Page 265 - The Encyclopedia of Taoism v1_A-L

226 THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TAOISM A-L

~~). Fourth, it opens the way to heaven (its seventh star is called Tianguan
7( mm or Heavenly Pass) in both meditation and ritual. This may take place
within the framework of exercises whose purpose is to unify the adept and
deities pertaining to the practices of Guarding the One (* shouyi). The best
known of these exercises is "walking along the guideline" (*bugang), frequently
related to the practice of "spreading open the Barrier of Heaven" (tianguan
:7( ~; Kroll 1986b).
Isabelle ROBINET

m Andersen 1989-9ob; Harper 1978-79; Kalinowski 1983,343-47; Kroll 1986b;
Robinet 1993, 200-225; Robinet 1984, 2: 58-65; Robinet 1997b, 142-47; Schafer
1977a, 42-53
* Beidi; Beidou xingjun; Doumu; Taiyi; bugang; jiugong; tianxin

Beidou xingjun

Star Lords of the Northern Dipper

The worship of polar deities occurs early in Chinese history as part of the
cult of longevity. Already by the Han period, lamps of seven wicks were used
for votive purposes in rituals for obtaining long life. The personification of
the stars of the Northern Dipper, specifically, dates to the Tang period and
was further developed in the Song period. At that time, on the basis of earlier
materials, the Beidou benming yansheng zhenjing ~t -4;,$: 1fP N:i=. J{ ~ (Authentic
Scripture of the Natal Destiny of the Northern Dipper for Extending Life;
CT 622) was composed. This scripture became one of the most popular and
widely recited religious texts in modern China.
Caroline GYSS

m Franke H. 1990; White 1945

* beidou; Wudoujing; DEITIES: THE PANTHEON