taoism etiquette

Taoism is a traditional religion in China. Whether believers or tourists go to Taoist temple, they can learn about Taoist etiquette, see the unique charm of traditional Taoism in China and enter Taoist temple. You must temporarily put aside secular habits and learn Taoist etiquette, including addressing and saluting, to show mutual respect and civilization. The following is a collection of Taoist etiquette for everyone, welcome to read!

First of all, address each other

Believers should call a Taoist master or a Taoist, and the greeting is: Master is merciful! Hello, master! Be merciful! Hello, when Taoist priests take part in fasting or treat venerable old Taoist priests, they should address themselves as mages, such as: Master Mercy! Hello, master!

Believers greet Taoist priests and call themselves disciples. Introduce yourself as: disciple's surname is a certain.

Taoist priests greet believers and are called laymen. Layman refers to a monk who becomes a monk at home, and is a respectful name of Taoism for believers. The greeting is: Hello, so-and-so layman! When you meet a believer who is highly respected or has both ability and political integrity, you can also be addressed as Mr. The word "Mr." is a courtesy address for those who have both ability and political integrity, which is different from the secular address for ordinary men. Greetings: Hello, Mr. XXX!

Believers can praise each other, and the greeting is: Friends are merciful! Hello, so-and-so leader!

Second, meet and salute.

When Taoist priests meet, they bow their heads and kowtow. Generally speaking, they can't shake hands and lower their heads, let alone embrace the west. Therefore, when you meet a Taoist, don't take the initiative to shake hands with him, otherwise it will be embarrassing.

Jugongli: Also known as fist-hugging ceremony, when you meet, you hold your fist with both hands (left hand holding right hand, left hand outside, right hand inside, palm down), raise it to eye level, bend slightly and say hello at the same time. Generally speaking, peers bow to each other, elders reciprocate to the younger generation, elders reciprocate to believers, and generally bow.

Politeness: Also called bowing, when meeting, make a fist flush with your eyes, bend down deeply, then stand at attention, make a fist flush with your eyes and say hello at the same time. Younger generations generally kowtow to their elders, while believers kowtow to Taoist priests.

Bowing and kowtowing when meeting is respectful and elegant. As long as the other party can see it, no matter how far or near, you can salute. Compared with the popular handshake ceremony and western hug ceremony, it is convenient and hygienic, and it also avoids the trouble of skin contact between men and women. It is a traditional civilized etiquette in China, and Taoist believers have the obligation and responsibility to popularize it.

Third, worship etiquette.

Fasting: The night before worshipping God, believers should fast and be vegetarian.

Bathing: Taoism talks about bathing and washing away the dirt on the body, while Taoism talks about purifying the mind, that is, washing the mind.

Dress neatly when you worship God, and don't wear vest, shorts and slippers. This is blasphemy against the gods.

When you go to the temple to worship God, you should know some rules of worshipping God. Generally, you should enter the temple on the right side of the door (because the architectural pattern of Taoist temples generally faces south, so you should enter the temple on the right side, that is, on the east side), or on the left side, not in the middle, not in the wrong direction, don't be loud when walking, don't make noise in the temple, and be sincere and calm.

If you enter the temple from the right, you will enter with your right foot on the right side of the temple gate, that is, if you enter from the east, you will come out from the west, so you will also enter with your right foot from the west. According to Taoism, it is a natural trend to enter the east and exit the west, which is a concrete embodiment of imitating nature according to the natural law that the sun rises and sets in the west.

Five kinds of offerings, such as incense, flowers, lamps, water and fruit, are often offered on the altar during pilgrimage, which is called Lenten offerings. The five offerings of Lent have different rules and taboos.

Fourth, burn incense and worship etiquette.

Taoist incense burning includes four meanings: offering sacrifices, conveying, evoking souls and meditation. These include:

Feed the gods. ? I am willing to burn the incense of Taoism (classics and teachers) and support my life forever. ? (From "Three Treasures of Incense") Fragrant clouds are lingering, empty is for support, the upper boundary is high and true, the middle boundary is sacred, the lower boundary is immortal, and there are gods in the three realms.

