Daoist Writs and Scriptures as Sacred Beings
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1558/post.38025Keywords:
Daoist Scripture, Sacred Writs, Veneration of Scripture, Visualization, Recitation, QiAbstract
The formation and solidification of canonical scriptures in Daoism facilitated the establishment and development of the religious tradition. In particular, medieval Daoism was grounded on a unique conception of writs and scriptures. The Daoist concept of scripture is founded on a belief system in which letters and sounds are particular forms of qi, or the omnipresent “pneuma and energy.” Such a way of thinking provides a lead for understanding the Daoist veneration of scriptures and other various practices. The aim of this paper is to explore the characteristics of Daoist canonical scriptures as “sacred beings,” mainly through an investigation of the Daoist perspective on scriptures, scripture-worship, and the relationship between scripture and practice.
References
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DZ104. Sounds and Meanings and Jade Instructions of the Perfected Scripture of the Great Cavern of Highest Clarity (Shangqing dadong zhenjing yujue yinyi ??????????).
DZ164. Genealogy of the Three Worthies of Highest Clarity (Shangqing sanzun pulu ??????).
DZ302. Record of Mr. Zhou’s Communication with the Unseen World (Zhoushi mingtong ji ?????).
DZ304. Records of Mount Mao (Maoshan zhi ???).
DZ528. Ritual of Transmission for Numinous Treasure Scriptures (Taishang dongxuan lingbao shouduyi ?????????).
DZ1016. Declarations of the Perfected (Zhengao ??).
DZ1032. Cloud Bookcase with Seven Labels (Yunji qiqian ????) (YJQQ).
DZ1114. Scripture of Original Deeds and Destiny (Taishang dongxuan lingbao benxing suyuan jing ???????????).
DZ1128. Progression of Succession of Scriptures and Teachings in the Daoist School (Daomen jingfa xiangcheng cixu ????????).
DZ1129. Pivot of Meaning of the Daoist Teaching (Daojiao yishu ????).
DZ1138. Essentials of Supreme Secrets (Wushang biyao ????) (WSBY).
DZ1352. Jade Book of the Great Realm of Great High of the Cavern of the Perfected (Dongzhen taishang taixiao langshu ????????).
DZ1360. Scripture of Secret Names of a Hundred Gods and Incantations of the Highest Thearch among the Nine Heavens in Highest Clarity (Shangqing jiutian shangdi zhu baishen neiming jing ????????????).
DZ1389. Jade Register of Eight Phosphors of the Golden Primordial of the Cavern of Perfection, the Lord of Great Dao the Most High of Highest Clarity (Shangqing gaosheng taishang dadaojun dongzhen jinyuan bajing yulu ?????????????????).
T. (Volume number of Taish? shinsh? daiz?ky? ???????).
T51. Records of Temples in Luoyang (Luoyang qielan ji ?????).
T52. Discourse on Differentiating the Right (Bianzheng lun ???).
Book of Han (Hanshu ??). Beijing ??: Zhonghua shuju ????.
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Kim, Jihyun ???. 2011. “Genshi to keishi: D?ky? ni okeru atarashii shi no kannen to sono tenkai ????? – ?????????????????? [Master of Mystery and Master of Scripture: New Concepts of Master in Daoism and Their Development].” In Sanky? k?sh? rons? zokuhen ??????????, edited by Mugitani Kunio ????, 57–97. Kyoto ??: Ky?to daigaku jinbun kagaku kenky?jo ???????????.
———. 2017. “Dogyo ?i ch?ngj?n hwa ?? ??? [Daoist Canonization: With a Focus on Model Narratives and Ritualization].” Han’guk sasang sahak ?????? [History of Korean Thought] 55: 205–245.
Kobayashi Masayoshi ????. 2003. “T?dai no d?ky? ky?dan to tenshi d? ???????????.” T?y? no shis? to sh?ky? ???????? 20: 20–49.
