Taoism is indigenous to China. It is also known as Daoism. The word Taoism does not only refer to the native religion of China, but also the philosophy of Lao-Tzu(or Laozi). Lao-Tzu(571B.C.-471B.C.) is regarded as the father of Chinese philosophy. He wrote a book entitled “Tao Te Ching” (or the Analysis of the Tao and Its Power). The concept of Lao-Tzu has become the guiding principle for all Taoists since the religion of Taoism came into being.
Together with Confucianism, it has exerted a great influence on Chinese history, culture and tradition. In many ways, the doctrines of Taoism and Confucianism complement each other. Both are like two streams, flowing side by side though the field of Chinese civilization. Contrary to the rigorous and responsible attitude to the society which Confucians had, Taoists were carefree hermits in flight from the respectability, conventional morality and social responsibility. Whereas the Confucians usually played the role of saviour in the society, the Taoists concentrated all their efforts on achieving their own perfection of morality. While the Confucians advocated taking action proactively to solve social problems and improve political system, the Taoists dedicated themselves to seeking the way to be immortal.
The History and Development of Taoism
As a religion, Taoism was founded by Zhang Daoling(34-156) over 1,800 years ago. Its doctrine was built on the ancient Chinese witchcraft, the recipes for immortality and the concepts of Lao-Tzu and Emperor Huangdi(the Yellow Emperor). Zhang Daoling claimed that he had been given teachings and conferred a title of Heavenly Master by Lao-Tzu. He preached the word of Lao-Tzu in Sichuan Province and established the Five-Bucket Rice Sect of Taoism during the reign of Emperor Shundi(125-144). The sect was a form of Taoism in its early stage. Followers worshiped Lao-Tzu as their Chief God. They believed that humans could obtain immortality through the practice of Taoism. By the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Yellow-Ribbon Rebellion broke out. After it was suppressed by warlords of the Han, many of the rebels became the followers of Taoism. Zhang Lu, the grandson of Zhang Daoling, renamed the religion as Heavenly-Master Sect of Taoism.
In the successive dynasties, the doctrines of Taoism was enriched by some accomplished Taoists, such as Ge Hong(281-341), Kou Qianzhi(365-448), Lu Xiujing(406-477) and Tao Hongjing(456-536). Ge Hong combined the traditions of Taoism and Confucianism together and formed the basic theory for the religion. In the Southern and Northern Dynasties Period(420-589), the religion was developed into two schools, namely the Northern Heavenly-Master Taoism and the Southern Heavenly-Master Taoism. During this period, some sub-sects were also founded, for example, the Shangqing Sect, Lingbao Sect and Louguan Sect. Kou Qianzhi was conferred the title of “the Reverend Holiness of Taoism” by King Taiwu of the Northern Wei State. He added some disciplines to the Taoist scriptures and reformed the Northern Heavenly-Master Taoism. The Southern Heavenly-Master Taoism was innovated by Lu Xiujing with some religious rituals. The directory of Taoist gods was created by Tao Hongjing who was known as the Prime Minister in Seclusion. As a man of many talents, Tao Hongjing was also good at astronomy, literature, art, medicine and pharmacy.
Nowadays, there are two major sects of Taoism, namely the Quanzhen Taoism and the Zhengyi Taoism. In the Southern Song Dynasty(1127-1279), the Quanzhen Taoism was founded by Wang Chongyang(1113-1170) who was a celebrated Taoist . He also established the monastic order of Taoism. According to the Taoist monastic order, the Taoist monks and nuns must live in monasteries. They are required to be vegetarians and are not allowed to marry. The Quanzhen has become the dominant sect of Taoism. The Zhengyi Taoism is followed by the Taoists who live with their family members. The Zhengyi Taoists can marry. They often preside funeral rites and practice witchcraft for people.
The Core Principles of Taoism
The basic doctrines of Taoism are based on the ancient Chinese witchcraft, the recipes of immortality and the concepts of Lao-Tzu and the Yellow Emperor.
The ancient Chinese witchcraft started a long time ago between the 21st and 11th century B.C.. The ancient people worshiped gods and ghosts. They believed that everything in the universe had its soul or spirit, and all the things could become immortals possessing supernatural powers. The gods were classified into three categories, namely the heavenly gods, the earthly gods and the human-gods. The heavenly gods included the Yellow Emperor, the Red Emperor, the Blue Emperor, the White Emperor, the Black Emperor, the God of Sun, the Goddess of Moon, the Gods of Stars, the God of Thunder, the Goddess of Lightning, the God of Rain, the Goddess of Wind and so on. The earthly gods were the God of Town, the God of Land, the God of Grain, the God of Sea, the Gods of Rivers, the Gods of Mountains. The human-gods refer to ancestors, sages and personages who were virtuous and scrupulous, loyal to his king, dutiful to his parents, faithful to his/her marriage partner, honest with his friends and kind to any other.