To convey is to convey sincerity and achieve faithfulness. So-called? Incense starts from sincerity, and smoke starts from letter. Once you are honest with heaven, all the truth will come to the Yao family. ?

Evocation refers to calling the dead back to the soul. Being a quiet Dojo can burn incense and summon the dead. This smells good. I'm invited. I'll know when I want to die. . Also called:? A pillar of Xiangming's communication has gone, and the five-party teenagers have returned? . Is there anything in the holoscope model? A pillar that died for love? In Guangdong, more:? Three pillars died for love? Say: A pillar dies for love, leading to the three realms; ? Column died for love again, straight through the nether world; ? To die for love draws ten lessons from three pillars.

Meditation means peace of mind and body. The founder of Chongyang has a word "step on the sand"; Ode to burning incense, it is written like this:? As an incense burner, the heart is fragrant, a column of smoke is distinct, and it burns through Kunlun in time, and the fragrant spring is fragrant and auspicious. ?

The specific way of burning incense is to choose three incense sticks first, don't cut off the incense, light the incense, face the idol, raise the incense with both hands flush with the forehead, bow down and salute, and then burn the incense with your left hand. At this time, the incense should be inserted straight, and the interval is only one inch wide. Any gods in the temple should be placed on the right first, then on the left and then on the right, and each person should be given a column of incense, and the ceremony is the same. After the incense is over, we must pay homage. As for burning incense, it is the most solemn, and it can only be done when the gods offer sacrifices for Christmas.

V. Ceremony to pay tribute to idols

Rituals to salute the gods, such as opening the gods, decorating temples, offering sacrifices to the gods, burning incense, etc., all belong to the category of worship. Since the worship ceremony of Taoism begins with statues, let's start with statues.

(1) sculpture

There are many kinds of statues, including wood carving, clay sculpture, bamboo carving and stone carving. When carving idols, we should pay tribute to them. There are mainly two ceremonies: (1) The groundbreaking ceremony was held on an auspicious day. First of all, offering sacrifices, burning incense and chanting. In the case of wood carving, the sculptor has to chop 37 times on the wood with an axe to show three delights or give it three souls and seven spirits. (2) Is there a towel in the process of sculpture (production)? Dirty? The purpose of the ceremony is to let the gods concentrate on idols, so that idols can truly become spiritual bodies to which the gods attach themselves. If it's wood carving, open a hole in the back of the idol to the chest and choose a good day? Dirty? . ? Dirty? The contents of books usually include: classics, representing god and wisdom; Bronze mirror, symbolizing that the gods can reflect the good and evil on earth; Almanac and grain symbolize that the gods can bless the good weather and good harvests; Aquilaria sinensis, cinnabar and realgar indicate that evil spirits can be avoided; Five lines of red, yellow, cyan, white and black should be complete; Gold and silver jewelry means that gods can help people to be rich and auspicious; Amulets and incense ashes represent magical power.

(2) the statue is opened.

After the statue is formed, an auspicious day will be held? Open your eyes? Ceremony. Prepare cinnabar, bletilla striata, golden rooster, mirror, towel, new writing brush and other things in advance. At that time, there will be offerings, incense burning, chanting, chanting ("Golden Mantra"), burning watches and chanting imperial edicts. Gao Gong takes off the red cloth on the statue, wipes the statue's face with a new towel, and then dips the mixed liquid of cinnabar, bletilla striata and golden rooster blood with a new brush, and dots the eyes of the statue (by the way, dots the nose, mouth and ears to show enlightenment). Keep? The ceremony at the opening moment is to sincerely pray that the spirit of God will come to the gods attached to the world, so that it will become a spiritual body with the spirit of God. Therefore, its ceremony is grand. What is Taoism? A special set of opening tools.

(3) Temple decoration

Temple, also known as shrine or temple. In order to increase the majesty and solemn atmosphere of God and make people feel hot and pious after entering the temple, various decorations should be arranged in the temple. There are canopies, curtains, banners, buildings, chandeliers and so on. The canopy was originally decorated with an umbrella to cover the top of the emperor's throne. What did the Yellow Emperor of Gai Hua do? . Taoism is used by later generations and hung on the top of the statue, symbolizing the dignity and majesty of God. Hanging in front of the statue, embroidered with patterns such as white clouds and cranes. Great, hanging on both sides of the curtain in front of the statue. Tai Qing Yu Shu Volume 5:? A banner used by Taoism to express the image of heaven and earth? . In front of idols, you have to wait, symbolizing the glory of the gods.

