Page 133 - Encyclopedia Of World History

daoism 483

not regarding one’s companions:
thus one may manage to walk in the middle.
• I Ching

Emergence of Religious Daoism
During the first century BCE, a messianic Daoism devel-
oped that was utopian in outlook and aimed at estab-
lishing an era of “great peace.” It inspired the Rebellion
of the Yellow Turbans (184 CE), who sought to overthrow
the Han dynasty. Although the rebellion was defeated,
messianic tendencies remained within Daoism.The sec-
ond century CE saw the emergence of religious Daoism
in a new organization that brought temporal and spiri-
tual powers together under the control of the Tianshi
(Celestial Masters). In 142, the now-deified Laozi is said
to have given Zhang Daoling the definitive, “orthodox”
doctrine to replace people’s contemporary religious prac-
tices.The doctrine sought, through rituals like confession,
The Lantern Pagoda with fifty lanterns is
to expiate sins that resulted in disease. In 215 the Celes-
hung on New Year’s in China to honor vari-
tial Masters sect was constrained to submit to Cao Cao,
ous gods and bring light, which symbolizes
founder of the Wei dynasty (220–265 CE).The result was
prosperity.
the official recognition of the Celestial Masters, who
helped legitimize both the Wei and the succeeding West-
ern Qin dynasty (265–316 CE).
The fall of the Western Qin to northern barbarians led which became part of official state ideology. Numerous
to a migration southward, where the Wu dynasty (222– temples and monasteries were built, and the Daodejing
280 CE) arose. In the period of the Southern Dynasties, joined the Confucian classics as part of the civil-service
Daoism was influenced by the traditions of the lower exam. During this time, Daoist scriptures also attracted
Chang (Yangzi) River, particularly the belief in zhenren, the attention of foreign rulers and were translated into
pure immortals immune to the world’s decay.The immor- other languages. During the Song dynasty (960–1279),
tals became models of attained agelessness, the realiza- the Daoist canon was expanded and printed for the first
tion of which was seen as possible through alchemy and time. However, with the decline of the first (Northern)
magic. By the fourth century, this synthesis of the Dao- portion of Song dynasty (1126), Daoism lost its place as
ism of the Celestial Masters and preoccupation with the official religion. In the fray, several new sects devel-
immortality led to the development of a competing sect, oped. Of these, the Zhuangzhen (Complete Perfection)
the Mao Shan school. In general, Daoism gained official sect, noted for its ethical teachings, gained the favor of the
support but not sole recognition in the South, while in Mongols and was thus able to challenge the Celestial
the North it became the official religion of the Northern Masters’ preeminence.The sect’s emphasis on asceticism
Wei dynasty (386–534), whose rulers claimed to be and hygienic techniques to prolong life became one of the
deputies of Lord Lao. most important and prevailing currents in Daoism.
During the Yuan dynasty (1279–1368), Daoists used
Daoism from the Seventh Century their prominence in the north to lead a persecution
Daoism’s greatest success came with the reunification of against Buddhism, hoping to diminish its growing in-
China under the Tang dynasty (618–907 CE), as it spread fluence. However, the tide turned, culminating in the
throughout the empire. The founder of the dynasty was state-sanctioned burning of Daoist apocrypha in 1281.
believed to be Laozi’s messianic descendant, a notion In the south, meanwhile, the Celestial Masters’ influence