Page 496 - The Encyclopedia of Taoism v1_A-L

THE ENCYCLOPED IA OF TAO ISM A- L

Fig. 37- Taoist Master Chen
Rongsheng I~~~ wears a
heavy brocaded daopao m fPJ
("robe of the Oao") in Tainan,
Taiwan Uanuary 1979). Photo-
graph by Julian Pas.

China, whose vestments were embroidered with patterns of flowing pneuma
(*qi) similar to clouds, as well as images of the celestial realm and the under-
world. The second is that, like the system of formal clothing used to identify
the nobility and senior bureaucracy in ancient China, Taoist robes indicated
various ranks of priestly attainment.
When Taoist traditions were systematized during the Six Dynasties, different
types of Taoist vestment were also described. According to the *Fengdao kejie
(Codes and Precepts for Worshipping the Dao; j. 5), priests of the *Zhengyi
rank wore a yellow gown and crimson inner and outer robes; priests of the
dongshen 1fiil:fEll (Cavern of Spirit) rank wore a yellow gown, a blue inner robe,
and a yellow outer robe; priests of the dongxuan 1fiil K (Cavern of Mystery)
rank wore a yellow gown, a yellow inner robe, and a purple outer robe; and
priests of the dongzhen 1fiil~ (Cavern of Perfection) rank wore a blue gown
and purple inner and outer robes (on the latter three ranks, see under *ORDI-
NATION AND PRIESTHOOD). This system remained largely unchanged in the
Yuan and Ming periods, as is evident in works such as the *Lingbao wuliang