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Encounter with Chinese Hermits in Zhongnan Mountain (South of Chang’an)
From Daoism to Buddhism
• Much of Daoist worldview and some of its religious and social values are similar to that of Buddhism, at least in general terms• Nature/universe is so vast/infinite that
human knowledge cannot fathom• Life and death is within the larger process
of natural and cosmic transformation; there are ceaseless cycles
• Humans can live better lives if they cut their desires to the minimum
• Plants and herbs are good regimens for longer, healthier life
• Concentration, meditation, breathing exercise are used to conserve, nurture, and increase vital force, qi
• Abstention from using weapons/violence• Follow the right path (way) and become
a better being• Moral actions/behaviors determine one’s
life and death
Buddhism: General RemarksBuddhism: General Remarks
A more structured/systematic religious A more structured/systematic religious system than Daoismsystem than Daoism
Doctrines run counter with traditional Doctrines run counter with traditional Chinese thought and values, particularly Chinese thought and values, particularly with Confucian valueswith Confucian values
Underwent change, adaptation, Underwent change, adaptation, adjustment, and transformation after its adjustment, and transformation after its transposition from India to Chinatransposition from India to China
Became a predominant religious form that Became a predominant religious form that assimilated Daoism and Confucianismassimilated Daoism and Confucianism Sinification/sinicization of BuddhismSinification/sinicization of Buddhism
Growth of it in China made China the Growth of it in China made China the center of Buddhism in historical times center of Buddhism in historical times
• The Hinayana School is considered a closer representation of the original Buddha’s teachings, whereas the Mahayana School represents a more ideal, altruistic, egalitarian, and practicable form of the religion.
•The Mahayana School divided into sub-schools in China, with Tiantai, Huayan, Chan, Pure Land being most well-known
Is Buddhism a Religion?Is Buddhism a Religion?
A question often asked A question often asked when an Asian when an Asian ““religionreligion”” is is mentioned mentioned Is Daoism a religion?Is Daoism a religion?Is Confucianism a religion?Is Confucianism a religion?
What does the word What does the word ““religionreligion”” mean? mean? Definition of religion?Definition of religion?
Seven Dimensions of ReligionSeven Dimensions of Religion
Practical and RitualPractical and Ritual Experiential and Experiential and
EmotionalEmotional Narrative and MythicNarrative and Mythic Doctrinal and Doctrinal and
PhilosophicalPhilosophical Ethical and LegalEthical and Legal Social and Social and
InstitutionalInstitutional MaterialMaterial
Practical and RitualPractical and Ritual
Rites and ceremoniesRites and ceremonies Ritual of initiation Ritual of initiation
(head is shaved)(head is shaved) Annual summer retreatAnnual summer retreat FestivalsFestivals
Experiential and EmotionalExperiential and Emotional
Personal experience Personal experience highly valuedhighly valued– MeditationMeditation
Accelerate spiritual Accelerate spiritual developmentdevelopment
– CompassionCompassionFor the suffering of For the suffering of mankindmankind
Narrative and Narrative and MythicMythic
• Creation myth• Jātaka stories
• 547 in a Pali collection
Doctrinal and Doctrinal and PhilosophicalPhilosophical
DharmaDharma
Scriptures and Scriptures and canonscanons
Entire Philosophical Entire Philosophical systemsystem
Ethical and Legal
• Principle of non-harming– Rejection of
violence– pacifism– Respect for life
• Vegetarianism• Precepts• Monastic rules
Social and InstitutionalSocial and Institutional
Sangha: Buddhist Sangha: Buddhist orderorder
The Four OrdersThe Four Orders MonksMonks NunsNuns Male lay disciplesMale lay disciples Female disciplesFemale disciples
AssembliesAssemblies
MaterialMaterial
Sacred spacesSacred spaces– Buddhist sitesBuddhist sites
Sacred objectsSacred objects– ImagesImages
– RelicsRelics
– ScripturesScriptures
The Buddhas of Bamiyan and destruction of them
Assess Han and Post-Han Daoism Assess Han and Post-Han Daoism according to this definition by according to this definition by focusing on the following:focusing on the following:– OrganizationOrganization– Ritual/liturgyRitual/liturgy– Moral/Ethical viewsMoral/Ethical views– doctrines:doctrines:
•Hierarchical Organization:•The celestial master was the ruler• direct followers were “libationers” (jijiu 祭酒 ), who administered 24 districts• demon soldiers (guizu 鬼卒 )•Common followers
•Each member was equipped with a list of spirit generals for protection, together with talismans in a piece of silk
The Celestial Masters School: “the Way of Five Pecks of Rice”
• TheThe listlist ofof spiritspirit generalsgenerals waswas calledcalled “register”“register” ((lulu 籙籙 ))
• ProtectiveProtective talismanstalismans werewere calledcalled fufu (( 符符 ))• TheyThey werewere usedused toto wardward off/combatoff/combat demonsdemons thatthat
couldcould appearappear everywhereeverywhere• OneOne neededneeded toto bebe familiarfamiliar withwith demons,demons, recognizerecognize
them,them, callcall themthem byby theirtheir properproper namename• OneOne neededneeded toto fortifyfortify one’sone’s househouse andand bodybody withwith
talismans,talismans, ifif oneone feltfelt beingbeing hauntedhaunted byby demons.demons.• RecitedRecited thethe ritualritual formulaformula “[demon,“[demon,
demon,demon, II knowknow youryour name,name, vanishvanish rightright away],away], swiftly,swiftly, swiftly,swiftly, inin accordanceaccordance withwith thethe statutesstatutes andand ordinances”ordinances” ((jijijiji ruru llűűlingling 急急如律令急急如律令 ))
DoctrinesDoctrines– LordLord DaoDao createdcreated andand ruledruled thethe
universeuniverse– CelestialCelestial administrationadministration consistedconsisted ofof
thethe ThreeThree BureausBureaus ofof Heaven,Heaven, Earth,Earth, andand WaterWater TheyThey assistedassisted LordLord DaoDao KeptKept recordsrecords ofof lifelife andand deathdeath
– illness is due to the patient’s sins and illness is due to the patient’s sins and immoral deeds.immoral deeds.
