China people's thought is tolerance.
Of the five major religions in China, Taoism is the only one that originated in China and was founded by China people, so it is also called indigenous religion. Taoism had a far-reaching influence on politics, economy and culture in ancient China, and it was one of the three spiritual pillars of the ruling class. After the founding of New China, Taoism in China gained a new life through the democratic reform of the religious system, and gradually embarked on the road to adapt to the socialist society. Since the reform and opening up, under the guidance of the religious policy of the Party and the government in the new period, Taoism in China has shown an unprecedented new atmosphere, which has made positive contributions to promoting economic development, social harmony, reunification of the motherland and world peace.
The emergence and development of Taoism
(A) Taoism and Taoism
Most scholars in modern China believe that Tao and Tao are two interrelated and different concepts. Sometimes it is customary to call Taoism Taoism and Huang Lao. Strictly speaking, the two are not exactly the same thing. The word "Tao" first appeared in Sima Tan's Six Classics. Refers to the school represented by Laozi and Zhuangzi in pre-Qin hundred schools of thought, or refers to the school of Huanglao which prevailed in the Warring States, Qin and Han Dynasties. They all regard "Tao" as the highest category in ideological theory, advocate respecting Tao and morality, learning from nature, governing the country by law with purity and inaction, dealing with the belief in ghosts and gods, and dealing with the relationship between man and nature, so they praise home. As for Taoism, it is a religious entity. As the name implies, "Tao" is the enlightenment or preaching of "Tao", or a religion that believes in "Tao" and "becomes immortal and gains Tao" through spiritual cultivation. As a religious entity, Taoism not only has its unique classic teachings, immortal beliefs and ritual activities, but also has its religious inheritance, missionary organization, discipline system and places for religious activities. This religious community is obviously different from the early Taoism, but Taoism is the upstream of Taoism, and both Taoism and Taoism's fundamental beliefs are "Tao", which can never be arbitrarily divided.
(B) the emergence, formation and development of Taoism
From the Eastern Han Dynasty to the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, Taoism was formed and established. At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the ecliptic became solid, and primitive folk religious groups such as Taiping Dao and Shitiandao were established one after another. After hundreds of years of transformation and development in Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, the classic teachings, practice methods and precepts of Taoism gradually became complete, and new Taoist schools bred and multiplied, which were recognized by the rulers and evolved into mature orthodox religions.
From the Sui and Tang Dynasties to the Northern Song Dynasty, due to the respect of the ruling class, Taoism flourished and had a great social impact, and its philosophy, health care, spells and laws were also more perfect. After the end of the Tang Dynasty and the Northern Song Dynasty, there were some new changes in Taoism, which were mainly manifested in the emergence of the idea of the integration of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism and the rise of the Elixir Taoist School, which was dominated by Inner alchemy. During the Southern Song Dynasty, Jin and Yuan Dynasties, Taoism changed. New schools of Taoism, such as Quanzhen Taoism, Taiyi Taoism and Zhendao, have appeared in the north of China, while Nanzong, Tianxin Sect, Shen Xiao, Wei Qing and Jingming Sect have appeared in the south of China. Early Shi Tian, Puritanism and Lingbao also made innovations in doctrine and Taoism. Propagandizing the unity of the three religions and paying attention to the cultivation of inner alchemy are the main characteristics of Taoism in this period.
During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, with the late feudal society in China, the development of Taoism was stagnant and rigid. China's modern Taoism inherited the legacy of Ming and Qing Dynasties, except for a few periods, which has been at a low ebb.
(3) Taoism in China from the founding of New China to the end of the Cultural Revolution (1949— 1976).
After the founding of New China, some unreasonable systems and bad habits in Taoism in the old society were reformed, and Taoism took on a new look. The establishment of the Chinese Taoist Association has realized the great unity of Taoists throughout the country, and the vast number of patriotic Taoists have begun to work together for the development of Taoism. Taoism was influenced by political movements such as the anti-rightist struggle, the Great Leap Forward and the People's Commune.
