The Taiping Sutra of Taiping Road

The publication of the Taiping Jing marked the initial formation of the basic religious teachings of Huang-Lao Taoism and had an important impact on the establishment of primitive Taoism in the Han Dynasty. Taiping Taoism is a branch of the early Huang-Lao Taoism. Its theoretical basis comes directly from the Taiping Jing. Zhang Jiao is the founder of Taiping Taoism.

"Taiping Qingling Shu" is generally considered to be the "Taiping Jing" in the current "Tao Zang". It was born out of "Tianguanli Baoyuan Taiping Jing" written by Gan Zhongke of Qi Dynasty in the Western Han Dynasty. "Hanshu Li Xun Zhuan" said that Gan Zhongke faked the twelve volumes of "Tianguan Li Bao Yuan Taiping Jing" and taught it to Xia Hexia, Ding Guangshi, Guo Chang and others. However, Liu Xiang objected, saying that he was "fake". Ghosts and gods go up to deceive the public." Zhongke died in prison. During the reign of Emperor Ai, due to Li Xun's sponsorship, this book became popular for a time; later, Xia Heliang and others were finally executed on charges of leftist disorder and political chaos, and Li Xun was also convicted of a serious crime. This book became a banned book and was secretly circulated among the people. As time went by, due to successive additions by translators, the volume became increasingly larger. By the time Gong Chong got the hands of him, it had become a giant work of one hundred and seventy volumes.

As for the content of the "Taiping Jing", the "Xiangkai Biography" is very simple, saying only: "It is based on worshiping the heaven and the earth and following the five elements. It also has the skills of revitalizing the country and promoting heirs." He also said : "There are many witches and murmurs". This is similar to the content of the "Taiping Jing" that remains in today's "Tao Zang", and does not have any revolutionary connotations. However, the "Book of the Former Han Dynasty·Li Xun Zhuan" quoted Gan Zhongke's "Tianguan Li Bao Yuan Taiping Jing", "It is said that when the Han family meets the end of heaven and earth, it should be ordered by heaven, and the emperor of heaven sent the red sperm to teach me this way. "Such words are not found in today's fragmented version of the Taiping Jing, but the prophetic slogan "Heaven is dead, Huang Tian shall stand" propagated by Zhang Jiao and others during the Yellow Turban Uprising may not have no origin, and may be influenced by it. Gan Zhongke's prophetic influence.

Since the defeat of the Yellow Turban Army, the Taiping Dao's huge momentum in the Central Plains has also been hit and collapsed. More than ten years later, Yu Ji, the person who first taught "Taiping Qingling Book" appeared again in Wu (Wuxian County, Jiangsu Province), Hui (Kuiji County, Zhejiang Province) and other places. He still used Fu Shui to heal, attracted many disciples, and won Sun Ce's favor. The beliefs of all the soldiers under his command aroused Sun Ce's anger and they were brutally killed. Taiping Road later had no chance of revival.

He first appeared in front of the peasant masses as a great virtuous teacher who was good at teaching Taoism. Around the Jianning period of Emperor Ling of the Eastern Han Dynasty (168-171 AD), Zhang Jiao began his preaching activities. He has been widely active in society by curing people with spells, attracting a large number of disciples, developing his power and expanding his influence.

After more than ten years of hard work, the Taiping Road founded by Zhang Jiao has developed into eight prefectures: Qing, Xu, You, Jing, Yang, Yan, Hebei, and Henan, connecting counties and counties, and Taoist disciples reaching Hundreds of thousands of Huanglaodao organizations.

Zhang Jiao’s method of preaching has many records in history books. "Book of the Later Han·Huangfu Song Biography" says: In the early days, the giant deer Zhang Jiao claimed to be the 'Great Master'. He served Huang Laodao, raised his disciples, knelt down and worshiped him, and used water charms to cure diseases. The patients were quite cured, and the people believed in him. Towards it. Jiaoyin sent eight disciples to the four directions to teach the world with good ways and to deceive others. In more than ten years, there were hundreds of thousands of disciples, connecting the eight prefectures of Qing, Xu, You, Ji, Jing, Yang, Yan, and Henan, and all of them responded. Then thirty-six squares were placed. General Fang You's name. There are more than ten thousand people in Dafang and six or seven thousand people in Xiaofang, each with his own commander. The "Three Kingdoms·Zhang Lu Biography" annotation quotes "Dianlue" as saying: In the light and harmony, there is Zhangjiao in the east,...the angle is the Taiping Road. ... Those who practice the Way of Taiping hold a nine-section staff as a talisman and teach people to kowtow and think about their faults, and then drink talisman water. If the disease is cured, it is said that this person believes in the Dao; if it does not heal, it is said that this person does not believe in the Dao. From these records, it can be seen that Zhang Jiao's preaching activities mainly used talismans and charms to treat people's illnesses. At the same time, he also recruited disciples and sent eight disciples to travel all over the world to teach the world with good ways. In addition, the teachings Zhang Jiao promoted to Taoist disciples incorporated the thoughts of the Taiping Jing and Huang Lao Taoism.

