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

From Daoism to Buddhism

• 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

• Plants and herbs are good regimens for longer, healthier life

• Concentration, meditation, breathing exercise are used to conserve, nurture, and increase vital force, qi

• Abstention from using weapons/violence• Follow the right path (way) and become

a better being• Moral actions/behaviors determine one’s

life and death

Buddhism: General RemarksBuddhism: General Remarks

A more structured/systematic religious A more structured/systematic religious system than Daoismsystem than Daoism

Doctrines run counter with traditional Doctrines run counter with traditional Chinese thought and values, particularly Chinese thought and values, particularly with Confucian valueswith Confucian values

Underwent change, adaptation, Underwent change, adaptation, adjustment, and transformation after its adjustment, and transformation after its transposition from India to Chinatransposition from India to China

Became a predominant religious form that Became a predominant religious form that assimilated Daoism and Confucianismassimilated Daoism and Confucianism Sinification/sinicization of BuddhismSinification/sinicization of Buddhism

Growth of it in China made China the Growth of it in China made China the center of Buddhism in historical times center of Buddhism in historical times

• 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

Is Buddhism a Religion?Is Buddhism a Religion?

A question often asked A question often asked when an Asian when an Asian ““religionreligion”” is is mentioned mentioned Is Daoism a religion?Is Daoism a religion?Is Confucianism a religion?Is Confucianism a religion?

What does the word What does the word ““religionreligion”” mean? mean? Definition of religion?Definition of religion?

Seven Dimensions of ReligionSeven Dimensions of Religion

Practical and RitualPractical and Ritual Experiential and Experiential and

EmotionalEmotional Narrative and MythicNarrative and Mythic Doctrinal and Doctrinal and

PhilosophicalPhilosophical Ethical and LegalEthical and Legal Social and Social and

InstitutionalInstitutional MaterialMaterial

Practical and RitualPractical and Ritual

Rites and ceremoniesRites and ceremonies Ritual of initiation Ritual of initiation

(head is shaved)(head is shaved) Annual summer retreatAnnual summer retreat FestivalsFestivals

Experiential and EmotionalExperiential and Emotional

Personal experience Personal experience highly valuedhighly valued– MeditationMeditation

Accelerate spiritual Accelerate spiritual developmentdevelopment

– CompassionCompassionFor the suffering of For the suffering of mankindmankind

Narrative and Narrative and MythicMythic

• Creation myth• Jātaka stories

• 547 in a Pali collection

Doctrinal and Doctrinal and PhilosophicalPhilosophical

DharmaDharma

Scriptures and Scriptures and canonscanons

Entire Philosophical Entire Philosophical systemsystem

Ethical and Legal

• Principle of non-harming– Rejection of

violence– pacifism– Respect for life

• Vegetarianism• Precepts• Monastic rules

Social and InstitutionalSocial and Institutional

Sangha: Buddhist Sangha: Buddhist orderorder

The Four OrdersThe Four Orders MonksMonks NunsNuns Male lay disciplesMale lay disciples Female disciplesFemale disciples

AssembliesAssemblies

MaterialMaterial

Sacred spacesSacred spaces– Buddhist sitesBuddhist sites

Sacred objectsSacred objects– ImagesImages

– RelicsRelics

– ScripturesScriptures

The Buddhas of Bamiyan and destruction of them

Assess Han and Post-Han Daoism Assess Han and Post-Han Daoism according to this definition by according to this definition by focusing on the following:focusing on the following:– OrganizationOrganization– Ritual/liturgyRitual/liturgy– Moral/Ethical viewsMoral/Ethical views– doctrines:doctrines:

•Hierarchical Organization:•The celestial master was the ruler• direct followers were “libationers” (jijiu 祭酒 ), who administered 24 districts• demon soldiers (guizu 鬼卒 )•Common followers

•Each member was equipped with a list of spirit generals for protection, together with talismans in a piece of silk

The Celestial Masters School: “the Way of Five Pecks of Rice”

• TheThe listlist ofof spiritspirit generalsgenerals waswas calledcalled “register”“register” ((lulu 籙籙 ))

• ProtectiveProtective talismanstalismans werewere calledcalled fufu (( 符符 ))• TheyThey werewere usedused toto wardward off/combatoff/combat demonsdemons thatthat

couldcould appearappear everywhereeverywhere• OneOne neededneeded toto bebe familiarfamiliar withwith demons,demons, recognizerecognize

them,them, callcall themthem byby theirtheir properproper namename• OneOne neededneeded toto fortifyfortify one’sone’s househouse andand bodybody withwith

talismans,talismans, ifif oneone feltfelt beingbeing hauntedhaunted byby demons.demons.• RecitedRecited thethe ritualritual formulaformula “[demon,“[demon,

demon,demon, II knowknow youryour name,name, vanishvanish rightright away],away], swiftly,swiftly, swiftly,swiftly, inin accordanceaccordance withwith thethe statutesstatutes andand ordinances”ordinances” ((jijijiji ruru llűűlingling 急急如律令急急如律令 ))

