Chinese thought is tolerance
Among the five major religions in China, Taoism is the only religion that originated in China and was founded by China people, so it is also called local religion. Taoism had a profound influence on politics, economy and culture in ancient China, and it was one of the three spiritual pillars of the ruling class. After the founding of New China, Taoism in China gained a new life through the democratic reform of religious system, and gradually embarked on the road to adapt to the socialist society. Since the reform and opening up, under the guidance of the religious policy of the Party and the government in the new period, Taoism in China has shown an unprecedented new atmosphere, which has made positive contributions to promoting economic development, social harmony, reunification of the motherland and world peace.
the emergence and development of Taoism
(1) Taoism and Taoism
Most scholars in modern China believe that Taoism and Taoism are two concepts that are interrelated and different. Sometimes it is customary to call Taoism Taoism and Huang Lao. Strictly speaking, the two are not exactly the same thing. The word "Taoism" first appeared in Sima Tan's "On the Essentials of Six Schools" in the Western Han Dynasty. It refers to the school represented by Laozi and Zhuangzi in pre-Qin hundred schools of thought, or refers to the study of Huang Lao, which prevailed during the Warring States Period, Qin and Han Dynasties. They all regard "Tao" as the highest category in their thoughts and theories, advocate respecting Tao and respecting virtue, imitating nature, governing the country by the law of purity and inaction, dealing with the belief in ghosts and gods, and dealing with the relationship between man and nature, so they are called Taoism. As for Taoism, it is a religious entity. As the name implies, "Taoism" means the enlightenment or preaching of "Tao", or a religion that believes in "Tao" and "becomes immortal and gains Tao" through spiritual cultivation. As a religious entity, Taoism not only has its unique classic teachings, immortal beliefs and ritual activities, but also has its religious inheritance, mission organization, discipline and precept system and places for religious activities. This kind of religious community is obviously different from the early Taoist school, but Taoism is the upper reaches of Taoism, and Taoism and Taoism's fundamental beliefs are all "Tao", so we must never arbitrarily divide them.
(II) The emergence, formation and development of Taoism
The Eastern Han Dynasty to the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties was the period when Taoism was formed and established. In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, the Yellow Road became a solid, and primitive folk religious groups such as Taiping Road and Tianshi Road were established one after another. After hundreds of years' transformation and development in Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, the classic teachings, practice methods, disciplines and rituals of Taoism gradually became complete, and the emerging Taoist schools bred and multiplied, and were recognized by the rulers and evolved into mature orthodox religions.
from the sui and Tang dynasties to the northern song dynasty, due to the respect of the ruling class, Taoism was extremely prosperous and had great social influence, and its philosophy, health preserving techniques, spells, and scientific regulations were also more perfect. After the late Tang Dynasty and the Northern Song Dynasty, there have been some new changes in Taoism, which are mainly manifested in the emergence of the idea of the integration of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism and the rise of the then-elixir Taoism school, which mainly practices inner alchemy. In the Southern Song Dynasty, Jin and Yuan Dynasties, Taoism changed. New schools of Taoism, such as Quanzhen Daoism, Taiyi Daoism and Zhendao Daoism, have appeared in North China, and new schools of Taoism, such as Southern Sect, Tianxin Sect, Shenxiao Sect, Qingwei Sect and Jingming Sect, have appeared in South China. The early Tianshi Daoism, Shangqing Sect and Lingbao Sect have also made innovations in their teachings and Taoism. Propagandizing the unity of the three religions and paying attention to the cultivation of inner alchemy are the main characteristics of Taoism in this period.
in the Ming and Qing dynasties, with the late feudal society in China, the development of Taoism was stagnant and rigid. Taoism in modern China inherited the legacy of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and it has been at a low ebb except for a few periods.
(3) Taoism in China from the founding of New China to the end of the Cultural Revolution (1949-1976)
After the founding of New China, some unreasonable systems and bad habits in Taoism in the old society were reformed, and Taoism took on a new look. The establishment of the Chinese Taoist Association has realized the great unity of Taoists all over the country, and the vast number of patriotic Taoists have begun to work together for the development of Taoism. Taoism was affected by the anti-rightist struggle, the Great Leap Forward, the people's commune and other political movements.