1. Democratic reform of Taoist religious system
Before liberation, Taoism was full of feudal flavor. Therefore, it became an important task of Taoism in new China to educate Taoists in patriotism, reform the feudal economy of the palace view, abolish the feudal remnants of Taoism and draw a clear line with reactionary sects. After the founding of New China, the majority of Taoists supported the socialist system and * * * leadership. They spontaneously set up study groups to study patriotism, socialism and current affairs politics, issued anti-imperialist patriotic declarations, and launched donation campaigns to support the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea. Taoist temples conclude patriotic conventions, abide by national policies and laws, and automatically cancel the clean rules that conflict with national laws; According to the instructions of the state on rural land and the spirit of land reform and urban real estate reform, the feudal economy was reformed accordingly, and the road of self-sufficiency based on labor and production was taken. Establish Guan Gong Democratic Management Committee. Taoist circles also automatically draw a clear line with various reactionary sects and other secret religions. Through the democratic reform of the religious system, the whole Taoist community has taken on a new look, and the development of Taoism has since entered a new historical period.
2. The Chinese Taoist Association was established.
1In the summer of 956, it was initiated by 23 famous Taoists, including Yue Chongdai, abbot of Shenyang Taiqing Palace, Yi Xinying, curator of Changdao Temple in Qingchengshan, Sichuan, and Chen Yingning, who made extensive contact with Taoists and Chinese Taoist associations all over the country, and proposed to establish it. At the same time, the Preparatory Committee of Chinese Taoist Association was established. This initiative immediately received a warm response from Taoists all over the country, and also received the support and concern of the people's government and all walks of life. 1On April 8th, 957, 92 representatives from famous temples, Taoist schools and Taoist scholars from all over China gathered in Beijing to hold the first national congress of Taoist circles in China, officially announcing the establishment of the Chinese Taoist Association, and elected the first Council of the Chinese Taoist Association, which was composed of Quan Zhen Dao Chang and Zheng Yi Chang. Yue Chongdai was elected as the president, and the venue was located in Beijing Baiyunguan. The congress formulated the constitution of the Chinese Taoist Association and determined that the Chinese Taoist Association is a patriotic Taoist group. Its purpose is: "to contact and unite Taoists all over the country and inherit and carry forward the fine tradition of Taoism;" Under the leadership of the people's government, love the motherland and actively participate in the socialist construction of the country and the movement to defend world peace; Assist the government to implement the policy of freedom of religious belief. " The establishment of the Chinese Taoist Association has realized the great unity and alliance of Taoist people all over the country.
The present situation of Taoism
From 65438 to 0978, the CPC Central Committee began a comprehensive work of bringing order out of chaos. On religious issues, the CPC Central Committee has formulated a series of policies on religious work and put forward effective measures to solve practical problems. The work of bringing order out of chaos in Taoist circles is orderly and gradually completed. Under the guidance of the religious policy of the Party and the government in the new era, China's Taoist education activities have been developed, and the personnel training has achieved remarkable results. Taoist research has shown a prosperous scene, actively participated in social welfare undertakings, and carried out friendly exchanges with foreign countries, showing an unprecedented new atmosphere.
1. Set things right in Taoist circles
1980 in may, the third national congress was held shortly after the Chinese Taoist association resumed its work. The meeting determined the focus of Taoist work in the future, revised the Constitution of the Chinese Taoist Association, and elected the third Council of the Chinese Taoist Association. This representative meeting is an important meeting in the history of Taoism, which has put Taoism on a normal development track.
After the Third National Congress of the Chinese Taoist Association was held, the unjust, false and misjudged cases in Taoist circles were gradually rehabilitated, and some occupied temples were returned to Taoist circles for their own management. Rehabilitation for patriots in the upper and middle Taoist circles, such as Yue Chongdai, An, Xiang Yuanli, Li, etc., and rehabilitation for Yi Xinying, Meng Minghui and Jiang of the Chinese Taoist Association. The wrongs and wrongs of other Taoist patriots have been rehabilitated. Many of them are in charge of local Taoist associations and temples after rehabilitation, and some of them are elected as deputies to people's congresses at all levels and members of the CPPCC.
2. The contemporary Taoist education system has been initially established, and personnel training has been strengthened.
