Evolution of Daoism: Later Period Characteristics and Influences

1. Later Daoism ca. 400-1200 CE

2. Daoism and the State • Who was Kou Qianzi and why was he important? • What was the place of Kou's Daoism in the Toba Wei kingdom? • What were some of the elements of his "New Code"? • Where do we see borrowing from other religions? • Why was the Luoguan Daoist center important? • What religious element did the Luoguan Daoists add? • What's the evidence for the spread of popular Daoism? • What kinds of arguments were made in the Buddhist-Daoist debates? (107-8) • We know that the Tang emperors supported Buddhism. What was their stance toward Daoism and why? • How and why did emperor Xuanzong promote Daoism? • What role did Daoist priests play at court? Later Daoism

3. Ritual and Meditation • Daoism undergoes a reorganization in the early Tang. What is it called and what is new? • Influences from other religions? • How do the three Daoist deities match up with the three treasures of Buddhism? • How does ordination work in this scheme? • What is the place of women? • What outside influences can we see in the precepts? (123) • How does a Daoist ritual of this time unfold? • How does it differ from other Chinese rituals? • What is the Festival of Purgation, what is its goal and how is it carried out? • What were the goals of Daoist meditation? • How was it practiced? How does it compare to the Zen approach? (128) • What is the Twofold Mystery and what influence is evident? • Do Daoist rituals of this time seem easy or difficult? Why? • What was required? Later Daoism

4. Spells, Talismans, Inner Alchemy • What new social groups become important in the Song dynasty? • What economic change particularly affects Daoism? • How did Tantric Buddhism influence Daoism? • What are some of its important elements? • mantra, dharani, mudra, mandala • supernatural powers • How does Heavenly Heart differ from earlier Daoist schools? • What innovations are seen in Lingbao? • What is inner alchemy? • How is it done? (146) What is its goal? Later Daoism

5. Monastic Daoism • Look at the definition on p. 153. What in Daoist thought or practice is compatible with monasticism? • Where have we seen hermits or ascetics? • How did the Quanzhen school come to be established? • What was Chinggis Khan’s reaction to Qiu Chunji? • What was the impact on Daoism? • Were the Mongols always favorable to Daoism? • How would you evaluate the Quanzhen stance toward women? • What are some features of life at a Quanzhen monastery? • What influences do you see in the Qingjing jing excerpt at the bottom of p. 162? • What earlier Daoist practices does Quanzhen feature? • Any familiar deities? • Was there the possibility of practice by laypersons/non-monks? • Who were the eight immortals and why were they important? Later Daoism

6. Daoism today • How has Daoism fared in modern China? • What problems did it face? • What was the impact of the Great Leap Forward? • How do the Red Head and Black Head Daoists differ? • How is the jiao offering performed today? • How often and who attends? • What is Daoism’s other main function? • What happens in a Daoist funeral? • What is Qigong? What elements of Daoism does it feature? • How does it differ from Taiji guan? • What problems has Qigong had? • What are some of the basic principles of Falun Dafa? • How is it practiced? • What problems has it had? Later Daoism