Taoist token, is it from Qing Dynasty?

Without the Taoist token map, it is difficult to judge whether it belongs to the Qing Dynasty.

Token is one of the most important Taoist instruments in China. Taoist keepsakes are mostly made of wood, with a long shape, an arc on the top and a straight line on the bottom, which means "the sky is round". In the Ming Dynasty, the style of tokens was introduced in the book Qing Qing Lingbao Du Ji Jin Shu. The dragon blade is engraved on the front and the thunder rune is engraved on the back. There is a note: "The right token, made of jujube struck by lightning, is five inches and five minutes long, two inches and four minutes wide and five minutes thick." Choose an auspicious day, make it according to the formula, and publish the names of 28 hotels around Sifang to fill a kit. "Translated into vernacular Chinese, it means:" The token is made of jujube wood struck by lightning, with a length of 16.5cm, a width of 8cm and a thickness of 1.7cm ",and should be made according to Taoist rituals. The names of these 28 stars are engraved on the four sides of the token, and they should be put in a treasure bag when they are finished. "As can be seen from this passage, Taoist respect for tokens should be kept respectful even in peacetime.

Its meaning draws lessons from the use of tokens in ancient military, and regards it as a symbol of ordering ghosts and gods to obey their orders when Taoist priests hold ceremonies. Holding the token high and shouting means that they can summon the corresponding "heavenly soldiers and generals" to the altar to wait for their own disposal; Putting down the token and slapping the desktop is giving orders to ghosts and gods. It is said that if a Taoist can't summon a god at the altar, he can clap his token three times. Usually, the summoned god will go to the altar to listen.

According to Taoist rituals, there should usually be at least six basic utensils on the altar: sword (peach wooden sword), command flag, command arrow, token, lotus ruler and altar wood. When orthodox Taoist priests hold ceremonies to confer Buddhist names and monks, they usually give Buddhist names and monks, and at the same time give them these instruments.

Taoist tokens are usually made of jujube wood after being struck by lightning. They will be engraved with various symbols, symbols and pictures related to thunder, and usually indicate the function of this token, such as "imperial edict". Also known as "five thunder orders" or "five thunder tokens".