(4) offering sacrifices to the gods

The god worshipped is the spirit of God, which was provided for at that time. Offer, enjoy offering; Raise, worship with food. Its offerings are usually incense, flowers, lamps, water and fruits, which are permanent offerings. When doing the Dojo, on the basis of the previous five offerings, five offerings of tea, food, treasure, pearls and clothing were added, becoming ten offerings. There is one confession, three confessions, five confessions, seven confessions and nine confessions. Every five plates (or bowls, or plates) are provided as a class. At present, the offerings provided by Taoist temples generally include tea (tea or tea) fruit (fruit or dried fruit), rice (rice or rice products), pasta (steamed bread or flour products) and vegetables (green vegetables or dried vegetables). God's offerings should also be arranged according to the ceremony. Its order from inside to outside is: one tea, two fruits, three meals, four dishes and five steamed buns. When offering a sacrifice, first raise the offering with both hands (in line with the forehead), bow and salute, and then gently put it on the table. Burn incense and worship after offering.

(5) Burning incense

The most common way to worship God is to worship incense. Worship incense, also known as offering incense, is commonly known as burning incense. What is the purpose of offering incense? Xiangxiang Daxin? , that is, with people's sincerity to reach the gods through cigarettes, the so-called? A column smells good, and it is blessed to go to the holy hill. ? There are two ways to burn incense: burning incense and burning incense.

Burning incense is more common, and it is a ritual for Taoist priests and believers to sacrifice to God with thread incense (or incense or Tibetan incense) on weekdays. Specific practices:

(1) Choose three sticks of incense and don't cut them off.

(2) ignite the incense (if there is an open flame after ignition, it can be extinguished left and right, and cannot be blown out with breath).

(3) Facing the idol, hold the incense with both hands (flush with the forehead) and bow down and salute.

(4) incense with your left hand. The incense should be inserted straight, and the interval is only one inch wide (in inches? Heart). If you are a Taoist priest, you have to recite the mantra when burning incense: always burn your heart and be quiet? . If there are many gods in a temple, the ceremony is the same: take your places first, then take your places, and then give each person a stick of incense. )

(5) After the incense is finished, pay homage. As the saying goes, burn incense and worship God.

Burning incense is the most solemn, and it can only be carried out when the gods set up a ceremony for Christmas or fasting, and there is a host (abbot, supervisor) or a great success. There are five kinds of incense, namely sandalwood, agarwood, Yunxiang, rosewood and eggplant. Why? Precious five spices? . Sandalwood is the most commonly used, so burning incense is also called burning sandalwood. Burning sandalwood is more particular. The incense should be split into one minute thick and one inch long; There must be a special incense burner (called sandalwood burner) and some fragrant noodles (usually ground into powder by thread incense instead). Before burning incense, use a spoon (such as a small spoon) to dig a small hole in the middle of the sandalwood stove, bury it in the fragrant noodles, smooth it with the spoon, and cover the fragrant noodles with a layer of fragrant ash. Then, light a little thread incense that has been folded into an inch in advance, and insert the burning end into the incense surface. When burning incense, throw three sticks of incense into the furnace three times with your left hand, and put them down (first in the middle, then left and then right) or something. Meditate while burning incense.

Incense curse:? Tao is the teaching of the heart, and the heart is fake (borrowed) incense. Incense burns a jade furnace, and the heart is in front of the emperor. It's really the elves looking down, and the fairies are on the porch. I have been detained for nine days. ? After the incense is finished, go back to the kneeling mat and knock three times and nine times.

Six, Taoist chanting etiquette

"Doom Jiao Tong Collection" says, "When teenagers grow up, they teach phonology. Monotone chanting, sponsorship, holding. Rumors are poor, so we can be careful. "It means to help" practice "and practice Taoism by chanting scriptures.

1, recitation.