DoctrinesDoctrines– LordLord DaoDao createdcreated andand ruledruled thethe

universeuniverse– CelestialCelestial administrationadministration consistedconsisted ofof

thethe ThreeThree BureausBureaus ofof Heaven,Heaven, Earth,Earth, andand WaterWater TheyThey assistedassisted LordLord DaoDao KeptKept recordsrecords ofof lifelife andand deathdeath

– illness is due to the patient’s sins and illness is due to the patient’s sins and immoral deeds.immoral deeds.

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

Followers should practice recitation of Laozi’s Daode jing and follow a set of precepts (basic nine, middle nine, and highest nine)

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

The Middle nine precepts

1. Do not study false texts.2. Dot not covet high glory or vigorously strive for

it.3. Do not pursue fame and praise.4. Do not do things pleasurable to ears, eyes, or

mouth.5. Always remain modest and humble.6. Do not engage in frivolous undertakings.7. Always be devout in religious services, of

respectful mind and without confusion8. Do not indulge yourself with fancy garb or

tasty food.9. Do not overextend yourself.

The highest nine precepts

1. Do not delight in excess, since joy is as harmful as anger.

2. Do not waste your essence or qi.3. Do not harm the dominant qi.4. Do not eat beings that contain blood to

delight in their fancy taste.5. Do not hanker after merit and fame.6. Do not explain the teaching or name Dao to

outsiders.7. Do not neglect the divine law of Dao.8. Do not try to set things in motion.9. Do not kill or speak about killing.

• 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)

AllAll healinghealing waswas undertakenundertaken throughthrough ritualritual andand magicmagic– AA sicksick personperson waswas isolatedisolated inin aa quietquiet chamberchamber oror

“jingshi”“jingshi”– He/sheHe/she confessed his/her sins asconfessed his/her sins as aa sinner sinner – AA seniorsenior mastermaster wrotewrote themthem downdown andand sentsent andand

petitionpetition toto threethree bureaus,bureaus, oftenoften byby burningburning – SinnerSinner beat his/her breast,beat his/her breast, threw himself/herself threw himself/herself

to the ground and knocked his/her headto the ground and knocked his/her head– ConductedConducted self-blameself-blame byby repenting his/her sins repenting his/her sins

and accusing himself/herself of various misdeedsand accusing himself/herself of various misdeeds– Showed his inner shame to the entire community Showed his inner shame to the entire community

and thus be exoneratedand thus be exonerated

Sometimes, aSometimes, a sinnersinner also also underwent self-punishmentunderwent self-punishment

OrOr underwentunderwent purificationpurification thatthat involvedinvolved thethe ingestioningestion ofof “talisman“talisman water”water” ((fushuifushui 符水符水 )---the)---the ashesashes ofof aa talismantalisman dissolveddissolved inin waterwater

OrOr underwentunderwent gymnasticgymnastic exercise,exercise, oror meditationmeditation

OrOr performedperformed communitycommunity serviceservice onon aa regularregular basisbasis

Self-Cultivation PracticesSelf-Cultivation Practices

Three groups:Three groups:– Literati Daoists:The Seven Sages of the Literati Daoists:The Seven Sages of the

Bamboo Grove/ Bamboo Grove/ Representatives: Xi Kang, Ruan JiRepresentatives: Xi Kang, Ruan Ji

– AlchemistsAlchemists Representative: Ge HongRepresentative: Ge Hong

– Two organized schools of Daoism Two organized schools of Daoism Maoshan/Shangqing (Highest Purity) SchoolMaoshan/Shangqing (Highest Purity) School

– Representatives: Xu family, Tao familyRepresentatives: Xu family, Tao family Lingbao (Numinous Treasure) SchoolLingbao (Numinous Treasure) School

– Representative: Ge ChaofuRepresentative: Ge Chaofu

The The Lingbao Lingbao SchoolSchool

Key concept:Key concept:– Talismans creates and Talismans creates and

maintains the worldmaintains the world Founder: Ge Chaofu, a Founder: Ge Chaofu, a

descendent of Ge Hongdescendent of Ge Hong Lineage:Lineage:

– Ge Xuan→Ge Hong→Ge ChaofuGe Xuan→Ge Hong→Ge Chaofu Texts: Texts:

