First, doctrine and doctrine

From the very beginning, Taoism regarded Laozi's Classic of Tao Te Ching as the basic classic, and regarded "Tao" and "virtue" as the basic beliefs. Taoism believes that "Tao" is the source and master of all things in the universe, omnipresent and all-encompassing, and everything evolved from "Tao". And "virtue" is the embodiment of "Tao". Respecting God in Sanqing is the initial personification of Tao, and it also represents three important processes of the creation of the universe (Tao gives birth to the first, the second, the third and all things-Tao Te Ching). Sanqing gave birth to the gods of heaven, earth, universe and nature, known as the first deity. All these are the evolution of Tao, Tao and Tao body are internally integrated, and Tao is infinitely full of the universe. Therefore,

Taoism takes the Taishang Laojun (that is, the moral Buddha) as its leader, that is, Laozi. In addition, there are other sayings about the highest god of Taoism in the Taoist scriptures of different sects in history. First, Jade Qing's deity is the highest god; Second, the deity of Shangqing Lingbao is the highest god; Thirdly, ethical purity is the highest god; Finally, it evolved into a trinity theology theory.

Taoism is born again, hates death and pursues immortality. It believes that people can make their own decisions in their lives and don't have to obey the heavens. People think that as long as people are good at cultivating health, they can live forever. Therefore, there are many ways to practice: alchemy, eating, breathing, fetal interest, massage, guidance, room, avoiding valley, thinking, offering symbols and chanting.

Taoist theology can be said to be a religious doctrine after the mystification of Taoist thought, which may not be completely consistent, but the similarities and differences between them are worth pondering. However, ancestors were called Taoists of Laozi and Zhuangzi, and praised many Taoist classics such as Tao Te Ching (Laozi) and Nanhuajing (Zhuangzi). After all, they absorbed and inherited many Taoist thoughts. In addition, it is also influenced by the Book of Changes, Yin and Yang, Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, and ancient myths and stories.

Second, history.

1. Yuan Yuan

Although Taoism takes Laozi as its ancestor, its thought is not completely consistent with Laozi's thought, and it is more due to the fact that Huang used Laozi's famous words to cultivate health in the early Han Dynasty. Another source of Taoism is Fang Xiandao, which began in the Warring States and flourished in Qin and Han Dynasties. In addition, we can also pursue the worship of ghosts and gods in Shang Dynasty.

In the process of its gradual formation, the interaction between Taoism and Buddhism (the influence of Buddhism on Taoism and the influence of Taoism on Buddhist China) was also worthy of attention.

2. Color development method

The development 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 emergence of Quanzhen religion in Yuan and Ming Dynasties and the decline after Qing Dynasty.

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 Roads. During the Shundi period of the Eastern Han Dynasty (126- 144), Taiping Qing Lu (so-called Taiping Jing, believed to be from Baoyuan Taiping Jing compiled by Gan Zhongke at the end of the Western Han Dynasty) was widely circulated. When he arrived at the Lingdi of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Zhang Jiao preached in Taiping Qingling, nicknamed Taipingdao, calling himself the teacher of 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 Ling studied Taoism in Shu County, and recruited disciples to preach. Those who believed in it sent rice and five buckets, so it was called the five-door rice road (some studies also called it the five-door rice road, because they believed in five stars such as Beidou Nandou and combined with rice teaching in Shu, so it was called the five-door rice teaching). His grandson, Zhang Lu, stayed in Hanzhong for many years, and later cooperated with the supreme ruling authorities to spread the influence of Wudou Mi Dao from the southwest corner to the sea and become an authentic Taoism.

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.

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. 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 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 addition, for example, the Heaven Road in South Korea or the Shintoism in Japan combines the sun god, worships the emperor and worships the gods. However, apart from Vietnamese Taoism, Korean Tiandao or Japanese Shintoism is quite different from Taoism in its religious content.

During the Jin Dynasty, Quanzhen Taoism advocated by Wang Zhongyang appeared in the north. Later, Qiu Chuji, a disciple of Wang Zhongyang, preached for Genghis Khan in Mongolia, and was trusted by the rulers of the Yuan Dynasty to take charge of Taoism in the world. 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 combined into one, and Zhang Tianshi was regarded as the founder of the orthodox school, thus formally forming a Taoist pattern with Quanzhen in the north and orthodox school or two schools 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.

Since the Qing Dynasty, Manchu rulers believed in Tibetan Buddhism and suppressed Taoism, which was dominated by Han people. Taoism has since declined.

3. Modern Taoism

After the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Taoism has basically stopped developing. 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, some previous Taoist rules and regulations failed because they violated the current laws. 1957, the Chinese Taoist Association was established to manage the internal affairs of Taoism in China. In the Cultural Revolution, Taoism, like other religions in China, suffered a catastrophe. It was not until after the Cultural Revolution that Taoism resumed its normal religious activities, but there were not many orthodox believers.

During the Japanese occupation period in Taiwan Province Province, many people believed in Taoism to show their national position, so Taoism was suppressed and Taoist temples were repeatedly destroyed, and it was necessary to provide both Buddha statues and folk gods for preservation. This mixed phenomenon continues to this day. 1949, the 63rd generation Shi Tian Zhang Enpu arrived in Taiwan Province. After his death in 1969, he passed it on to his cousin Zhang. He is the 64th generation Shi Tian and now lives in Hans' former residence of Shi Tian. According to statistics, Taoism is the largest religion in Taiwan Province Province.

Third, Taoist immortals.

