Page 38 - Chinese Porcelain Vol I, Galland

io CHINESE PORCELAIN.

Taoism.
The sect of the nationalists, or Tau-kia, was founded by
Lao Tsze, or Lau Kium, who is believed to have lived about
the same time as Confucius. The legend is that he was carried
before birth, so was born with white hair and
eighty years eye-
"
brows, hence the name Lao Tsze, or old boy," and afterwards
"
prince."
Lau Kium, or Laou Keun, that is, venerable He seems
to have taught contempt of riches and all worldly distinction,
advocating the subduing of the bodily passions. His followers,
however, as time went on, set themselves to discover the elixir
of life, and so degenerated into a species of alchemists, pro-
the science of and to have
fessing magic, pretending dealings
with the were in
spirits. During Tang dynasty they great
" Some
power, and received the title of Heavenly Doctors."
of the priests reached the highest honours in the State ; since
that they have been alternately favoured and persecuted, being
at the least of the three The
present popular religions. priests
of the sect live in temples with their families, cultivating the
ground ; but many lead a wandering life, supporting them-
selves as best they can by the sale of charms and medical
nostrums. They shave the sides of the head, the rest of the
hair fastened on the of the head in a coil means
being top by
of a ; they may also be their slate-coloured
pin recognized by
robes.
Buddhism,
"
called in China the religion of Fo," was introduced into
that country about the year 65 of our era, and the favourable
it met with was in measure due to its tenets
reception great
allowing the incorporation of strange deities, and even per-
mitting the worship of same by its priests, who were thus easily
able to adapt themselves and their religion to the use of the
Chinese. The Buddhists and Komish Church are alike in
the monastic habit ; the use of holy water, rosaries, candles,
incense, the ordinances of celibacy and fasting, reciting masses
for the dead, worship of relics, and canonization of saints ; both
teach a purgatory, and use a dead language for their liturgy.