– Scripture of the Five Lingbao Scripture of the Five Lingbao TalismansTalismans ；；

– Perfect Text in Five Tablets, Perfect Text in Five Tablets, Written in RedWritten in Red

Ge Hong concocting the elixirs

The The LingbaoLingbao School School

WorldviewWorldview——a mix of a mix of – ShangqingShangqing’’s and Han Daoist cosmology s and Han Daoist cosmology

of the five phasesof the five phases– fangshifangshi ideas and practices ideas and practices– Celestial Master ritual Celestial Master ritual

DoctrinesDoctrines– emphasizes the notion of spells and emphasizes the notion of spells and

talismans, cosmic sounds and signs as talismans, cosmic sounds and signs as being key to both creation and being key to both creation and empowermentempowerment

•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

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….

Talisman for protection in the mountain

Talisman of supreme heaven ruler of south pole

Talisman to establish contact with spirits of earth and wind

The Shangqing SchoolThe Shangqing School

Its emergence signifies a major expansion Its emergence signifies a major expansion of Daoismof Daoism

New worldview and new cosmology:New worldview and new cosmology:– New creator deity called New creator deity called Yuanshi tianwangYuanshi tianwang

(Heavenly King of Primordial Beginning)(Heavenly King of Primordial Beginning)– New Daoist celestial pantheon populated by New Daoist celestial pantheon populated by

divine beings in a hierarchical order modeled divine beings in a hierarchical order modeled upon this-worldly bureaucracyupon this-worldly bureaucracy gods of Dao, celestial immortals, demon kings,…gods of Dao, celestial immortals, demon kings,…

New concept of and approach to immortalityNew concept of and approach to immortality– Previously, attained immortality through Previously, attained immortality through

cultivating inner virtuecultivating inner virtue– Now, transferred one’s registered file from the Now, transferred one’s registered file from the

administration of death in Fengdu to that of life in administration of death in Fengdu to that of life in the southern Palacethe southern Palace

New understanding of the human bodyNew understanding of the human body– Body is a storehouse of divine agenciesBody is a storehouse of divine agencies– Nomenclature of key parts are based on the Nomenclature of key parts are based on the

Yellow Court ScriptureYellow Court Scripture ( (Huangting jingHuangting jing)) Yellow Court—head, spleen; Dark Towers—kidneys, Yellow Court—head, spleen; Dark Towers—kidneys,

ears; Flowery Canopy—eyebrows and lungs; Spiritual ears; Flowery Canopy—eyebrows and lungs; Spiritual Furnace—nose; Flowery Pond---mouth; Jade Fluid or Furnace—nose; Flowery Pond---mouth; Jade Fluid or Sweet Spring---saliva,…Sweet Spring---saliva,…

Shangqing’s Meditation PracticeShangqing’s Meditation Practice

Visualization of:Visualization of:– Colors associated with organs to strengthen Colors associated with organs to strengthen qiqi– Inner passways and palaces to learn the cosmic Inner passways and palaces to learn the cosmic

geographygeography– Gods and immortals residing there to acquire familiarity Gods and immortals residing there to acquire familiarity

with the divine beingswith the divine beings– planets and stars to emerge with their powerplanets and stars to emerge with their power

This practice could lead to This practice could lead to – a deep trance and go on a spiritual journey to a deep trance and go on a spiritual journey to

otherworldly realmotherworldly realm– Ascend to the higher heavens and walk on the Big Ascend to the higher heavens and walk on the Big

Dipper, known as “Pacing the net” (Dipper, known as “Pacing the net” (bugangbugang))

Ge Hong (287-347? or 284-364?)

Master who Embraces Simplicity

MostMost famousfamous forfor hishis alchemicalalchemical theoriestheories– OneOne couldcould achieveachieve immortalityimmortality byby undergoingundergoing– RitualRitual purificationpurification– MagicalMagical protectionprotection– AA prolongedprolonged periodperiod ofof longevitylongevity practicepractice– TheThe concoctionconcoction ofof anan elixirelixir oror cinnabarcinnabar ((liandan)liandan)

HisHis book,book, thethe BaopuziBaopuzi (Book(Book ofof thethe MasterMaster WhoWho EmbracesEmbraces Simplicity)Simplicity) describes:describes:– ProtectiveProtective measuresmeasures againstagainst demonsdemons andand evilevil

spirits,spirits,– ApplicationApplication ofof herbsherbs andand mineralsminerals

– TheThe attainmentattainment ofof magicalmagical powerspowers suchsuch asas multilocation,multilocation, invulnerability,invulnerability, invisibility,invisibility, flying,flying, andand soso onon

– TheThe proceduresprocedures forfor preparingpreparing thethe elixir…elixir…