Since the middle period of the Warring States Period, the idea of ??gods has become popular in Chu and Yanqi areas. After the middle of the Western Han Dynasty, Fang Xiandao was attacked by public opinion due to his lack of experience in alchemy. The theory of Yin Yang and Five Elements alone seemed weak. At the same time, Huang Lao was increasingly losing power in politics. In addition, there was indeed mysticism for Fang Xiandao to rely on and develop. Connotation, Huang Laoxue and Shenxian art gradually merged together. "Book of the Later Han·Biography of Yimin·Jiao Shen" records: "Jiao Shen's courtesy name is Zhongyan, and he was a native of Maoling, Fufeng.

He was fond of Huang Lao when he was young, and lived in seclusion in the valley, because the caves were his chambers, and he admired the skills of pine and tree guides." His friend Wu Cang was dissatisfied with Jiao Shen for treating Huang Lao as a celestial being, and pointed out that "Gai heard Huang Lao's words and took advantage of the opportunity to enter. Ming, hiding and escaping, is also responsible for managing the country, raising people, and doing political things. It's like climbing a mountain and disappearing, God can't see its proof, and people can't see it. What do you think of me asking your husband to accept his request?" Jiao Shen ignored her and said, "I am over seventy years old and I refuse to marry you. Later, he suddenly returned home and told himself the day of his death, and expected his death. Later generations have seen those who were cautious in Dunhuang, so they were different from those in the previous life, and they may have become immortals." This legend about being careful and practicing immortality clearly points out that Huang Lao has the color of practicing Daoyin and becoming an immortal.

"Book of the Later Han·Biography of Xiangkai" records that Emperor Huan of Xiangkai mentioned that "it may be said that Laozi was a barbarian and turned into a barbarian". People have described Laozi as the great divine power that embodies nature and controls it, as well as the Tao of cultivation. The ever-changing savior and worshiped as the ancestor

