Page 457 - The Encyclopedia of Taoism v1_A-L

418 THE ENCYCLOPED IA OF TAOISM A- L

Fig. 34. A Taoist master lights a candle during the fendeng (Division of the Lamps) ceremony.
Taiwan (March 1978). Photograph by Julian Pas.

fendeng

Division of the Lamps

The Division of the Lamps is one of the rites that compose the *zhai (Re-
treat) and *jiao (Offering) rituals, and is performed to remove pollution and
establish the altar (tan Ji). It comprises three originally separate rites that are
now performed in sequence: Division of the Lamps, Curtain-raising (juanlian
mmo, and Sounding the Golden [Bell] and Striking the Jade [Gong] (mingjin
jiayu p,~:3l£;r;;I.) . The entire series is usually called "Division of the Lamps"
or "Division of the Lamps and Curtain-raising."
In the Division of the Lamps proper, after the lights on the altar have all
been put out, a new fire is brought in and used to relight all the candles, to
the accompaniment of the words from section 42 of the Daode jing: "The Dao