
Phase 1: The Beginning of Taoist Culture
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Hello everyone! Welcome to our Taoist Culture Science Popularization Classroom~As the only traditional religion born and raised in China, the story of Taoism can be traced back thousands of years!
In fact, as early as ancient times, our ancestors were full of reverence for all things in nature and ghosts and gods, and could predict good and bad through divination. This is the germ of Taoist culture. In the Yin and Zhou dynasties, offering sacrifices to heaven and ancestors became an important ritual - such as using turtle shells to divine and ask for divination, and placing cattle and sheep offerings to worship gods. These worship of "supernatural powers" gradually gave birth to early belief systems.
It was during the reign of Emperor Shun of the Eastern Han Dynasty that Taoism truly took shape as a religious prototype. When Zhang Daoling was practicing Taoism at Heming Mountain in Shu Commandery (now Dayi County, Sichuan Province), he claimed to have been personally taught the "Three Day Correct Method" by the Grand Master Laojun. He began to use talismans and mantras to treat diseases and preach, and founded an early Taoist organization. Later, his grandson Zhang Lu further spread the teachings, which became the earliest form of Taoism known as the "Heavenly Master Dao".
Taoism regards Laozi as its founder, respectfully addressing him as the "Grand Master Laojun," and regards the Tao Te Ching as its core classic. The book states that "the Tao gives birth to one, one, two, two, three, and three all things", which means that "the Tao" is the origin of the universe. It advocates "the Tao follows nature" (doing things according to natural laws) and "governing by inaction" (not forcibly intervening, following laws), pursuing harmonious coexistence between humans, nature, and society.
In addition to philosophical ideas, the connotation of Taoist culture is very rich!
• Theological system: enshrining immortals such as the Three Pure Ones (Yuqing Yuanshi Tianzun, Shangqing Lingbao Tianzun, Taiqing Daode Tianzun) and the Jade Emperor, forming a vast lineage of deities;
• Cultivation Techniques: Alchemy (the Golden Elixir for Pursuing Immortality), Inner Alchemy (Qigong for Cultivating Self Cultivation and Health), and Talisman Spelling (drawing talismans and chanting mantras to ward off evil and treat diseases);
Ethical norms: Advocate for "doing good deeds and accumulating virtues" and "loyalty, filial piety, friendship, and brotherly love". For example, the "Tai Shang Gan Yin Pian" teaches people to refrain from doing evil deeds and to practice all good deeds.
From acupuncture and moxibustion in traditional Chinese medicine, Tai Chi in martial arts to fairy tales in classical literature (like Taoist fairy tales in Journey to the West), from festival customs (inserting wormwood to dispel evil spirits originated from Taoism) to the "seclusion" in landscape paintings, Taoist culture has long been integrated into the blood of Chinese culture. In the next issue, let's delve deeper into the core idea of Taoism, 'Dao'. Remember to stay updated!