A patient is required to write down his sins and cast his written confession into a stream of water, vowing to the gods that he would sin no more, on penalty of death
Followers should practice recitation of Laozi’s Daode jing and follow a set of precepts (basic nine, middle nine, and highest nine)
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
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.
• 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)
AllAll healinghealing waswas undertakenundertaken throughthrough ritualritual andand magicmagic– AA sicksick personperson waswas isolatedisolated inin aa quietquiet chamberchamber oror
“jingshi”“jingshi”– He/sheHe/she confessed his/her sins asconfessed his/her sins as aa sinner sinner – AA seniorsenior mastermaster wrotewrote themthem downdown andand sentsent andand
petitionpetition toto threethree bureaus,bureaus, oftenoften byby burningburning – SinnerSinner beat his/her breast,beat his/her breast, threw himself/herself threw himself/herself
to the ground and knocked his/her headto the ground and knocked his/her head– ConductedConducted self-blameself-blame byby repenting his/her sins repenting his/her sins
and accusing himself/herself of various misdeedsand accusing himself/herself of various misdeeds– Showed his inner shame to the entire community Showed his inner shame to the entire community
and thus be exoneratedand thus be exonerated
Sometimes, aSometimes, a sinnersinner also also underwent self-punishmentunderwent self-punishment
OrOr underwentunderwent purificationpurification thatthat involvedinvolved thethe ingestioningestion ofof “talisman“talisman water”water” ((fushuifushui 符水符水 )---the)---the ashesashes ofof aa talismantalisman dissolveddissolved inin waterwater
OrOr underwentunderwent gymnasticgymnastic exercise,exercise, oror meditationmeditation
OrOr performedperformed communitycommunity serviceservice onon aa regularregular basisbasis
Self-Cultivation PracticesSelf-Cultivation Practices
Three groups:Three groups:– Literati Daoists:The Seven Sages of the Literati Daoists:The Seven Sages of the
Bamboo Grove/ Bamboo Grove/ Representatives: Xi Kang, Ruan JiRepresentatives: Xi Kang, Ruan Ji
– AlchemistsAlchemists Representative: Ge HongRepresentative: Ge Hong
– Two organized schools of Daoism Two organized schools of Daoism Maoshan/Shangqing (Highest Purity) SchoolMaoshan/Shangqing (Highest Purity) School
– Representatives: Xu family, Tao familyRepresentatives: Xu family, Tao family Lingbao (Numinous Treasure) SchoolLingbao (Numinous Treasure) School
– Representative: Ge ChaofuRepresentative: Ge Chaofu
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
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 in administration of death in Fengdu to that of life in the southern Palacethe 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; Spiritual ears; Flowery Canopy—eyebrows and lungs; Spiritual Furnace—nose; Flowery Pond---mouth; Jade Fluid or Furnace—nose; Flowery Pond---mouth; Jade Fluid or Sweet Spring---saliva,…Sweet Spring---saliva,…
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 familiarity Gods and immortals residing there to acquire familiarity
with the divine beingswith 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 Big Ascend to the higher heavens and walk on the Big
Dipper, known as “Pacing the net” (Dipper, known as “Pacing the net” (bugangbugang))
Ge Hong (287-347? or 284-364?)
Master who Embraces Simplicity
MostMost famousfamous forfor hishis alchemicalalchemical theoriestheories– OneOne couldcould achieveachieve immortalityimmortality byby undergoingundergoing– RitualRitual purificationpurification– MagicalMagical protectionprotection– AA prolongedprolonged periodperiod ofof longevitylongevity practicepractice– TheThe concoctionconcoction ofof anan elixirelixir oror cinnabarcinnabar ((liandan)liandan)
HisHis book,book, thethe BaopuziBaopuzi (Book(Book ofof thethe MasterMaster WhoWho EmbracesEmbraces Simplicity)Simplicity) describes:describes:– ProtectiveProtective measuresmeasures againstagainst demonsdemons andand evilevil
spirits,spirits,– ApplicationApplication ofof herbsherbs andand mineralsminerals
– TheThe attainmentattainment ofof magicalmagical powerspowers suchsuch asas multilocation,multilocation, invulnerability,invulnerability, invisibility,invisibility, flying,flying, andand soso onon
– TheThe proceduresprocedures forfor preparingpreparing thethe elixir…elixir…