The method of reciting is different from the reading of ordinary poems. Generally speaking, poetry recitation is rhythmic according to the meaning of the text, and the rhythm is changing, but most of the recited texts are dull and smooth, which has nothing to do with the meaning, and its rhythm is often controlled by some percussion instrument. When reciting, some people recite it alone, some people recite it collectively, some people recite it once, and some people repeat it many times.

2. Selected scriptures.

Taoism has always attached importance to the recitation of Tao Te Ching. The Five Classics of Dong Xuan said: "The real people say that morality is 5,000, and the classics are very small. What they say is meaningful, and it is amazing to teach it. It is amazing to recite it for thousands of days, but to pay attention to metaphysics with humility is a real person in Xihua. This high-immortal Sect can also celebrate the Seven Ancestors.

Monks go to the temple to recite scriptures every day. This system was established after Wang Zhongyang, the founder of the Jin Dynasty, founded Quanzhen Road and established the jungle system. For Taoist priests, chanting is also called? Xuanmen homework? 、? Recite homework every day? . Usually once in the morning and once in the evening, each time for about an hour. The morning class is between four and five. Evening classes are usually around 6: 30 pm. Taoists who practice at home also respect this example.

The earliest Taoist scriptures are Chang Qing Jing and Tai Shang Induction, which are mainly about? Quiet? Meditate? Let's start. Talk? Opinion? 、? Silence? Superior theory of equal training. Know your destiny and move forward with a heavy load. Think? Really quiet? 、? Really quiet? So-called? Always quiet? Give full play to Zhuangzi's cultivation methods? Quiet? The purpose. There are not many words in the scripture, and the words are simple and meaningful, which is suitable for Taoists to recite their daily lessons. After the reform of Kou and Lu in the Northern and Southern Dynasties, it changed from direct recitation to vocal recitation, and added phonology and instrumental accompaniment. It was handed down. Usually, Taoist priests mainly use wooden fish, bells, bells, drums and bells in their morning and evening classes. Homework rhymes vary from place to place, and there are about five kinds in China: Beijing Rhyme, Laoshan Rhyme, Northeast Rhyme, Descendants Rhyme and Shifang Rhyme. The general ten-square rhyme is the general main rhyme in the larger jungle palace.

3. seeing the classics is like seeing the truth.

Before reading the classics, you should rub your hands and knock your teeth, be calm and respectful. All Xuanmen classics are condensed by the true qi of the three realms of nature, which is hard to come by, so they should be wrapped in yellow cloth and red cloth. What you write must be paved. Before opening the book, hold the warp in both hands, lift Qi Mei horizontally, then open the package and open the warp with your left hand. You are not allowed to turn pages by hand. You usually need to make a sign to turn the page.

All scriptures are not allowed to be modified or written. Or typos in the scriptures, or oral secrets, or taboos of the gods, or luck, or various usages, all in mind. When you can't remember and are afraid of forgetting, prepare a clean piece of paper, copy the page number of the scripture and modify it. Burn the notes when you have finished reciting them. All books and papers with scriptures written on them should not be discarded at will, but should be incinerated in a quiet and uninhabited place. More taboo debauchery, damage the classics.

To learn classics, you usually choose a clean and secluded place and write them in traditional Chinese characters on yellow paper? Learning the classics, the gods avoid it? Eight big characters, posted on the wall. Reciting classics can measure merits and demerits. If you mispronounce a word, you will hurt ten spirits and bear endless sins. Please learn to be familiar with it in private, practice without making mistakes, and then satirize it in public. If you mispronounce, repent in time. Noisy is not allowed in temples. Don't say impure words when chanting.

Step 4 read the bible

When reading the Bible, be modest and prudent, be sincere and respectful, and never slacken off. Classics, word of mouth, and secret methods are not literal. To learn classics, should we learn from the teacher first or ask the old gentleman to practice and teach? Menstruation? . Isn't it? Pass? Classics cannot be practiced. Did you pass? Pass? There is no teacher; Without a teacher, you lose your soul. If a layman reads or kneels, he must fast and bathe from the day before. Women don't go to the palace during menstruation.