Kusuyama Haruki ????. 1979. Ro?shi densetsu no kenkyu? ???????. Tokyo ??: So?bunsha ???.
Matsuura Akira ???. 2007. “Kenry? jidai no Nagasaki raik? Ch?goku sh?nin: ? J?bu, ? Chikuri, Tei Sekij? o ch?shin ni ????????????? – ???·???·???????.” In Edo jidai t?sen ni yoru nitch? bunka k?ry? ???????????????, 174–218. Kyoto ??: Shibunkaku ???.
Mugitani Kunio ????. 2005. “D?ky? gis? to Nanbokuch? Zui shot? ki no d?ky? ky?rigaku ??????????????????” In Sanky? k?sh? rons? ??????, 99–186. Kyoto: Ky?to daigaku jinbun kagaku kenky?jo.
Nakajima Ryu?zo? ????. 2004. Unkyu? shichisen no kisoteki kenkyu? ??????????. Tokyo: Kenbun shuppan ????.
?fuchi Ninji. 1979. “The Formation of the Taoist Canon.” In Holmes Welch and Anna K. Seidel, eds., Facets of Taoism: Essays in Chinese Religion, 269–287. New Haven, NJ: Yale University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0395264900092817
Pregadio, Fabrizio, ed. 2008. The Encyclopedia of Taoism. 2 Volumes. London: Routledge.
Robinet, Isabelle. 1993. Taoist Meditation: The Maoshan Tradition of Great Purity. Albany: State University of New York Press.
Schipper, Kristofer. 1985. “Taoist Ordination Ranks in the Tunhuang Manuscripts.” In Religion und Philosophie in Ostasien, edited by Kristofer Schipper, 127–148. Würzburg: Königshuasen and Neumann.
Schipper, Kristofer and Franciscus Verellen, eds. 2008. The Taoist Canon. 3 Volumes. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Seidel, Anna. 1969a. La divinisation de Lao tseu dans le Taoisme des Han. Publications de l’École franc?aise d’Extrême-Orient. Volume 71. Paris: École franc?aise d’Extrême-Orient. https://doi.org/10.3406/ephe.1967.18418
Seidel, Anna. 1969b. “Image of Perfect Ruler in Early Taoist Messianism: Lao-tzu and Li Hung.” History of Religions 9. 216–247. https://doi.org/10.1086/462605
———. 1983. “Imperial Treasure and Taoist Sacraments: Taoist Roots in the Apocrypha.” In Tantric and Taoist Studies in Honour of R. A. Stein, volume 2, edited by Michel Strickmann, 291–371. Brussels: Institut Belge des Hautes Études Chinoises. https://doi.org/10.2307/601714
Wang, Chegwen. 2010. “The Revelation and Classification of Daoist Scriptures.” In John Lagerwey and Lu? Pengzhi, eds., Early Chinese Religion, Part Two: The Period of Division (220–589 AD), 775–888. Leiden: Brill. https://doi.org/10.1163/ej.9789004175853.i-1564.98
Zürcher, Erik. 1980. “Buddhist Influence on Early Taoism: A Survey of Scriptural Evidence.” T’oung Pao 66 (1/3): 84–147. https://doi.org/10.1163/156853280x00039
DZ. Work number of The Taoist Canon. 2008. Schipper, Kristofer and Franciscus Verellen, eds. Chicago. University of Chicago Press.
DZ97. Spontaneously Created Jade Characters and Esoteric Sounds of the Various Heavens (Taishang dongxuan lingbao zhutian neiyin ziran yuzi ??????????????).
DZ104. Sounds and Meanings and Jade Instructions of the Perfected Scripture of the Great Cavern of Highest Clarity (Shangqing dadong zhenjing yujue yinyi ??????????).
DZ164. Genealogy of the Three Worthies of Highest Clarity (Shangqing sanzun pulu ??????).
DZ302. Record of Mr. Zhou’s Communication with the Unseen World (Zhoushi mingtong ji ?????).
DZ304. Records of Mount Mao (Maoshan zhi ???).
