Page 363 - The Encyclopedia of Taoism v1_A-L

324 THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TAOISM A-L I

Another issue discussed in the Daomen kelue is the ordination and promotion
of novices and priests. The advancement of believers in the Taoist hierarchy
traditionally followed a strict form and order. At each level, novices were
invested with a higher rank and more registers, which provided them with a
larger number of otherworldly beings under their command. Lu complains
that by the fifth century these rules were no longer being followed, with people
arbitrarily receiving registers and advanced ranks in the Taoist hierarchy.
The Daomen kelue also shows the high degree of competition between the
Taoist community and other religious or healing specialists. The author con-
demns the use of divination and mediums, any form of healing that falls outside
the traditional Celestial Masters practices of repentance (see *chanhui) and
prayer, and the use of talismans (*FU). The so-called "licentious cults" (*yinsi)
are especially censured for their blood sacrifices. In contrast, Lu emphasizes
that Taoism offered only pure (i.e., non-meat) offerings in their interactions
with the otherworldly bureaucracy.

Amy Lynn MILLER
ID Lai Chi-tim 1998b; Nickerson I996a (trans.)

* Lu Xiujing; Lingbao; ORDINATION AND PRIESTHOOD; TAOISM AND POPULAR
RELIGION

Daomen shigui

Ten Guidelines for the Taoist Community

*Zhang Yuchu (1361-1410), Celestial Master of the forty-third generation, com-
piled this reference work (CT 1232) following an imperial commission in the
summer of 1406 to work on a collation of texts that eventually resulted in the
so-called *Zhengtong daozang (Taoist Canon of the Zhengtong Reign Period).
His concise handbook opens with an undated statement of presentation
sketching the textual history of Taoism from the Daode jing to the commentary
authorized by the Hongwu Emperor Cr. 1368-98). It is essential, according to
Zhang's view, to be well-informed on the origins of two schools of instruction,
*Zhengyi and *Quanzhen, and of three lineages of ritual practice, *Qingwei,
*Lingbao, and Leiting rh tr (Thunderclap). He also writes that he compiled
the Daomen shigui with the hope that it would help lead to a revitalization of
the legacy of *qingjing (clarity and quiescence). The ten subjects covered in
his text are: