Dao was the creator god and represented the center of creation

Concocted a celestial administration featured the Three Bureaus (sanguan) celebrated at major festivals called the Three Primes (sanyuan) Recited DDJ and followed precepts: basic nine precepts, middle nine precepts, highest nine precepts (pp.72-73)The Celestial Masters School: the Way of Five Pecks of Rice

The basic nine precepts: Do not strongly pursue riches and honor Do not do evil Do not set yourself many taboos and avoidances Do not pray or sacrifice to demons or the spirits of the dead Do not strongly oppose anyone Do not consider yourself always right

Do not quarrel with others over what is right and wrong; if you get into a debate, be the first to concede Do not praise yourself as a sage of great fame Do not take delight in soldiering

Celebrated the Three Primes and major community events with banquets known as kitchen-feast (chu)Wine flowed, animals were slaughtered Harmonization of Qi (heqi)Talismans (fu)

Use of talismans to ward off demonsRitual incantation involved the use the mantra: jiji ru lling (swiftly, swiftly, in accordance with statutes and ordinances)Healing undertaken through ritual and magic; other measures, such as acupuncture, herbs, and other medical treatment were not allowed

Celestial Master Zhang and His Temple

Celestial Master Zhang, Woodblock, Ming Dynasty.First Celestial Masters Temple at Heming Mountain (Crane-Cry)

Daoist Temple Long Hu shan (Dragon and Tiger Mountain

*********************The first tomb opened, now known as Han Tomb No. 1 at Mawangdui, contained the well preserved remains of a noble woman who died sometime after the mid-second century B.C. during the Western Han Dynasty (221-9 B.C.) In addition to the corpse, the tom b chamber contained a thousand objects including a large funerary banner of silk with polychromed paintings on its surface, clothing, food, a large amount of lacquerware retaining its original brilliant coloring, three unusually decorated inner coffins an d more than one hundred wooden tomb figures. The identity of the woman is still somewhat uncertain, but she is probably the wife of Li Cang known as Xin or Xinzhui, the first Marquis of Dai. Sima Qian, the great historian of the Han Dynasty, placed the death of Li Cang at 186 B.C. Lady Dai's tomb is later than his, placing her death at about 150 B.C. Two other tombs have been excavated at the same mound, those of her husband (Tomb No. 2) and son (Tomb No. 3). All were richly furnished with goods appropriate to a family of noble rank. ***********Daoist adepts gathered in Long-hu shan to receive registers in 2000 and ordination