From the reform and opening up to the early 1990s, China Taoist Association held five specialized courses and 1 advanced courses on Taoist knowledge, and trained 206 Taoist talents, most of whom have become the backbone of today's Taoist circles. 1990 In May, China Taoist College was formally established, which was the first modern college in the history of Taoism in China, marking a new step in the cultivation of Taoist talents. At present, there are a total of 10 Taoist colleges and universities in China, offering lectures on Confucian classics, Taoist temple management, Taoist medical care and other majors, covering three levels: postgraduate, undergraduate and specialist. At present, the compilation of teaching materials, the awarding of degrees and the evaluation of teachers' professional titles in Taoist colleges are progressing steadily, and the standardization of Taoist colleges is constantly strengthened. With the joint efforts of Taoist circles all over the country, a Taoist education system has been initially established, in which Taoist temples are responsible for basic education, provincial, municipal and county Taoist associations carry out short-term training, and Taoist colleges carry out professional education, and the talent situation in Taoist circles has been effectively improved.
3. Educational activities are carried out in an orderly manner.
First, pay attention to running schools in accordance with the law and regulations, and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Taoism. Since the reform and opening up, with the support of party committees and governments at all levels, all parts of the country have actively promoted the restoration of Taoist venues, implemented real estate and property, and opened and repaired Taoist venues. 1984, with the approval of the State Council, 2 1 national key temples, including Beijing Baiyun Temple, were opened, and then Taoist temples all over the country resumed opening one after another. At present, there are more than 8,200 Taoist places registered according to law, and nearly 30,000 teaching staff have been registered by the religious affairs department of the government. Many places and personnel are being registered one after another. Taoist circles pay attention to improving the ability to do Taoist work well by using the rule of law and the rule of law, apply for intellectual property protection such as flags and emblems according to law, and use legal means to solve things that hurt Taoist feelings, such as using the "city god" as a trademark for profit, etc., and the ability to run teaching according to law has been greatly improved.
The second is to hold large-scale educational activities such as Quanzhen preaching and Zhengyi conferring, so as to standardize the inheritance of the teaching system. Taoist circles held the preaching activities of Taoist Quanzhen religion in Beijing Baiyun Temple in 1989, Changdao Temple in Qingchengshan, Sichuan in 1995, Wulong Palace in Qian Shan, Liaoning in 2002, and Changchun Temple in Wuhan, Hubei in 20 16, and more than three precepts were given to 1000 Buddhist monks. 199 1 and 1995, the awarding activities of the overseas orthodox school and the mainland orthodox school were held in Hanshishi Tianfu, Longhushan, Jiangxi, respectively. Up to now, there have been 26 overseas awards and 9 mainland awards, and more than 6,000 Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan and overseas disciples, as well as more than 2,600 mainland Taoist priests have won the Dharma Award. The canonization activities of the Shangqing Temple in Maoshan, Jiangsu Province, which have been interrupted for hundreds of years, are also being actively prepared. The resumption of lecture activities has played a positive role in inheriting tradition, standardizing inheritance, strengthening faith, adhering to moral order and establishing image.
The third is to do a good job in the construction of Taoist style and strengthen the management of Taoist temples. Taoist style is the external embodiment of Taoist belief and is related to the overall image of Taoism. Taoist circles attach great importance to the construction of Taoist style and features, continue to thoroughly implement the central policy documents such as Opinions on Dealing with Relevant Issues Concerning the Management of Buddhist Temples and Taoist temples, and have successively issued several documents on rectifying Taoist style and features, strengthening the management and commercial operation of Taoist temples, advocating the civilized and reasonable release of Taoist temples, and creating harmonious temples, ecological temples and cultural temples; Formulate and promulgate the Charter of Taoist temples and Opinions on Taoist associations and palace officials taking the lead in strengthening the construction of Taoist style, and encourage Taoist associations and temples around the country to formulate implementation methods and clean-up lists suitable for local conditions and strictly carry out the construction of Taoist style. A total of 153 collectives and 83 Taoist priests were commended in the three national selection of harmonious temples and churches organized by the Central United Front Work Department and the State Bureau of Religious Affairs. The fourth is to restore the Taoist tradition and hold Xuanmen lecture activities. Since 2008, Taoist circles have held eight Xuanmen lectures in Laoshan Mountain in Shandong, Songshan Mountain in Henan, Wudang Mountain in Hubei, Huashan Mountain in Shaanxi, Taishan Mountain in Shandong, Chongqing, and Fenghuang Mountain in Liaoning, with a total of 150 monks giving lectures at the altar. The Taoist community also organized excellent lecturers to form a propaganda group, which toured the grass-roots Taoist temples throughout the country to guide the Taoist communities around the country to carry out lectures, and further promoted the Taoist community to resume the tradition of learning, interpreting and giving lectures. Giving lectures at Xuanmen has played a positive role in Taoism's inheriting tradition, cultivating talents, adapting to the times and serving the society.