DZ528. Ritual of Transmission for Numinous Treasure Scriptures (Taishang dongxuan lingbao shouduyi ?????????).
DZ1016. Declarations of the Perfected (Zhengao ??).
DZ1032. Cloud Bookcase with Seven Labels (Yunji qiqian ????) (YJQQ).
DZ1114. Scripture of Original Deeds and Destiny (Taishang dongxuan lingbao benxing suyuan jing ???????????).
DZ1128. Progression of Succession of Scriptures and Teachings in the Daoist School (Daomen jingfa xiangcheng cixu ????????).
DZ1129. Pivot of Meaning of the Daoist Teaching (Daojiao yishu ????).
DZ1138. Essentials of Supreme Secrets (Wushang biyao ????) (WSBY).
DZ1352. Jade Book of the Great Realm of Great High of the Cavern of the Perfected (Dongzhen taishang taixiao langshu ????????).
DZ1360. Scripture of Secret Names of a Hundred Gods and Incantations of the Highest Thearch among the Nine Heavens in Highest Clarity (Shangqing jiutian shangdi zhu baishen neiming jing ????????????).
DZ1389. Jade Register of Eight Phosphors of the Golden Primordial of the Cavern of Perfection, the Lord of Great Dao the Most High of Highest Clarity (Shangqing gaosheng taishang dadaojun dongzhen jinyuan bajing yulu ?????????????????).
T. (Volume number of Taish? shinsh? daiz?ky? ???????).
T51. Records of Temples in Luoyang (Luoyang qielan ji ?????).
T52. Discourse on Differentiating the Right (Bianzheng lun ???).
Book of Han (Hanshu ??). Beijing ??: Zhonghua shuju ????.
Book of Later Han (Houhan shu ???). Beijing: Zhonghua shuju.
Book of Wei (Weishu ??). Beijing: Zhonghua shuju.
Book of Sui (Suishu ??). Beijing: Zhonghua shuju.
Old Book of Tang (Jiutang shu ???). Beijing: Zhonghua shuju.
Extended Continuation of the Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in Government (Xu zizhi tongjian changbian ???????). Beijing: Zhonghua shuju.
Ge Hong ??. 1985. Book of the Master Who Embraces Simplicity (Baopuzi ???) (Baopuzi neipian jiaoshi ???????). Collated by Wang Ming ??. Beijing: Zhonghua shuju.
Secondary sources
Kamitsuka Yoshiko ??. 2017. “Reih?kei ni okeru keiten shinseika no ronri: genshi ky?kei no ‘kaig? dojin’ setsu o megutte ?????????????????????????????????? [The Logic of the Sanctification of Scripture in the Numinous Treasure Scriptures: On Discourse about ‘Opening Kalpas and Salvation’ in the Original Scriptures of Primordial Beginning].” In D?ky? keiten no keisei to bukky? ?????????? [Formation of Daoist Scriptures and Buddhism], Nagoya daigaku shuppansha ????????, 36–73 (originally published in 2005: Nagoya daigaku bungakubu kenky? ronsh?, Tetsugaku ????????????.?? 51: 71–94).
Kim, Jihyun ???. 2006. “Daid? shinkei no jissh? ni okeru shintai: Unky? shichisen shaku sanj?ky?sh? kei o fumaete ???????????????—????????????????? [Body in Practicing the Dadong zhenjing: Based on the Jade Commentary].” T?h? Sh?kyo ???? 107: 19–41.
Kim, Jihyun ???. 2011. “Genshi to keishi: D?ky? ni okeru atarashii shi no kannen to sono tenkai ????? – ?????????????????? [Master of Mystery and Master of Scripture: New Concepts of Master in Daoism and Their Development].” In Sanky? k?sh? rons? zokuhen ??????????, edited by Mugitani Kunio ????, 57–97. Kyoto ??: Ky?to daigaku jinbun kagaku kenky?jo ???????????.
