Page 307 - The Encyclopedia of Taoism v1_A-L

268 T H E ENCYC LOPED IA OF TAO ISM A- L

deities of Chinese religion today. During the Ming, the Taoist establishment,
in an attempt to share in the god's popularity, adopted him into the Taoist
pantheon and made him a celestial executive who received orders from and
reported to *Laojun. A scripture was compiled accordingly, the Chenghuang
ganying xiaozai jifu miaojing ~ ~§[ ~ ~ 1~ 2». ~ *i~) #~ (Wondrous Scripture
on the Dispelling of Disasters and Accumulation of Happiness through the
Impulse and Response of the City God; CT 1447), which dates to after 1376.
The text describes Laojun seated in a jeweled hall before a great heavenly as-
sembly, and answering the questions of a Perfected called Vast Wisdom (Guang-
hui fftf. f.P;) on how to alleviate human suffering, and explaining the merits and
powers of the City God as bestowed by him. The text can be divided into nine
sections: 1. Openinggatha, a poem in praise of the City God; 2. The setting, a
description of Laojun and the heavenly assembly; 3. First dialogue, question by
Vast Wisdom and negative answer that describes human sinfulness; 4. Second
dialogue, rephrasing of the question and description of the great power of the
City God; 5. Homage to the City God, and a list of the god's representatives,
assistants, and guardian helpers; 6. The god's pledge, his own vow to help ev-
eryone in need; 7. Third dialogue, proposal by Vast Wisdom to perform good
actions toward the Dao and reconfirmation by Laojun; 8. Concludinggatha,
a poem highly lauding the City God's powers and dedication; 9. Conclusion,
departure of the gods and transmission of the scripture to humanity

LiviaKOHN
W Barrett 1991a; Feuchtwang 1977; Hamashima Atsutoshi 1992; Johnson
1985b; Kohn 1996b; Little 2000b, 260-61; Maspero 1981, 105-10; Taylor R. 1977;
Zito 1987; Zito 1996

~ TAOIS M AND POPULAR RELIGION

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This work is a compilation of Tang, Song, Yuan, and Ming texts. Its author,
Zhou Liijing )j!(Jm!~ (late sixteenth century), came from Jiaxing ~J! (Zhe-
jiang). He held no important post, but was in touch with eminent officials of
his region such as Peng Chongxi fIf; (rp r~ (late sixteenth century), the Minister
of Justice who wrote a preface to his work in 1579, and Wang Wenlu I )(;f~
(1503- 86; DMB 1449- 51), who wrote a postface also in 1579.