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Encounter with Chinese Hermits in Zhongnan Mountain (South of Chang’an)

From Daoism to Buddhism. Encounter with Chinese Hermits in Zhongnan Mountain (South of Chang’an). Much of Daoist worldview and some of its religious and social values are similar to that of Buddhism, at least in general terms

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Encounter with Chinese Hermits in Zhongnan Mountain (South of Chang’an)

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  1. From Daoism to Buddhism Encounter with Chinese Hermits in Zhongnan Mountain (South of Chang’an)

  2. 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

  3. Plants and herbs are good regimens for longer, healthier life • Concentration/meditation/breathing exercise to conserves/nurtures vital force • Abstention from using weapons/violence • Follow the path (way) and become a better being • Moral actions/behaviors determine one’s life and death

  4. Buddhism: General Remarks • A more structured/systematic religious system than Daoism • Doctrines run counter with traditional Chinese thought and values, particularly with Confucian values • Underwent change, adaptation, adjustment, and transformation after its transposition from India to China

  5. Became a predominant religious form that assimilated Daoism and Confucianism • Sinification/sinicization of Buddhism • Growth of it in China made China the center of Buddhism in historical times

  6. 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

  7. Is Buddhism a Religion? • A question often asked when an Asian “religion” is mentioned • Is Daoism a religion? • Is Confucianism a religion? • What does the word “religion” mean? • Definition of religion?

  8. Seven Dimensions of Religion • Practical and Ritual • Experiential and Emotional • Narrative and Mythic • Doctrinal and Philosophical • Ethical and Legal • Social and Institutional • Material

  9. Practicaland Ritual • Rites and ceremonies • Ritual of initiation (head is shaved) • Annual summer retreat • Festivals

  10. Experiential and Emotional • Personal experience highly valued • Meditation • Accelerate spiritual development • Compassion • For the suffering of mankind

  11. Narrative and Mythic • Creation myth • Jātaka stories • 547 in a Pali collection

  12. Doctrinal and Philosophical • Dharma • Scriptures and canons • Entire Philosophical system

  13. Ethical and Legal • Principle of non-harming • Rejection of violence • pacifism • Respect for life • Vegetarianism • Precepts • Monastic rules

  14. Social and Institutional • Sangha: Buddhist order • The Four Orders • Monks • Nuns • Male lay disciples • Female disciples • Assemblies

  15. Material Sacred spaces Buddhist sites Sacred objects Images Relics Scriptures The Buddhas of Bamiyan and destruction of them

  16. Assess Han and Post-Han Daoism according to this definition by focusing on the following: • Organization • Ritual/liturgy • Moral/Ethical views • doctrines:

  17. The Celestial Masters School: “the Way of Five Pecks of Rice” • HierarchicalOrganization: • Thecelestialmasterwastheruler • directfollowerswere“libationers” (jijiu 祭酒),whoadministered24districts • demonsoldiers(guizu鬼卒) • Commonfollowers • Eachmemberwasequippedwithalistofspiritgeneralsforprotection,togetherwithtalismansinapieceofsilk

  18. Thelistofspiritgeneralswascalled“register”(lu籙) • Protectivetalismanswerecalledfu(符) • Theywereusedtowardoff/combatdemonsthatcouldappeareverywhere • Oneneededtobefamiliarwithdemons,recognizethem,callthembytheirpropername • Oneneededtofortifyone’shouseandbodywithtalismans,ifonefeltbeinghauntedbydemons. • Recitedtheritualformula“[demon,demon,Iknowyourname,vanishrightaway],swiftly,swiftly,inaccordancewiththestatutesandordinances”(jijirulűling急急如律令)

  19. Doctrines • LordDaocreatedandruledtheuniverse • CelestialadministrationconsistedoftheThreeBureausofHeaven,Earth,andWater • TheyassistedLordDao • Keptrecordsoflifeanddeath • illness is due to the patient’s sins and immoral deeds.

  20. 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 • FollowersshouldpracticerecitationofLaozi’sDaodejingandfollowasetofprecepts(basicnine,middlenine,andhighestnine)

  21. 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

  22. The Middle nine precepts • Do not study false texts. • Dot not covet high glory or vigorously strive for it. • Do not pursue fame and praise. • Do not do things pleasurable to ears, eyes, or mouth. • Always remain modest and humble. • Do not engage in frivolous undertakings. • Always be devout in religious services, of respectful mind and without confusion • Do not indulge yourself with fancy garb or tasty food. • Do not overextend yourself.