1. Democratic reform of Taoist religious system
Before liberation, Taoism was full of strong feudal flavor. It became a major task for Taoism in new China to educate the majority of Taoists in patriotism, reform the feudal economy of the palace view, abolish the feudal remnants of Taoism, and draw a clear line with reactionary sects. After the founding of New China, the majority of Taoists supported the socialist system and the leadership of the * * * production party. They spontaneously set up study groups to study patriotism, socialism and current affairs and politics, issued the Anti-imperialist Patriotic Declaration and launched a donation campaign to support the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea. Taoist temples conclude the Patriotic Convention, abide by national policies and laws, and automatically cancel the clean rules that conflict with national laws; In accordance with the instructions of the state on rural land and the spirit of land reform and urban real estate reform, the feudal economy was reformed accordingly, and the road of self-support based on labor and production was taken. Establish a democratic management Committee of Gongguan. Taoist circles also automatically draw a clear line with various reactionary sects and other secret religions. Through the democratic reform of the religious system, the whole Taoist circle has taken on a new look, and the development of Taoism has since entered a new historical period.
2. Establishment of Chinese Taoist Association
In the summer of p>1956, 23 famous Taoist figures, such as Yue Chongdai, abbot of Taiqing Palace in Shenyang, Yi Xinying, supervisor of Changdao Temple in Qingchengshan, Sichuan, and Chen Yingning, a Taoist layman, initiated it, and made extensive contacts with Taoists all over the country and the Chinese Taoist Association in propose to create. At the same time, the Preparatory Committee of Chinese Taoist Association was established. This initiative immediately received a warm response from Taoists all over the country, and also received the support and concern of the people's government and all walks of life. On April 8, 1957, 92 representatives of famous Taoist temples, Taoist schools and Taoist scholars from all over the country gathered in Beijing, held the first national representative meeting of Taoist circles in China, officially announced the establishment of the Chinese Taoist Association, and elected the first Council of the China Taoist Association composed of Quanzhen Taoist School and Zhengyi Taoist School leaders. Yue Chongdai was elected as the president, and the venue was located in Baiyun Temple, Beijing. The Congress formulated the Constitution of the Chinese Taoist Association, and determined that the Chinese Taoist Association is a patriotic Taoist group. Its purpose is: "to contact and unite Taoists all over the country and inherit and carry forward the fine traditions of Taoism; Under the leadership of the people's government, cherish the motherland and actively participate in the country's socialist construction and the movement to defend world peace; Assist the government in implementing the policy of freedom of religious belief. " The establishment of the Chinese Taoist Association has achieved great unity and unity among Taoists throughout the country.
the present situation of Taoism
in p>1978, the party central Committee began a comprehensive work to set things right. On religious issues, the CPC Central Committee has formulated a series of policies on religious work and put forward effective measures to solve practical problems. The work of bringing order out of chaos in Taoist circles is orderly and gradually completed. Under the guidance of the religious policy of the Party and the government in the new period, the educational activities of Taoism in China have been developed, the personnel training has achieved remarkable results, the Taoist research has shown a prosperous scene, and it has actively participated in social welfare undertakings and carried out friendly exchanges with foreign countries, showing an unprecedented new atmosphere.
1. Set things right in the Taoist circles
In May p>198, the Chinese Taoist Association held the third national congress soon after it resumed its work. The meeting determined the focus of Taoist work in the future, revised the constitution of the Chinese Taoist Association, and elected the third Council of the Chinese Taoist Association. This representative meeting is an important meeting in the history of Taoism, which has enabled Taoism to embark on a normal development track.
After the Third National Congress of the Chinese Taoist Association was held, the unjust, false and misjudged cases in Taoist circles were gradually rehabilitated, and some occupied temples were returned to Taoist circles for their own management. Yue Chongdai, Wang Xin 'an, Xiang Yuanli, Li Jingchen, Li Lishan and other patriots in the middle and upper Taoist circles were rehabilitated, and the reputations of Chen Yingning, Yi Xinying, Meng Minghui and Jiang Zonghan, leaders of the Chinese Taoist Association, were restored. Other Taoist patriots' wrongs and wrongs have all been rehabilitated. Many of them took charge of local Taoist associations and temples after rehabilitation, and some of them were elected as deputies to people's congresses and CPPCC members at all levels.
2. The contemporary Taoist education system has been initially established, and the training of talents has been strengthened.
