Taoism, an ancient religion deeply rooted in the land of China, has become an important part of traditional Chinese culture with its profound cultural heritage and wide range of belief groups. Among the many schools of Taoism, the Shangqing School has attracted countless people seeking truth and wisdom with its unique spiritual philosophy and profound historical heritage.
Today, let's walk into the world of the Shangqing School and explore the mysteries.
1. The origin of the Shangqing School and the legend of the ancestors
The Shangqing School of Taoism is a Taoist sect formed in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, with the "Shangqing Sutra", "Shangqing Dadong Zhenjing" and "Huangting Sutra" as the main classics, with Wei Huacun as the patriarch of the sect, and the Yuan Shi Tianzun and Taishang Daojun as the supreme gods. The Shangqing school emphasizes the cultivation of the essence and spirit in the human body, re-ascending the fasting and entering the Jing, contemplating the image of the gods, and not re-refining the outer pills.
The formation and development of the Shangqing School has a profound historical background. In the second year of Emperor Xingning of the Jin Dynasty (364 years), Yang Xi, a Taoist priest of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, sent a pen, saying that Zixu Yuanjun Shangzhen Si ordered Mrs. Nanwei to grant 31 volumes of the "Shangqing Sutra", and ordered Yang Xi to write it out with Lishu, so as to pass on the historical sentence of the military commander Xu Mi and his son Xu Xun, and the second Xu passed on the "Shangqing Sutra", and practiced the Shangqing Sutra to obtain the Tao. Jiangdong Taoist priests Mu Shangqing Sutra is rich and broad, and they compete to copy it, so the Shangqing School of teaching and practicing the "Shangqing Sutra" was formed in Jiangdong area.
The Shangqing School was vigorously developed in the Tang Dynasty, and was widely respected by the royal family and celebrities in the Tang Dynasty, so many Taoist masters and classic works appeared in the Shangqing School during this period. During the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, Taoism was further developed, many classics were sorted out, and Taoism resumed its prosperity and further increased its influence.
The Shangqing School has an important place in history, and its cultivation methods and teachings have had a profound impact on Taoism in later generations. In addition, the Shangqing School also added rich content to the development of Taoism with its unique practice methods and concepts.
The patriarch of the opening faction, Wei Huacun-Zixu Yuanjun
Wei Huacun, the patriarch of the Shangqing faction, was born in 252 A.D. and died in 334 A.D., a talented and legendary female Taoist priest from Rencheng (present-day Jining, Shandong) during the Jin Dynasty. She is known as Zixu Yuanjun and Mrs. Wei in later generations, and is one of the four goddesses worshiped by Chinese folk beliefs and Taoism.
Wei Huacun was born in a prominent family, and her father, Wei Shu, was Situ, and this family background provided her with a good educational environment. She is well-read, well-versed in Confucianism and the Five Classics, especially fond of Lao Zhuang philosophy, and this profound cultural heritage has laid a solid foundation for her future cultivation. However, her parents did not support her cultivation at first, and when Wei Huacun was twenty-four years old, her parents forcibly married Liu Yi (character Youyan) of Taibao Peng Nanyang. Liu Yi was appointed as the county commander of Xiuwu (in present-day Henan), and Wei Huacun followed him to the office and had two sons.
Despite being in marriage and family, Wei Huacun did not give up his pursuit of Taoism. After she left her home, she fasted and cultivated for many years, searched for Taoist books and secrets, and once sacrificed wine for the Heavenly Master. In this process, she received the "Way of Divine Truth" from Wang Bao, a pure and true person, and Jinglin Zhenren even taught her the "Huang Ting Jing". This sutra became an important guide for her later practice.
Wei Huacun's path to cultivation was not all smooth sailing. She has gone through hardships, but she has always adhered to her beliefs, and finally obtained the true transmission of the Shangqing School of Taoism, and is revered as the first generation of the master of the Shangqing School of Taoism. Her spiritual achievements are not only reflected in her personal spiritual sublimation, but also in her development and dissemination of the teachings of the Shangqing School. Her teachings influenced countless later followers of Taoism, making the Shangqing sect increasingly prominent in Taoism.
In addition to her spiritual achievements, Wei Huacun is also known for her wisdom and supernatural powers. It is rumored that in the predicament that Li Shimin's army retreated to Mujian Mountain, the people were sleepy and the horses were lacking, and they were already out of food, Wei Huacun gave food to the rescue, so that the army could rest and finally defeated Wang Shichong. This deed not only shows her great powers, but also reflects her deep feelings for the country and the nation.
Wei Huacun's life is full of legends. With her extraordinary talent and unwavering faith, she made outstanding contributions to the development of the Shangqing School of Taoism. Her story not only inspired later Daoist believers, but also provided us with an important window into Daoist culture and history. Today, we can still draw wisdom and strength from her story and feel the unique charm of Taoist culture.
2. Classics and Wisdom Inheritance
The classics of the Shangqing School, the Shangqing Sutra, the Shangqing Dadong Sutra and the Huangting Sutra are all important texts of Taoist practice, each carrying the unique practice philosophy and wisdom of the Shangqing School.