Taoism is a polytheistic religion, and the highest god is the Sanqing God originated from Taoism, that is, Yuanshi Tianzun, Lingbao Tianzun and Moral Tianzun, among which Moral Tianzun is the Taishang Laojun. In addition, Taoism developed Heaven, Jade Emperor and a series of officials according to human order, and absorbed the concepts of Buddhist hell and the world in the sea. As a subsidiary of the Heaven, it also developed the immortal official series of Yamaraja Temple and Crystal Palace, plus the four-value meritorious service, mountain gods, city gods, land gods, kitchen gods and other local immortal series. It also absorbed many ancient myths in China, such as the Queen Mother of the West and Nine Days Xuan Nv. Therefore, there are many immortals in Taoism. All immortals created by local people and celebrities they worship, such as Mazu and Guandi, can be absorbed into the Taoist immortal system at any time. All gods can build their own temples, but large temples must worship the Sanqing statue.

In addition, Taoism believes that the human body is also a small world, so various organs on the human body, such as hair, facial features and so on. They are also stationed by immortals, and they also have corresponding practice methods.

Fourth, discipline

Taoist precepts are some norms that restrict Taoist thought and behavior. Taoist precepts have different contents according to different sects. Generally speaking, the commandments of Quanzhen school are stricter than those of Zuo Fu school. The main contents of the commandments are not to kill, not to drink and eat meat, not to steal, not to commit adultery and so on. Commandments are what believers must abide by, and Taoist priests must have a rite of passage to be counted as believers. According to the strictness of discipline, discipline can be divided into top-grade discipline, middle-grade discipline and inferior discipline. According to the number of precepts, there are "three precepts", "five precepts", "eight precepts", "ten precepts" and "twenty-seven precepts of the old man"

In addition to the precepts, there are Taoist rules, which are a means of punishment for Taoist priests who violate the precepts. Specifically, different factions have different regulations.

On the basis of absorbing some contents of Buddhism and requirements of Confucianism, Taoist precepts have formed a set of their own unique contents. Taoist rules and regulations also change with time, and when they conflict with the laws of the regime, they will be adjusted appropriately.

V. Main Classic Works

Taoism regards Laozi's Tao Te Ching and Zhuangzi's Nanhua Ching as the two most important classics. In addition, Taoism also imitated the Buddhist tripitaka to create a collection of Taoist works, including not only philosophy and Taoist theory, but also works on alchemy, health care, medical care and qigong. There are mainly orthodox Taoist scriptures, Taoist scriptures and the continuation of Wanli Taoist scriptures. At present, only the orthodox Taoist scriptures of the Ming Dynasty have been circulated, and other versions have been lost. Most of the existing Taoist classics are included here. The number of Taoist scriptures is very large, and the main classics of various factions are also different.

Zhouyi Shentongqi is the earliest single crystal and is called the ancestor of single crystal. In addition, Bao Puzi is also a basic classic of Dante School. Taiping Jing and Old Xiangzi Jules are also the main classics of early Taoism. Huang Tingjing and The True Classic of Shangqing Dadong are the main classics of Shangqing Classic left, and Maoshan School also attaches great importance to them. Du Hewen is the main classic of Lingbao School and School. Yin Fu Jing and Chang Jing Qing Jing are also two very important Taoist classics that Taoist priests must recite. In addition, the Jade Emperor Sutra and the Heart Seal Sutra are also one of the daily lessons of Taoists.

Although the Southern Sect of Taoism took Fuyong and Zhai Zhi as the main body, after the Northern Song Dynasty, it also advocated three religions and one principle, and cultivated the inner alchemy, resulting in such classics as Wu Zhen Jing and Four Hundred Words at that time. Taoism, the northern Sect of Quanzhen religion, advocates the unity of the three religions, the gathering of spirits and spirits, the understanding of nature, and the integration of Confucianism and Taoism. Focusing on the three classics of Tao Te Ching, Xiao Jing and Prajna Heart Jing, it advocates "filial piety and purity, honesty and simplicity".

Sixth, sects

As far as practice is concerned, Taoism is mainly divided into two schools-Zuo Fu School and Dante School. The former advocates using spells to cure diseases and exorcise ghosts, while the latter advocates refining elixir and seeking immortality, which is different from the external and internal veins.

Generally speaking, the spread of Taoism began in the Song and Yuan Dynasties. There are five influential schools in the history of Taoism:

Justice Road: There are Lingbao School, Justice School, Longmen School, Maoshan School and Gezhi School below.

Quanzhen Road: There are two schools, Nanzong and Beizong. There are also many tribes, such as Encounter Fairy School, Jingming School, Namo School, Suishan School, Lushan School, Huashan School and Quiet School.

True Taoism: Founded in the Jin Dynasty, it gradually declined after the Yuan Dynasty.

Taiyi Road: It was built in the Jin Dynasty and gradually declined after the end of the Yuan Dynasty.

Jing Ming Dow: Founded in the Southern Song Dynasty, it declined after the Ming Dynasty.

After the Ming dynasty, Taoism was divided into orthodox school and quanzhen school, and all other schools were under these two schools. At present, the Baiyun Temple in Beijing has the general classics of all the true sects, and there are 86 Taoist sects, but actually there are only 80. According to teaching, it should be 36 days of teaching and 72 days of teaching. )

Righteousness Road: Righteousness Road was Wudoumi Road in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, and was later renamed Shitian Road and Righteousness Road. Its Taoist priests can practice at home, do not abstain from meat, marry and have children. Its Taoist temple is generally called "descendants temple".

Quanzhen religion: Quanzhen religion flourished in the Jin and Yuan Dynasties and was the largest and most important school of Neo-Daoism in the Song and Yuan Dynasties. Representative figures are Wang Zhongyang and Qiu Chuji. Quanzhen religion emphasizes cultivation, and its Taoist must become a vegetarian. Its Taoist temple is generally called "the ten-square jungle".