The worship of Huang Lao had already appeared in the Chu region where Huang Lao learning was popular as early as the Ming Dynasty in the Eastern Han Dynasty. Wang Ying of Chu "liked Huang Lao even more during the late festival, and learned to fast and worship at Futu." Later, he was ordered to send a piece of silk to atone for his sins. In the third month of Jie Zhai, I made an oath to God. No matter how suspicious or doubtful, I should regret being stingy. "Volume 10 of Yuan Hong's "Records of the Later Han Dynasty" also states that King Liu Ying of Chu "celebrated Huang Lao in the late festival and built a pagoda temple." Worshiping and offering sacrifices to Huang Lao's idols and comparing Huang Lao to pagodas have revealed the religious flavor of Huang Lao. Chu Wang Ying became king in the fifteenth year of Jianwu and came to the country in the twenty-eighth year. He was "a good ranger in his youth and visited guests". In his later years, he believed in Huang Lao, which was definitely a personal belief. However, it was not unrelated to his being influenced by local ideas. King Ying of Chu initially governed Pengcheng. (Today's Xuzhou) and other eight cities, the Emperor of the Later Ming Dynasty specially took advantage of it, and the two counties of Changyang were located in the north and south of the Huaihe River. It was the place where the capital of Chu State moved eastward in the late Warring States Period and concentrated its management. "Book of the Later Han·Eight Kings of Xiaoming" "Biography of Chen Jing and Wang Xian" records that Chen Xiang Wei Qing and Chen Wang Liu Chong "offered sacrifices to Huang Laojun to seek longevity and blessings". "Contains: "I heard that the palace established the Huanglao Pagoda Temple. This way is pure and empty, noble and inactive, likes to live and kill, saves desires and abandons extravagance. "The Biography of Wang Huan" records: "In the reign of Emperor Yanxi, Emperor Huan went to Huanglaodao and destroyed all the houses and temples. ""Huan Di Ji" also records that Emperor Huan sent Zhong Chang to serve Zuo Guan in Ku County in the first month of the eighth year of Yanxi (165) to worship Laozi; in November of the same year, he also "sent Zhong Chang to serve in Guan Ba's Ku County to worship Lao Tzu"; In the second year, he "went to worship Huang Lao in Zhuolong Palace". From the general belief in Huang Lao's Weiyan to the worship of Huang Lao's idols, this was almost a direct inheritance from early Taoism. The tradition of Taoism and Huang Lao worship in the Han Dynasty, the Five Pecks of Rice Dao founded by Zhang Ling in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, and the Taiping Dao founded by Zhang Jiao are all derived from Huang Lao Dao. The "Book of the Later Han·Huangfu Song Biography" records: "In the early days, Julu Zhang Jiao claimed to be a great virtuous teacher. , serving Huang Laodao. "Zi Zhi Tong Jian·Ling Di Ji" in the sixth year of Guanghe's reign: "The giant deer Zhang Jiao served Huang Lao and taught witchcraft, named Taiping Dao. "The Book of the Later Han Dynasty·Liu Tao Biography" says: "At that time, a giant deer spread its horns and pretended to be on the road, bewitching the common people." "Religiously explained, the "Dao" entrusted and enshrined by Taiping Dao is the Supreme Laojun who "permanently governs Kunlun", that is, the deified Laozi. Taiping Dao may have just been a heretical group of Huang Laodao at the beginning. Zhang Ling was the leader of Pei State. Fengren (now Fengxian County, Jiangsu Province), was originally a student of Imperial College. He began to study Taoism in the fourth year of Emperor An's reign (125 years), and later entered Shu during the reign of Emperor Shun. According to "The Family of Heavenly Masters of the Han Dynasty" written by Zhang Changchang of the Ming Dynasty, he lived in Shun. In the first year of Emperor Han'an (142 years), he claimed to have been ordered by Taishang Laojun in Heming Mountain, and was granted the title of Heavenly Master, and established the Five Pecks of Rice Dao. From the fact that he enshrined Laozi as Taishang Laojun, it can be seen that Zhang Ling learned it during the reign of Emperor Han'an. The Tao of "Three Kingdoms·Book of Wei·Zhang Lu Zhuan" clearly points out that the Five Dou Rice Taoism is "mostly similar to the Yellow Turban". The annotation of "Dian Lue" also says that the Five Dou Rice Taoism advocates the practice of "making people sacrifice wine to the treacherous order, and offering wine to the owner." "Lao Tzu's five thousand essays have made everyone learn it." Taoists of all ages have called Zhang Ling's Tao the "Tianshi Tao." The "Taiping Jing" scriptures are written in the form of questions and answers between real people, gods, and Tianshi. And Tianshi The word "teacher" was first seen in "Zhuangzi Xu Wugui", which briefly states: When the Yellow Emperor went to the countryside of Xiangcheng, he happened to meet a boy herding horses, and asked him how to "serve the world". That's all." So "The Yellow Emperor bowed to Jishou again, called the Heavenly Master and retired."

Zhang Jiao believed in the "Taiping Sutra", and he named the Huang-Lao Taoist organization he founded Taiping Tao, which is the direct source In the "Taiping Jing". The so-called "Taiping Dao" refers to the meaning of "Taiping Dao", because the Taiping Dao is its covenant, its national wealth, its destiny, and its treasure. .

Volume 90: Nowadays, when you meet thousands of catties of gold and thousands of pairs of jade, it is not as good as having a wise master. If you learn without a wise master, how can you know where to start? If you want to govern the country happily and peacefully, but you can't do great virtuous things, how can you get it once? And Lihu·Volume 98: There are billions of stars, not as bright as one day. The words of the worms in the sky are not as good as the virtuous people in the country. Zhang Jiao calls himself a great virtuous teacher. In fact, he regards himself as a prophet and sage of the Taiping Dao. His purpose is to practice the Dao of Great Shun, to save the world and relieve the people, and to achieve peace in the world.

The main magic method Zhang Jiao preached was to teach people to kowtow and think about their faults, and to use talisman water to cure diseases. This concept of "kowtowing and thinking about one's faults" also comes from the "Taiping Jing". In Zhang Jiao's view, heaven conducts its activities according to the Tao, earth regards virtue as its home, and nature produces all things, with nothing to hide and no selfishness ③. People's faults are caused by their transgressions against heaven. To cure diseases, one has to kneel down and worship the first fault. The method of kneeling down and worshiping the first fault is to thank the sun on four sides in the wilderness, kowtow to each of the five elements, first look up to the sky, and then look back. Kowtow to the ground. ...The interpretation of son is greater than that of heaven and earth. Those who have experienced it later are all like Zi ④. Heaven can see human behavior and understand human language. To kneel down to heaven and earth is to ask the heavens, gods and earth to forgive you and relieve your sins and pain. Therefore, those who are in the wilderness should be in the clear land. Therefore, those on the Four Ways, The Taoist guides things; therefore, those who reach the four directions should pay attention to the four seasons. Heaven is the messenger of Qi, and it is the Son that communicates with Heaven. In the four seasons, benevolence arises, and the solution is greater than heaven and earth ⑤.