———. 2017. “Dogyo ?i ch?ngj?n hwa ?? ??? [Daoist Canonization: With a Focus on Model Narratives and Ritualization].” Han’guk sasang sahak ?????? [History of Korean Thought] 55: 205–245.
Kobayashi Masayoshi ????. 2003. “T?dai no d?ky? ky?dan to tenshi d? ???????????.” T?y? no shis? to sh?ky? ???????? 20: 20–49.
Kusuyama Haruki ????. 1979. Ro?shi densetsu no kenkyu? ???????. Tokyo ??: So?bunsha ???.
Matsuura Akira ???. 2007. “Kenry? jidai no Nagasaki raik? Ch?goku sh?nin: ? J?bu, ? Chikuri, Tei Sekij? o ch?shin ni ????????????? – ???·???·???????.” In Edo jidai t?sen ni yoru nitch? bunka k?ry? ???????????????, 174–218. Kyoto ??: Shibunkaku ???.
Mugitani Kunio ????. 2005. “D?ky? gis? to Nanbokuch? Zui shot? ki no d?ky? ky?rigaku ??????????????????” In Sanky? k?sh? rons? ??????, 99–186. Kyoto: Ky?to daigaku jinbun kagaku kenky?jo.
Nakajima Ryu?zo? ????. 2004. Unkyu? shichisen no kisoteki kenkyu? ??????????. Tokyo: Kenbun shuppan ????.
?fuchi Ninji. 1979. “The Formation of the Taoist Canon.” In Holmes Welch and Anna K. Seidel, eds., Facets of Taoism: Essays in Chinese Religion, 269–287. New Haven, NJ: Yale University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0395264900092817
Pregadio, Fabrizio, ed. 2008. The Encyclopedia of Taoism. 2 Volumes. London: Routledge.
Robinet, Isabelle. 1993. Taoist Meditation: The Maoshan Tradition of Great Purity. Albany: State University of New York Press.
Schipper, Kristofer. 1985. “Taoist Ordination Ranks in the Tunhuang Manuscripts.” In Religion und Philosophie in Ostasien, edited by Kristofer Schipper, 127–148. Würzburg: Königshuasen and Neumann.
Schipper, Kristofer and Franciscus Verellen, eds. 2008. The Taoist Canon. 3 Volumes. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Seidel, Anna. 1969a. La divinisation de Lao tseu dans le Taoisme des Han. Publications de l’École franc?aise d’Extrême-Orient. Volume 71. Paris: École franc?aise d’Extrême-Orient. https://doi.org/10.3406/ephe.1967.18418
Seidel, Anna. 1969b. “Image of Perfect Ruler in Early Taoist Messianism: Lao-tzu and Li Hung.” History of Religions 9. 216–247. https://doi.org/10.1086/462605
———. 1983. “Imperial Treasure and Taoist Sacraments: Taoist Roots in the Apocrypha.” In Tantric and Taoist Studies in Honour of R. A. Stein, volume 2, edited by Michel Strickmann, 291–371. Brussels: Institut Belge des Hautes Études Chinoises. https://doi.org/10.2307/601714
Wang, Chegwen. 2010. “The Revelation and Classification of Daoist Scriptures.” In John Lagerwey and Lu? Pengzhi, eds., Early Chinese Religion, Part Two: The Period of Division (220–589 AD), 775–888. Leiden: Brill. https://doi.org/10.1163/ej.9789004175853.i-1564.98
Zürcher, Erik. 1980. “Buddhist Influence on Early Taoism: A Survey of Scriptural Evidence.” T’oung Pao 66 (1/3): 84–147. https://doi.org/10.1163/156853280x00039
Published
2019-08-02
Issue
Section
Articles
How to Cite
Kim, J. (2019). Daoist Writs and Scriptures as Sacred Beings. Postscripts: The Journal of Sacred Texts, Cultural Histories, and Contemporary Contexts, 10(1-2), 122-143. https://doi.org/10.1558/post.38025
