Chapter 15 Section 3 Taoism of Fulu School in Tang Dynasty

Taoism serves the feudal rulers. In addition to catering to their political needs, fabricating various god stories, and creating public opinion, there are two other important points: one is to hold fasting activities, that is, doing rituals to pray for the health and longevity of the emperor and his family. , the fortune of the country lasts forever, the world is peaceful and so on.The second is to provide the emperor with various methods of maintaining longevity.Some emperors wanted to become immortal without dying, so the Taoist priests had to teach him various immortal arts including taking golden elixir.In the Tang Dynasty, the relationship between the royal family and Taoism was very close. Therefore, Taoist priests had to participate in all national celebrations, the anniversary of the death of the emperor’s ancestors, the birthday celebrations of the emperor and empress, and asking the gods for rain when there was a drought, and asking the gods for sunshine when the sky was flooding, etc. play.The emperor protected and worshiped Taoism, built Taoist temples, and supported Taoist priests; Taoism also contributed to the emperor and became an imperial religion.

Asking gods to expel ghosts, cure diseases and eliminate disasters has been an important part of Taoism since its founding.Later, this set is more perfect.From the Tao of Five Dou of Rice to the Tao of Heavenly Masters, until the Sui and Tang Dynasties, Taoist priests of the Talisman School who specialize in this set have always been very popular.In addition to serving the royal family, Taoist temples also hold activities on the first and fifteenth days of each month according to the regulations of the Taoist temple. All belong to the content of the etiquette of fasting and offering sacrifices.

In the Tang Dynasty, Taoist priests of the Fulu Sect held various sacrificial offerings for the royal family, with grand scenes and grand ceremonies.Due to the wide range of uses and the frequent holding of these sacrificial rituals, there were many names of Taoist sacrificial rituals in the Tang Dynasty, and the relevant ceremonial regulations were also very detailed.The names of the gods and gods prayed for in different types of fasting rituals, as well as the content of prayers are all particular.Grand religious ceremonies, with grand mass scenes, strict organization, music and dance, coupled with cigarette smoke and brilliant candles, increase people's sense of mystery and have the effect of religious propaganda.There are strict requirements for the various ceremonies, procedures and scales of holding rituals.Some ceremonies are only done for one day or one night, and some last for a month or even several months.Among the various kinds of sacrificial rituals popular in the Tang Dynasty, there is a kind of "Jinlu Dazhai", which is specially used to pray for the emperor's blessing.

In addition to ritual rituals of fasting and offering sacrifices, teaching scriptures and precepts is also an important part of Taoist etiquette.Ordinary people who want to become Taoist priests must pass certain procedures to obtain qualifications.In the future, you will have to study the courses of Taoist scriptures at all levels. Taoism is called Jingfa. You must pass the corresponding examinations. Those who pass the test will be issued a certificate and awarded the title of Taoist priest of the corresponding level.When learning a certain level of Taoist scriptures, there are corresponding regulations that must be followed.Legal records are roughly equivalent to the above-mentioned procedures and certifications, and scriptures and precepts are equivalent to relevant regulations.

According to the records of Zhang Wanfu, a Taoist priest of the Tang Dynasty, "A Brief Talk on the Teaching of the Three Caves and Precepts" and "Choosing the Calendar for the Taoist of Dongxuan Lingbao to Receive the Three Caves and Precepts", people who enter the Tao first learn the method of Zhengyi, and then learn Dongyuan or Tai. Xuanjing method, Dongshen method, Shengxuanjing method, Dongxuanjing method, and the last and highest level is Dongzhen Shangqingjing method.Those who study Zhengyi Sutra are called Zhengyi Disciples and Master Zhengyi; those who study Taixuan Sutra are called Gaoxuan Disciples and Master Gaoxuan; those who study Lingbao Sutra are called Lingbao Disciples and Master Lingbao, etc.Probably those who are learning are called disciples, and those who pass the exam are called masters.

Sutras of a certain level are often mainly from a certain branch of Taoism in history.For example, the Zhengyi scriptures are mainly the system of the early Tianshi Dao, and the scriptures of the Lingbao School and the Shangqing School are placed in a high-level position.This division was probably originally created by Lu Xiujing, but it also reflects the history of the fusion and confluence of various schools of Taoism. The teaching of scriptures and scriptures is usually very serious, and certain rituals of fasting and offering sacrifices are required. Generally speaking, people who want to enter the Tao, as long as a mage with a certain authority and status in Taoism grants the Dharma, they are considered qualified.For example, Li Bai, a great poet in the Tang Dynasty, once asked Master Gao Rugui from Beihai to give him a scripture, and Emperor Xuanzong asked Sima Chengzhen to give him a script, both of which belong to this situation.In the Tang Dynasty, professional Taoist priests could enjoy the treatment of tax exemption. Therefore, Taoist priests must pass the following methods: (1) pass the relevant state examination, which was called the test scripture at that time; (2) get the emperor’s personal approval, called Endu; The money is given to the country to buy a certificate of renunciation, which is called a renunciation.As a result of implementing this system, the relationship between Taoism and the state power has become closer, but it has also brought many problems.For example, in Jinna, as long as you have money, you can buy a Taoist identity card, which will inevitably bring in many unqualified people, and even turn some temples into hiding places for various personnel.When the government's finances are tight, a large number of certificates are sold, and the consequences are even more serious.The emperor's endu is not often available.At that time, it was a special honor for the emperor Endu minister, concubine or princess to be a Taoist priest.Some concubines and princesses became Taoist priests, and the emperor often built new Taoist temples specially for them and let them be the "heads".

Among the various schools of Taoist talismans, the Zheng school became the most powerful later.Zhengyi faction is Zhengyi, also called Tianshidao.After the Yuan Dynasty, the Shangqing, Lingbao and Zhengyi Taoist schools gradually merged, and Zhang Tianshi of Zhengyi became the leader of each school, so the Taoist talisman schools were collectively called Zhengyi.Zhang Tianshi's faction was bestowed by Xuanzong during the Tianbao period.Xuanzong praised the "Later Han Tianshi" for carrying forward the "teaching" of the ancestor of the Li family, the Taishang Laojun, and Zhengyi is a good Taoist school.And ordered the relevant departments to pay attention to the selection of suitable heirs among the descendants of the Heavenly Master and report them in time so that they can be rewarded.

The Lingbao sect, which was once very prosperous during the Southern and Northern Dynasties, did not leave a clear inheritance record in the Tang Dynasty. The Shangqing sect, represented by the Maoshan sect, was the most powerful in the Tang Dynasty, and its inheritance system was also the clearest.Since entering the Tang Dynasty, the masters of the Maoshan sect were: the 10th generation Wang Yuanzhi, the 11th generation Pan Shizheng, the 12th generation Sima Chengzhen, the 13th generation Li Hanguang, the 14th generation Wei Jingzhao, the 15th generation Huang Dongyuan, and the 16th generation Sun Zhiqing, Wu Fatong of the 17th generation, Liu Dechang of the 18th generation, and Wang Qixia of the 19th generation.

The above schools all showed a tendency to integrate and absorb each other in terms of doctrines and religious ceremonies.Especially in the Rituals of Zhaijiao, all sects follow the same set.