Another important magic that Zhang Jiao preached was the use of water talisman to cure diseases. Fu water therapy is also known as swallowing talismans and swallowing sperm. The Taiping Jing makes it very clear: What is the meaning of the word repetition? It guides the righteousness, and it is the word that guides the righteousness and enlightens the mind. ... Those who swallow the essence are called gods. ... With Dan as the character, the first one above, the next time you go down, you will tell people, they will make you bathe and drink, tell them from the north, west, south, east body. ...or you may see the word and think about it according to where the disease is. It is called "returning essence and nourishing body" ①. The so-called "repeated character" refers to Fuwen, which is the prototype of Taoist talismans. Swallowing essence means swallowing talismans. Using Dan as a character is a magical symbol written with a vermilion pen. It is a figure with curved strokes that resemble characters but not characters.

The so-called talisman water treatment is to burn the talisman into ashes and drink it with wine or water, which is to swallow the talisman.

To swallow a talisman is to keep the talisman in your heart. When the mind is thinking about it, the magical power of the talisman will be released. When the divine power is released, all diseases will be driven away, and the person will return to a healthy state and be full of energy. Therefore, "Taiping" "The Sutra" says: If you swallow my words today, you will be able to use other literature and teachings in the future, and the teachings will be responded to hundreds and hundreds of times. It is the Tao, and in a moment, it will circulate in all directions and six places, and the spirit will follow and cure the disease. ②This is Zhang Jiao's talisman water healing spell, also known as "blessing", which is the word of God. Its power is boundless. If you chant it, you can cure diseases.

"The Book of Taiping", Volume 50, "Seventy-five Divine Blessings", calls mantras as divine blessings: There are always sacred words in the sky, and nowadays they are taught to people, and they are used to make the gods come and go according to the breath. That is, when the people get it, they call it "God's blessing".

Wish you, may you hit a hundred, may you hit ten out of ten, may you be the God in heaven who has passed down scriptures and scriptures. Its blessing can make the god position to cure diseases, and all the people gathered in the ten will be cured wherever they are used. But the disease can be cured by words, this is the prophecy of the gods in heaven. He also said: This is the divine voice in heaven, originally meant to call God. The name of the phase is leaked from time to time, and Taoists have to pass it on, and pass it on with phase words, so it can cure diseases, just like the words of strangers cannot cure diseases. "Book of the Later Han·Xiangkai Zhuan" annotated this passage from the "Taiping Jing": There are always sacred words in the sky. Nowadays, people are taught to speak them, and the gods are used to come and go according to the qi. When people get it, they are called divine curses. . A hundred out of 100 curses will hit a hundred, and ten out of ten. This curse can cause God to eliminate disasters and diseases, and cure everything wherever it is used. Zhang Jiao's "mantra cure" is to recite the mantra to the patient. The book of the mantra is called the prophecy book. It is a divine word and has supreme magical power. By reciting the mantra, all diseases can be eliminated.

When Zhang Jiao preached, the teacher held a nine-section staff as a talisman. The nine-section staff, which means a staff, is also a tool for preaching, and it also comes from the "Taiping Jing". Volume 42 of the "Taiping Jing" says: By controlling the will of Heaven and harmonizing the nine qi, and harmonizing the hearts of the nine people, it can bring peace to the emperor. The so-called nine people refer to the invisible gods and men whose duties are to manage the vitality; the great god's duty is to manage the heaven; the real person's duty is to manage the earth; the immortal's duty is to manage the four seasons; the great man's duty is to manage the five elements; the sage's duty is to manage the yin and yang. The sage's duty is to manage documents and all teach words; the civil servant's duty is to manage vegetation and grain; the servant's duty is to manage money and goods. "Taiping Jing" Volume 71 says: There are nine degrees of Tao.

