1 The Taoist “Renaissance” Jeff Richey, Ph.D. REL 213 Taoism and the Arts of China Berea College Short Term 2004

2 SONG 宋 DYNASTY CHINA ( CE)  Confucian scholars help stabilize Song dynasty after fall of Tang 唐 ( )  Grateful Song emperors embrace Confucianism and continue late Tang anti- Buddhist policies, although some support Taoism  After 1126, northern Song is lost to Jin 金 “barbarians,” intensifying perception of dynastic and social fragility  General religious tone of Song: moralistic, nationalistic, syncretistic

3 TAOISM IN THE SONG  1019: Emperor orders first organization of Taoist canon (collection of authoritative texts)  1119: First mass printing of Taoist canon  1126: After loss of north, traditions based on Celestial Masters (Tianshi 天師 ) flourished in the south, while new traditions arose in the north – the “Taoist Renaissance”

4 “RENAISSANCE” OR “REFORMATION”?  Under foreign domination (Jin, ; Yuan 元, ), Taoist movements in northern China undergo a radical transformation  Previous ritual traditions disregarded  Syncretic adaptation of Buddhist and Confucian elements  Strong emphasis on personal morality  1281: All Taoist texts burned by imperial order  Gradual disappearance of Taoism from public view

5 QUANZHEN 全真 (COMPLETE PERFECTION)  Founded by Wang Chongyang 王重陽 ( ), ex-Confucian official  Interiorizes previously external practices (e.g., alchemy)  Spiritualizes previously physical goals (e.g., immortality)  Syncretistic blend of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism  Ascetic in character and monastic in organization

6 INNER ALCHEMY (NEIDAN 内丹 )

7 SEVEN TAOIST MASTERS (Qidaoshi 七道師 )  “Folk novel”: compiled by unknown author from oral sources  Possibly as early as Ming 明 ( ), but probably dating from early Qing 清 ( )  Describes “Seven Perfecteds of the North” (Beiqizhen 北七真 )  Provides “road map” to Quanzhen spiritual path

8 MA DANYANG 馬丹陽 (1100s)  Converted by Wang Chongyang along with his wife, Sun Bu’er 孫不二  PROBLEM: complacency  SOLUTION: simplicity  SACRIFICE: wealth

9 SUN BU’ER 孫不二 ( )  Converted by Wang Chongyang along with her husband, Ma Danyang 馬丹陽  PROBLEM: intellectualism  SOLUTION: selflessness  SACRIFICE: beauty

10 QIU CHANGCHUN 丘長春 ( )  Succeeded Wang Chongyang as Quanzhen leader  Courted by various emperors  PROBLEM: impatience  SOLUTION: faith  SACRIFICE: security

11 LIU CHANGSHENG 劉長生 ( )  Became active Quanzhen missionary and eventual head of Quanzhen tradition  PROBLEM: sexual desire  SOLUTION: control  SACRIFICE: reputation

12 TAN CHANGZHEN 譚長真 ( )  Popularized idea of Quanzhen self- cultivation for solitary laypersons  PROBLEM: pride  SOLUTION: discipline  SACRIFICE: comfort

13 HAO TAIGU 郝太古 ( )  Became active Quanzhen missionary  Incorporated Chan 禪 Buddhist ideas into Quanzhen  PROBLEM: inflexibility  SOLUTION: altruism  SACRIFICE: property

14 WANG YUYANG 譚長真 ( )  Emphasized wuwei 無爲 as ideal for Quanzhen practice  PROBLEM: competitiveness  SOLUTION: meditation  SACRIFICE: respect

15 THEMES IN SEVEN TAOIST MASTERS  Importance of isolation in self-cultivation: 1.Spatial isolation 2.Social isolation  Importance of discipline in self-cultivation: 1.Physical discipline 2.Mental discipline  Harmony of the “Three Teachings” (Sanjiao 三教 ): 1.Buddhism 2.(Neo-) Confucianism 3.Taoism

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