  23. The highest nine precepts • Do not delight in excess, since joy is as harmful as anger. • Do not waste your essence or qi. • Do not harm the dominant qi. • Do not eat beings that contain blood to delight in their fancy taste. • Do not hanker after merit and fame. • Do not explain the teaching or name Dao to outsiders. • Do not neglect the divine law of Dao. • Do not try to set things in motion. • Do not kill or speak about killing.

  24. 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)

  25. Allhealingwasundertakenthroughritualandmagic • Asickpersonwasisolatedinaquietchamberor“jingshi” • He/sheconfessed his/her sins asasinner • Aseniormasterwrotethemdownandsentandpetitiontothreebureaus,oftenbyburning • Sinnerbeat his/her breast,threw himself/herself to the ground and knocked his/her head • Conductedself-blamebyrepenting his/her sins and accusing himself/herself of various misdeeds • Showed his inner shame to the entire community and thus be exonerated

  26. Sometimes, asinneralso underwent self-punishment • Orunderwentpurificationthatinvolvedtheingestionof“talismanwater”(fushui符水)---theashesofatalismandissolvedinwater • Orunderwentgymnasticexercise,ormeditation • Orperformedcommunityserviceonaregularbasis

  27. Self-Cultivation Practices • Three groups: • Literati Daoists:The Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove/ • Representatives: Xi Kang, Ruan Ji • Alchemists • Representative: Ge Hong • Two organized schools of Daoism • Maoshan/Shangqing (Highest Purity) School • Representatives: Xu family, Tao family • Lingbao (Numinous Treasure) School • Representative: Ge Chaofu

  28. The LingbaoSchool Ge Hong concocting the elixirs • Key concept: • Talismans creates and maintains the world • Founder: Ge Chaofu, a descendent of Ge Hong • Lineage: • Ge Xuan→Ge Hong→Ge Chaofu • Texts: • Scripture of the Five Lingbao Talismans； • Perfect Text in Five Tablets, Written in Red

  29. The Lingbao School • Worldview—a mix of • Shangqing’s and Han Daoist cosmology of the five phases • fangshi ideas and practices • Celestial Master ritual • Doctrines • emphasizes the notion of spells and talismans, cosmic sounds and signs as being key to both creation and empowerment

  30. 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

  31. 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….

  32. Talisman of supreme heaven ruler of south pole Talisman to establish contact with spirits of earth and wind Talisman for protection in the mountain

  33. The Shangqing School • Its emergence signifies a major expansion of Daoism • New worldview and new cosmology: • New creator deity called Yuanshi tianwang (Heavenly King of Primordial Beginning) • New Daoist celestial pantheon populated by divine beings in a hierarchical order modeled upon this-worldly bureaucracy • gods of Dao, celestial immortals, demon kings,…

  34. New concept of and approach to immortality • Previously, attained immortality through cultivating inner virtue • Now, transferred one’s registered file from the administration of death in Fengdu to that of life in the southern Palace • New understanding of the human body • Body is a storehouse of divine agencies • Nomenclature of key parts are based on the Yellow Court Scripture (Huangting jing) • Yellow Court—head, spleen; Dark Towers—kidneys, ears; Flowery Canopy—eyebrows and lungs; Spiritual Furnace—nose; Flowery Pond---mouth; Jade Fluid or Sweet Spring---saliva,…

  35. Shangqing’s Meditation Practice • Visualization of: • Colors associated with organs to strengthen qi • Inner passways and palaces to learn the cosmic geography • Gods and immortals residing there to acquire familiarity with the divine beings • planets and stars to emerge with their power • This practice could lead to • a deep trance and go on a spiritual journey to otherworldly realm • Ascend to the higher heavens and walk on the Big Dipper, known as “Pacing the net” (bugang)

  36. Ge Hong (287-347? or 284-364?) Master who Embraces Simplicity

  37. Mostfamousforhisalchemicaltheories • Onecouldachieveimmortalitybyundergoing • Ritualpurification • Magicalprotection • Aprolongedperiodoflongevitypractice • Theconcoctionofanelixirorcinnabar(liandan) • Hisbook,theBaopuzi(BookoftheMasterWhoEmbracesSimplicity)describes: • Protectivemeasuresagainstdemonsandevilspirits, • Applicationofherbsandminerals

  38. Theattainmentofmagicalpowerssuchasmultilocation,invulnerability,invisibility,flying,andsoonTheattainmentofmagicalpowerssuchasmultilocation,invulnerability,invisibility,flying,andsoon • Theproceduresforpreparingtheelixir…

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