The recipes for immortality began in the Spring and Autumn Period((770B.C.-475B.C.). It is described in some ancient books how all the sentient beings could become immortals. On the one hand, they made a great effort to cultivate and nurture the “Qi” inside their body. “Qi” means vitality in English. The exercise of Qi suggests a proper way of breathing and meditating. On the other hand, the Taoists believed that they could achieve immortality after ingesting the elixir of life. Therefore, the alchemy was highly developed. Alchemists attempted to produce “Dan”, a pill made of refined cinnabar and herbs.
Chinese people often refer to themselves as the descendants of Huangdi(the Yellow Emperor) and Yandi(the Red Emperor). Historians believed that the Yellow Emperor was a part-real and part-legendary figure. In the early stage of the Western Han Dynasty(202B.C.-8A.D.), the rulers accepted the concepts of both Lao-Tzu and the Yellow Emperor. They advocated ruling their country with the theory of Taoism, the way of seeking tranquility. At the beginning, both Lao-Tzu and the Yellow Emperor were equally worshiped by Taoists. Later, the Taoists focused the greatest respect on Lao-Tzu who had been immortalized as the Chief God in Taoism.
The book Tao Te Ching written by Lao-Tzu has rich contents, yet it may be summed up in three points, namely the Tao, the Te and the Wu-Wei. The word Tao means a way or a road in English. But it should be translated into English as the law of nature which would decide the outcomes of certain phenomena. All the phenomena in the universe have their opposites, for instance, hot and cold, bright and dark are opposites. They each are in the process of changes. When a phenomenon develops to its extremity, it will turn itself into its opposite. The so-called Yin-Yang theory or Tai Chi is an important part of Taoism philosophy which focuses on the balance between the Yin(or the negative) and the Yang(or the positive). Tao is like water. The water is soft, but it can move earth and cut stones. The word Te means “virtue” and “to obtain” in English. If someone follows the Tao or the law of nature, he will get the power of Tao, achieve success and become a virtuous man. The term “Wu-Wei” means to do nothing in English. It does not signify the absence of action, but spending normal effort on doing something in a natural way. In other words, it means quietude. If everyone does not meddle with others, the world will become simple and harmonious.
The Directory of Taoist Gods
The Taoists worship many gods. The gods have been given different titles and ranks. Among them, Lao-Tzu is the one with the highest rank. Following are some common figures worshiped by the Taoists.
The Three Chief Masters
The Three Chief Masters are called the Three Pure Ones by Chinese, namely Yuanshi Tianzun, Lingbao Tianzun and Tao-Te Tianzun. Tianzun means the Lord in English. The Taoists believed that the Three Chief Masters were different incarnations of the Tao. According to the Taoist doctrines, the Tao had existed before the universe was created. Yuanshi means the origin or the primitive in English. The image of Yuanshi Tianzun suggests that the Tao is the origin of the universe. The image of Lingbao Tianzun represents the process how the universe came into being. It is described in the Tao Te Ching. “The Tao begat One, the One begat Two, the Two begat Three, the Three begat all things.” It does not indicates that the Tao produced the universe in the same way that a father gave birth to his son. The One refers to the start of the universe which is known as the “Wu-Ji” or the “Primal Chaos”. The Two refers to the “Yin-Yang” or the “Opposites” . The Three refers to the “Tai Chi” or the “Balance between the Opposites”. Tao-Te Tianzun is the title of Lao-Tzu. He descended to the world to preach the teachings of Tao.
The Four Emperors
The four emperors are the Jade Emperor, the North-Pole Emperor, the South-Pole Emperor and the Empress Houtu. The Jade Emperor serves as the President in the Kingdom of Heaven. The North-Pole Emperor is the god of the Pole Star. He takes charge of changing seasons. The South-Pole Emperor is known as the god of war, working as the Minister of Defence in the Kingdom. The Empress Houtu is also called the Mother of the Earth. She is in charge of reproduction.
The Three Supervisors
The Three Supervisors include the Supervisor in Heaven, the Supervisor on Earth and the Supervisor in Water. The Supervisor in Heaven brings good fortune. The Supervisor on Earth gives absolution to people. The Supervisor in Water helps the sufferers.
The Gods of Wealth
The Gods of Wealth are Marshal Zhao, Fan Li and Guan Yu. Marshal Zhao met Master Zhang Daoling in Qingcheng Mountain and became a guardian of the master. Fan Li(536B.C.-448B.C.) was a businessman who helped King Goujian to restore the Yue Kingdom. Guan Yu(162-220) was a famous general of the Shu-Han State. He swore his loyalty to his king and was killed by enemies. After he passed away, his name was added to the list of Taoist gods.
The God of Kitchen
According to the Chinese folk customs, every year, on the 23rd day of the 12th month of the lunar calendar, the God of Kitchen ascends to heaven to report to the Jade Emperor what all the households behave, good or evil, and comes back on the Spring Festival Eve. That’s the reason why people burn incense when the Kitchen God leaves for heaven and let off fireworks when he comes back.
The Gods of Door
Every year, on the Spring Festival Eve, Chinese people stick a couple of portraits on the doors. The images on the portraits are the Gods of Doors. They serve as guardians of houses.
The above are the most popular and worshiped Taoist gods. However, there are many gods in Taoism, such as the God of Town, the God of Fertility, the Eight Immortals, etc.
Author: Tina Luo
Update:
