Introduction
Confucianism and Taoism are considered Chinese religions, but both began as philosophies. Confucius, like his successors, ignored the gods and turned to action. In turn, the Taoists appropriated Chinese folk beliefs and the structure of Buddhism. As a consequence, a separate current of "religious Taoism" emerged, different from the "philosophical Taoism" that was associated with the ancient Chinese thinkers Lao-Tse and Zuang-Zi.
Buddhism first arrived in China during the late Han dynasty, took root quickly and temples like the one in the picture were built. The Communists eliminated organized religion when they took power in 1949 and most temples were reorganized for secular uses. The 1978 Constitution restored some religious freedoms, and there are currently active Buddhist and Christian groups in China.
History
Since ancient times, Chinese religion consisted of the veneration of the gods led by Shang Di ("The Lord of Heights"), in addition to veneration of ancestors. Among the important families of the Chou dynasty, this cult consisted of sacrifices in closed places. During the period of the Disunited States (between 403 and 221 BC), the feudal states suspended sacrifices. In the Tsin dynasty, and in the beginning of the Han, the religious problems were concentrated in the "Commandments of Heaven". There were also followers of Taoism-mystical-philosophical that developed in separate regions, mixing with shamans and mediums.
At the end of the Han dynasty, large religious movements emerged. Zhang Daoling, claimed to have received a revelation from Lao-Tzu and founded the Tianshidao (The Way of the Heavenly Masters) movement. This revelation was intended to replace corrupted popular cults. The doctrine became the official creed of the Wei dynasty (386-534), successor to the Han, thus inaugurating the "religious Taoism" that spread across northern China.
The fall of the eastern Jin dynasty (265-316) caused many refugees to move south, taking the Tianshidao. Between 346 and 370, the prophet Yang Xi dictated revelations given by the immortal beings of heaven. His cult, the Mao Shan, combined the Tianshidao with southern beliefs. Other groups of southern aristocrats developed a system that personified Taoist concepts, turning them into gods. At the beginning of the 5th century, this system came to dominate the Taoist religion.
During the 6th century, with the reunification of China in the Sui and Tang dynasties, Taoism expanded throughout the empire and began to coexist with other religions, such as Buddhism and Nestorianism. Taoism continued to develop in the Song dynasty, expelled in 1126. Under the rule of later dynasties, the Taoist religion developed the Doctrine of the Three Religions (Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism).
With the advent of communism in China, religious Taoism fell victim to persecution. However, traditions have been maintained in mainland China and are managing to resurface.
Practices
Religious Taoism considers three categories of spirits:gods, ghosts, and ancestors. In the worship of the gods, prayers and offerings are included. Many of these practices originated from the Tianshidao rituals. The priesthood celebrated ceremonies of veneration to local deities and to the most important and popular gods, such as Fushoulu and Zao Shen. The most important ceremonies were performed by the priests, while the minor rituals were given to local singers. Exorcism and ancestor worship were frequent practices in Chinese religion. Religious Taoism has its own tradition of contemplative mysticism, part of which derives from its own philosophical ideas.
Chinese Civilization