Anyone who meets Taoist priests or other good people chanting in Taoist temples, if they can be accompanied by their knees and devote themselves to God, will be blessed infinitely and will be freed from sin. When chanting in the temple, you are not allowed to wait and see, turn over the scriptures, etc. Where there are beings chanting scriptures, there must be Ding Jia's protection. All chanting, attaching wood elves, passing ants and insects, birds and animals, interests; If you meet a wise person, if you are savvy, you can directly pull away from the six roads. Reciting the holy name has the same merit.

If a Buddhist encounters an emergency or other emergencies in the middle of chanting, he can take off his Buddhist scriptures and leave the altar after three prayers. After three worships, I returned to get my clothes and continued chanting. If it is a serious illness, fellow initiates can complete chanting and kowtow to thank the gods instead. Or worship your ancestors, stop practicing, and look at your personal situation.

Seven, the five taboos of Taoism

(1), don't ask longevity: special instructions? Don't say longevity? This taboo. When someone first entered the Taoist temple, he saw that the old man had a good face and asked respectfully. Old man, how old are you this year? However, the old man avoided answering and just nodded and smiled. Monks, why people are afraid to ask their age? Don't say longevity? Because. ? When talking with them, don't ask their date of birth and age, so as not to be taboo.

The purpose of practice is to get rid of life and death, thinking that life and death are only the transformation of life in an instant, a small reincarnation. Monks don't care about age, so they don't want to live long. Monks are confused because they see through the troubles caused by various complicated things, so they become monks for peace. If they let the six relatives of the laity lock things up and bring up their troubles, they will commit the taboo of becoming a monk. As soon as the secular people meet, they ask: How old are you? Are you married? Do the monks' parents agree? Who else is home? Wait, as soon as I heard that it was a fellow villager, I quickly befriended him and called him brother, regardless of Taoism and customs. Don't do this.

(2), don't ask the teacher: Doumen is a teacher by example, not the rule of ancestors, so it is not easy to ask unfamiliar people who is the master to show respect.

(3) Don't ask about practice: It is also taboo to ask others how far they practice. Only they know the extent of Taoist practice, and people say modestly that they don't practice. Do you think they really don't practice? !

(4), don't ask secular things. Never talk to Taoists about laity, because Taoist temples are places to study and cultivate blessings. It is easy to make a living by talking about laity in Taoist temple.

(5), don't ask the place of origin. After becoming a monk, he entered the three official schools, and Zifu got its name. Those who seek the road jump out of the three realms and are not in the five elements. So don't ask where your home is.

Eight, Taoist? Four don't eat?

1. Why not eat dogs? Loyalty?

Throughout the ages, people often say: children don't think their mothers are ugly, and dogs don't think their families are poor? . You can't eat after serving the Lord all your life. Dogs are the best and most loyal friends of mankind, serving and loyal to mankind. So Taoism forbids eating dog meat because? Loyalty? .

2. Why not eat mullet? Filial piety?

People usually say:? Cuttlefish essence is the worst, even eating your own children? However, the Taoist view is just the opposite. They think: mullet in spawning season, eyes dim, can't see anything, only starve to death. The mullet is the most filial. They would rather swim to their mother's mouth and feed her than let her starve to death. Their spirit is too precious to eat. The ancients generally didn't eat mullet, and they let it go when they caught it. Taoism doesn't eat mullet because? Filial piety? .

3. Don't eat red rock because? Festival?

Hongyan is ambitious and determined. After the husband and wife, they are single-minded. Even if one side dies, the other side will be loyal to the end. Single? Life. When the mother goose lays her eggs, the male goose is waiting nearby, and in case of natural enemies, she will fight hard. Widowed and lonely goose, living alone all her life, in a bleak situation, determined never to marry again, with commendable spirit, should not be eaten. Taoism doesn't eat geese because? Festival? .

4. Don't eat cows because? justice

I have eaten grass all my life, but I have squeezed out milk. I have been working for the benefit of all beings all my life. It tastes terrible. As we all know, the old gentleman in Taishang rode a green cow out of Hangu Pass and was ordered by Yin to create the Tao Te Ching. The Taoist scriptures say that cattle and sheep eat grass, which is clean and good. So we don't eat beef and mutton at home because? Justice.