The Sutra is an important classic of the Shangqing School, and its main content is related to how practitioners can petition the gods in order to pray for the protection and guidance of the gods. Through the invocation ceremony, practitioners are able to communicate with the gods and receive revelations and blessings from the gods, thereby improving their spiritual realm. This classic embodies the Shangqing School's unique understanding of the relationship between man and God, emphasizing the harmonious coexistence and interdependence of man and God.
"Shangqing Dadong Sutra" is one of the core classics of the Shangqing School, which mainly tells how to achieve the realm of unity with the Tao through the cultivation of the Dadong Sutra. The sutra describes in detail the various methods and steps in the cultivation process, including meditation, chanting, mantras, etc., and is designed to help practitioners gradually comprehend the true meaning of the Tao and achieve the goal of longevity. At the same time, the Shangqing Dadong Sutra also emphasizes the virtues and attitudes that practitioners should have, such as purifying the body and mind, removing distracting thoughts, and strengthening beliefs.
The Huang Ting Jing is another important classic of the Shangqing School, which mainly expounds the Taoist practice of preserving the spirit and cultivating qi. The sutra corresponds to the five internal organs, joints and pores of the human body one by one with the gods, and believes that every portal of life and death in the human body has a god in charge. By contemplating the gods and returning them to the body, one can attain immortality. At the same time, the "Huang Ting Jing" also put forward the theory of the three dantians, the eight scenes, and the twelve true human body and body gods, and clearly described the names, appearances, and functions of these body gods. This sutra is of great significance for understanding the Taoist view of the human body and the method of practice.
3. The essence and uniqueness of the Shangqing School
The essence of the Qing school lies in emphasizing the cultivation of the essence and qi in the human body, paying attention to the image of the gods, and not refining the outer pills. This is markedly different from other schools of Taoism. While other schools may focus more on alchemy and spells, the Shangqing school focuses more on the inner cultivation of the person, pursuing the purification and sublimation of the mind.
Fourth, the origin of the patriarch of the Shangqing faction and Li Shimin, the king of the Tang Dynasty
According to legend, in the predicament that Li Shimin's army retreated to Mujian Mountain, people were sleepy and horses were scarce, and they were already starved of food, Wei Huacun appeared in the image of an old woman, carrying a rice can, holding a handful of grass, and giving food to Li Shimin's army. With Wei Huacun's help, the army was given plenty of food and finally succeeded in defeating the enemy. This deed not only shows Wei Huacun's vast powers and compassionate heart, but also reflects the deep relationship between her and Li Shimin.
After Li Shimin became emperor, in order to thank Wei Huacun for his kindness, he specially sent the founding general Wei Chi Jingde to supervise the temple to commemorate the ancestor of the Shangqing faction, and the temple is still intact in the Erxian Temple in Qinyang City, Henan Province. This move not only reflected Li Shimin's respect for Taoist culture, but also further deepened the historical connection between him and Wei Huacun.
Fifth, Song Taizong asked for rain and repaired the ancestral court of the Shangqing Dynasty - Jingying Temple
During the Song Dynasty, there was a story deeply rooted in the hearts of the people between the rain ceremony and the Shangqing patriarch Wei Huacun and Jingying Temple.
Wei Huacun, as the first generation of the Shangqing School, his profound Taoism and vast supernatural powers were widely spread in Taoism. She not only achieved outstanding achievements in her spiritual practice, but also showed miracles many times in times of crisis for the people with compassion to help the people overcome difficulties.
During the time of Zhao Guangyi, Taizong of the Song Dynasty in the Song Dynasty, a certain place suffered a major drought, the fields were dry and cracked, and the people were struggling to make a living. In order to pray for rain, local officials and people went to Jingying Temple (the temple where Wei Huacun was worshipped) to pray for rain. Jingying Temple, as Wei Huacun's dojo, naturally carries people's deep beliefs and expectations for this patriarch.
During the rain prayer ceremony, officials and ordinary people reverently recited scriptures, burned incense and prayed for blessings, praying that Patriarch Wei Huacun would manifest his spirit and bestow him with rain. Their sincerity touched heaven and earth, and also moved Patriarch Wei Huacun. Legend has it that shortly after the rain prayer ceremony, the sky was cloudy and a light rain fell. The rain not only alleviated the drought, but also strengthened the people's belief in Patriarch Wei Huacun.
The success of this rain prayer not only reflects the vast supernatural powers and compassion of Patriarch Wei Huacun, but also highlights the important position of Jingying Temple in the hearts of the people. As a result, Jingying Temple is even more prosperous, and has become an important place for local people to pray for peace and well-being.
Emperor Taizong of the Song Dynasty also allocated a large-scale renovation, rebuilt the ancestral court of the Shangqing Dynasty, and gave the name Jingying Temple.
Sixth, the ancient sayings are interpreted today, and the source of wisdom of the Shangqing School is explored
"It's a good way, it's a very good way. This ancient Taoist saying may be used to interpret the source of wisdom of the Shangqing School. What the Shangqing School pursues is the kind of Tao that transcends words and penetrates into the hearts of the people. It teaches us that spiritual practice is not about seeking external prosperity and bustle, but about finding that peace and tranquility in the depths of our hearts.
In this noisy world, the Shangqing School provides us with a haven to find inner peace and pursue the true meaning of life. It makes us understand that true practice is not to stay away from the world, but to be able to maintain a pure heart after the prosperity has fallen.