4. Actively carry out Taoist academic research and vigorously promote Taoist culture.
Carrying out Taoist academic research is an important work in Taoist circles in recent years. 1980 in may, the third national congress of the Chinese Taoist association made a resolution to "further carry out Taoist research and make Taoist research one of the key points in the future". 1987 changed the internal periodical of the original Taoist association into a quarterly magazine of China Taoism, and 1999 changed it into a bimonthly magazine. From 65438 to 0989, the Institute of Taoist Culture was established, which further strengthened academic exchanges and cooperation with Taoist scholars at home and abroad. Since the beginning of the new century, in order to adapt to the characteristics and trends of information dissemination in the new era, the Chinese Taoist Association has successively established the website of the Chinese Taoist Association, the Weibo and the WeChat platform, which have enriched the communication channels of Taoist culture.
Over the years, the Taoist community has made remarkable achievements in carrying out Taoist research and promoting Taoist culture. The Collection of Taoist Works in China compiled by the Chinese Taoist Association is the first systematic and standardized collation and reconstruction of Taoist classics after the collection of Taoist works in the Ming Dynasty, and it is regarded as a major event in contemporary China cultural history and Taoist history. At present, China Taoist Collection, which is being compiled, has been highly valued by the Party and the government, and has been listed as a major cultural project in the 13th Five-Year Plan. Large-scale series such as "Combination of Taoism and Medicine" and "Essence of Taoism and Classics" will also be published soon. In addition, the Chinese Taoist Association has compiled a series of books, such as "The Integration of Laozi", "A Dictionary of Taoism" and "A Journey of Taoist Culture", which have had a good influence on the society.
Many influential Taoist cultural activities have been held in Taoist circles. Since 200 1, sixteen consecutive Taoist music performances have been held in Chinese mainland, Hongkong, Taiwan Province Province and Singapore, with the participation of many Taoist orchestras at home and abroad, which have played an active role in inheriting culture, displaying fine works and cultivating talents. Since 2002, four seminars have been held in Shanghai, Fujian, Hunan and Jiangxi, which have achieved fruitful results. At the same time, we will hold activities to commemorate Laozi's birthday and Wang Zhongyang's 900th birthday, and hold Chengdu Taoist Culture Festival, yingtan Taoist Culture Festival, Guangdong Taoist Culture Festival, Hunan Taoist Culture Festival and the 600th anniversary celebration of Wudang Mountain in cooperation with local Taoist circles. 20 16 Jilin city, Jilin province held the first Taoist culture and art week to explore new ways to show the charm of Taoist culture in all directions.
5. Actively participate in socialist construction and carry out charitable activities.
Since the reform and opening up, while doing a good job of self-support, temples around the country have made positive contributions in maintaining temple cultural relics, protecting and improving the ecological environment around temples, helping the poor, practicing medicine, supporting local schools, and promoting local economic development, which has been well received by local governments and the masses. 1993, the Taoist circle held the first commendation meeting for advanced collectives and individuals who love patriotism and education. At the meeting, it was put forward that "the contribution of Taoism to society should be regarded as the central task, and a new fashion of learning, encouraging and commending advanced should be set off in the Taoist circles throughout the country".
Taoist circles actively carry out charitable activities. After the devastating floods in the Yangtze River basin and the Wenchuan earthquake, they all organized blessing ceremonies and donations in time to contribute to the disaster relief work in a unique way of Taoism. In 2003, China Taoist Ecological Forest Base and desert control were established in Minqin County, Gansu Province, to protect the environment.