The Evolution of Daoist Cosmology and the Construction of the Common Sacred Realm

Title

The Evolution of Daoist Cosmology and the Construction of the Common Sacred Realm

Author

Terry Kleeman

Page

89-110

DOI

Abstract

China’s two great institutionalized religions, Daoism and Buddhism, were created in opposition to the popular or common religion of the people and the state, which focused on ancestors and deities that accepted blood sacrifice in return for blessings. During the Song dynasty, a syncretic conception of this common sacred realm emerged, a cosmos that is continuous and all-encompassing, incorporating all sorts of gods, transcendents, buddhas and demons in a ranked administrative hierarchy. In post-Song China, this assured a respected place for the transcendent figures of the organized faiths in a pantheon that was not threatening to the theocratic Chinese state and provided a continuing revenue stream for both through their specializations in Buddhist funeral and mourning services and Daoist rites of cosmic renewal that confirmed local gods in their positions. In this paper I first sketch out the main characteristics of the common religion, then introduce the critiques of this common religion that informed the rise of Daoism and Buddhism. I then consider various sorts of accommodations attempted by the two faiths, such as the incorporation of local deities as the door gods or temple guardians of Buddhist monasteries or the incorporation of local notables into the lower echelons of the Daoist heavens. Turning to the socio-economic and political changes of the Song, I relate these to religious innovation, such as the development of the “ritual master” (fashi) class of religious professional and the hybrid Thunder Rites that proved so effective in dispelling the demons that plagued the men of the Song. Finally, I consider the amalgamation of Daoism and common religion in the cults to the gods who would dominate the religious world of late imperial China, like Wenchang, Guandi, and Mazu.

Keyword

syncretism, blood sacrifice, Daoism (daojiao), Buddhism, common religion, ritual master (fashi), exorcism, official title (fenghao), sectarian religions

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