From the reform and opening up to the early 199s, the Chinese Taoist Association has successively held five "specialized courses on Taoist knowledge" and one "advanced course on Taoist knowledge", and * * * trained 26 Taoist talents, most of whom have become the backbone of Taoist circles today. In May, 199, China Taoist College was formally established, which was the first modern college in the history of Taoism in China, marking a new step in the cultivation of Taoist talents. At present, 1 Taoist colleges and universities have been set up in the national Taoist circle, offering many majors such as lectures on Confucian classics, management of temples, and health care of Taoist doctors, covering three levels: master's degree, undergraduate course and junior college. At present, the work of compiling textbooks, conferring degrees and evaluating teachers' titles in Taoist colleges and universities is progressing steadily, and the standardization of Taoist colleges and universities is constantly strengthening. With the concerted efforts of Taoist circles all over the country, a Taoist education system has been initially established, in which the Taoist temples are responsible for basic education, provincial, city and county Taoist associations carry out short-term training, and Taoist colleges carry out professional education, thus effectively improving the situation in which Taoist talents are left behind.
3. Educational activities are carried out in an orderly manner
First, we should pay attention to running education in accordance with the law and regulations and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Taoism. Since the reform and opening up, with the support of party committees and governments at all levels, all parts of the country have actively promoted the restoration of Taoist activities, implemented real estate and property, and opened and repaired Taoist venues. In 1984, with the approval of the State Council, 21 national key temples, including Beijing Baiyun Temple, were opened, and then Taoist temples all over the country resumed opening one after another. At present, there are more than 8,2 legally registered Taoist places, with nearly 3, teaching staff registered by the government religious affairs department, and many places and personnel are being registered one after another. Taoist circles pay attention to improving the ability to do Taoist work well by using the rule of law and the rule of law, apply for the protection of intellectual property rights such as the flag and emblem according to law, and use legal means to solve things that hurt the feelings of Taoist circles, such as using the "city god" as a trademark for profit, and the ability to run teaching according to law has been greatly improved.
The second is to hold large-scale educational activities such as Quanzhen Sect preaching precepts and Zhengyi Sect teaching, so as to standardize the inheritance of the teaching system. In 1989, the Taoist circle held the Taoist Quanzhen Sect preaching activities in Baiyunguan Temple in Beijing, Changdaoguan Temple in Qingcheng Mountain in Sichuan in 1995, Wulonggong Palace in Qian Shan, Liaoning in 22 and Changchun Temple in Wuhan, Hubei in 216, respectively. * * * More than 1, Buddhist monks received the Three Altars Great Ring. In 1991 and 1995, the activities of awarding education to the overseas orthodox school and those to the mainland orthodox school were held in the Shihan Tianshi House in Longhu Mountain, Jiangxi Province respectively. Up to now, * * * has held 26 overseas conferments and 9 mainland conferments, and more than 6, disciples from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan and overseas, and more than 2,6 mainland Taoist priests have received the Dharma. The activities of conferring titles on Shangqing Zongtan in Maoshan, Jiangsu Province, which have been interrupted for hundreds of years, are also being actively prepared. The resumption of preaching and conferring activities has played a positive role in inheriting tradition, standardizing inheritance, strengthening faith, adhering to put in order's morality and establishing an image.
Third, do a good job in the construction of Taoist style and strengthen the management of Taoist temples. Taoist style is the external embodiment of Taoist belief and is related to the overall image of Taoism. Taoist circles attach great importance to the construction of Taoist style, and continue to thoroughly implement the policy documents of the central government, such as "Opinions on Handling Relevant Issues Concerning the Management of Buddhist Temples and Taoist temples", and have successively issued several documents on put in order Taoist style, strengthening the management of Taoist temples, and commercializing them, and advocating that temples around the country should be civilized, fragrant and reasonably released, and create harmonious Taoist temples, ecological Taoist temples and cultural Taoist temples; Formulate and issue the Statute of Taoist temples and Several Opinions on Taoist associations and temple officials taking the lead in strengthening the construction of Taoist style, and encourage Taoist associations and temples around the country to formulate implementation methods and clean-up lists suitable for local conditions, and strictly carry out the construction of Taoist style. In the three national selection of harmonious temples and churches organized by the United Front Work Department of the Central Committee and the State Administration for Religious Affairs, 153 collectives and 83 Taoist priests were commended. The fourth is to restore the Taoist tradition and hold Xuanmen lecture activities. Since 28, Taoist circles have held eight Xuanmen lectures in Laoshan Mountain in Shandong, Songshan Mountain in Henan, Wudang Mountain in Hubei, Huashan Mountain in Shaanxi, Taishan Mountain in Shandong, Chongqing City and Fenghuang Mountain in Liaoning, and * * * more than 15 Taoist priests went to the altar to give lectures. The Taoist community also organized outstanding lecturers to form a propaganda group to tour the grass-roots Taoist temples in the country, guiding local Taoist communities to carry out lecture activities, and further promoting the Taoist community to restore the tradition of studying, interpreting and giving lectures. Carrying out Xuanmen's lecture activities has played a positive role in Taoism's inheriting tradition, cultivating talents, adapting to the times and serving the society.