...The first one is the inaction of the vitality, the second one is the calming of nothingness, the third one is visible in several degrees, the fourth one is the spirit that wanders out and returns, the fifth one is the god of the great road which is similar to the four seasons and five elements, the six one is the joy of stabbing, the seventh one is social planning, and the eight one is the god of thorns and joy. As a foreign god, Jiu is the first of his family.

Each thing is nine, ninety-nine and eighty-one, and the secrets of different texts are used, then the root is one big root, with God as its envoy... The top three, ninety-nine and twenty-seven are , can save the world; the middle number 3927 can make a true divine official; the bottom 3927 have many ways. That is to say, the nine-section staff is similar to a scepter, which can both summon gods and impeach ghosts. Holding the staff can manage the affairs of nine people and nine qi, control the world and all things, and can save people and achieve enlightenment.

Zhang Jiao served Huang Lao Tao. In the process of preaching, he taught the world with Huang Lao's good Tao. Huanglaodao became Zhang Jiao's tool to promote the people and organize Taoist disciples. At that time, many people in the Eastern Han Dynasty believed in Huang Lao Taoism, and many rulers also believed that he taught the people good Taoism. Even people from the eight states of Qing, Fu, You, Ji, Jing, Yang, Yan, and Henan responded. Or they abandon their property and move to ①. After more than ten years of preaching, Zhangjiao's followers have grown to hundreds of thousands.

The Taiping Dao founded by Zhang Jiao enshrines Huang Lao as its god, and also worships Zhonghuang Taiyi. Taiyi is also known as Taiyi. "Historical Records Tianguan Shu" says that Taiyi lived in Beichen of Ziwei Palace: The Celestial Pole Star in the middle palace, one of which is bright, is where Taiyi always resides. Zhang Shoujie's "Justice" says: Taiyi is another name for the Emperor of Heaven. During the Qin and Han Dynasties, Taiyi was considered to be the North Pole Heavenly Emperor or Heavenly Emperor of Ziwei Palace. He was the highest god in the center of the sky who dominated the four directions. "Historical Records: Book of Fengchan" says: The noble one in heaven is Taiyi, and Taiyi's assistant is called the Five Emperors. During the Han Dynasty, Taiyi was regarded as a more powerful god than the Yellow Emperor, the Beidou God. "Book of Han·Biography of Wang Mang" quotes from "Purple Pavilion Pictures": Taiyi and Huangdi are both immortals in heaven. Wei Shu's "Spring and Autumn Hecheng Tu" also says that Huangdi asked Taiyi how to live forever. The belief in Taiyi also appears in the Taiping Jing, and there is the concept of Taiyi in the center. "The Taiping Jing" says: However, the reason why the way of heaven and earth can be long-lasting is because it keeps the Qi and never ceases. ...it is from the top of the sky, heading towards the middle pole, receiving the talisman and walking, flowing around the cave reaching six directions and eight distances, for infinite time. ①Taipingdao is preceded by Taiyi with the word Zhonghuang, which should be related to the theory of the end and beginning of the Five Virtues. Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty obtained the red talisman and proclaimed himself emperor, and regarded himself as the virtue of fire. The theory of the mutual generation of the five elements is based on the order of wood - fire - earth - metal - water. Fire can generate earth. Among the five elements, earth is in the middle. The color is yellow, and yellow is the color of good luck.

Taiping Dao regards earth as auspicious, and Huang Taiyi is believed to advocate yellow. This implies that Zhangjiao Taiping Dao, which mainly transports earth virtues, will soon replace the Eastern Han Dynasty, which mainly transports fire virtues, and establish the Huangtian Taiping society. desire. Zhang Jiao called himself Huang Tian, ??wrapped his head in a yellow scarf, put forward the slogan "The sky is dead, Huang Tian should be established," and worshiped Huang Taiyi as a god. This is the reason.

In addition to preaching in his hometown of Jizhou, Zhang Jiao also sent eight disciples to preach in various places. In just over ten years, people from eight of the twelve states in the country participated in Taiping Taoism, with hundreds of thousands of Taoist followers. In order to facilitate organization and management, Zhang Jiao organized the Taoist disciples all over the eight states of Qing, Xu, You, Ji, Jing, Yang, Yan, and Henan into diocesan organizations based on squares. There are thirty-six squares in the country. Dafang has more than 10,000 people and Xiaofang has 6,000 or 7,000 people. Each party has Qu Shuai in charge of its affairs.

In this way, after more than ten years of founding activities, Zhang Jiao finally established a huge Huang-Lao Taoist organization - Taiping Taoism - with hundreds of thousands of believers in more than two-thirds of the country's state capitals.