4. Actively carrying out Taoist academic research and vigorously promoting Taoist culture
Carrying out Taoist academic research is an important work carried out by Taoist circles in recent years. In May 198, the Third National Congress of the Chinese Taoist Association made a resolution that "Taoist research should be further carried out, and Taoist research should be one of the priorities in the future". In 1987, the journal of Taoist Association, which was originally distributed internally and irregularly, was revised into a quarterly publication of China Taoism, and in 1999 it was changed to a bimonthly publication. In 1989, the Institute of Taoist Culture was established, which further strengthened academic exchanges and cooperation with Taoist scholars at home and abroad. Since the beginning of the new century, in order to adapt to the characteristics and trends of information dissemination in the new era, the Chinese Taoist Association has successively established the website of the Chinese Taoist Association, the Weibo and the WeChat platform, which have enriched the dissemination channels of Taoist culture.
Over the years, Taoist circles have made remarkable achievements in developing Taoist studies and promoting Taoist culture. The Chinese Taoist Collection, compiled by the Chinese Taoist Association, is the first systematic and standardized collation and reconstruction of Taoist scriptures after the Taoist Collection in the Ming Dynasty, and is regarded as a major event in contemporary China cultural history and Taoist history. At present, the collection of Chinese Taoist scriptures, which is being compiled, has been highly valued by the party and the government and listed as a major cultural project in the national "Thirteenth Five-Year Plan". Large-scale series such as Integration of Taoism and Medicine and Essentials of Taoism and Classics will also be published soon. In addition, the Chinese Taoist Association has also compiled a series of books, such as "Lao Zi Integration", "Taoist Dictionary" and "Taoist Cultural Journey", which have had a good influence on society.
Taoist circles have held many influential Taoist cultural activities. Since 21, sixteen consecutive Taoist music performances have been held in mainland China, Hongkong, Taiwan Province and Singapore, with the participation of many Taoist orchestras at home and abroad, which has played a positive role in inheriting culture, displaying fine works and cultivating talents. Since 22, four seminars on Taoist thought and social development and progress in China have been held in Shanghai, Fujian, Hunan and Jiangxi, which have achieved fruitful results. At the same time, Lao Zi's birthday commemoration and Wang Zhongyang's 9th birthday commemoration were held, and Chengdu Taoist Culture Festival, yingtan Taoist Culture Festival, Guangdong Taoist Culture Festival, Hunan Taoist Culture Festival and Wudang Mountain Daxing 6th Anniversary Festival were held in cooperation with local Taoist circles. In 216, the first Taoist Culture and Art Week was held in Jilin City, Jilin Province to explore new ways to show the charm of Taoist culture in an all-round way.
5. Take an active part in socialist construction and carry out charitable activities
Since the reform and opening up, temples around the country have made positive contributions in maintaining cultural relics and historical sites, protecting and improving the ecological environment around temples, helping the poor with disaster relief, practicing medicine, supporting local schools and promoting local economic development, and have been well received by local governments and the masses. In 1993, for the first time, the Taoist community held a commendation meeting for advanced collectives and individuals who loved their country and religion. At the meeting, it was proposed that "the contribution of Taoism to society should be regarded as a central task, and a new trend of learning, encouraging and commending advanced should be set off in the Taoist circles throughout the country".
Taoist circles actively carry out charitable activities, and after the devastating floods in the Yangtze River basin, the Wenchuan earthquake and other major disasters, they all organize prayer meetings and donations in time.