Religious Culture: Taoist Culture in Jiangxi Province

Taoism is a religion rooted in China and the theoretical basis of China's theory of worship of ghosts and gods. The main idea is to pursue immortality and achieve immortality. It occupies an important position in the traditional culture of China. Jiangxi is recognized as the birthplace of Taoism because of its many famous mountains and rivers. It is a special expression of Jiangxi cultural spirit.

Longhushan, the birthplace of Taoism in Jiangxi, is recognized as the ancestral home of Taoism. Taoism is the original spiritual product of China people. Although it has a long history and is closely related to Taoism which believes in the theory of Huang Lao, it officially became a religion in the Eastern Han Dynasty. Jiangxi Taoist culture is particularly long and profound. Since the first generation of Zhang Tianshi Daoling spread alchemy, Shi Tian Taoism was founded, which has been handed down from generation to generation for more than 60 generations and lasted for nearly 2000 years.

In the history of China, no one can compare with the Confucius family. It is not only the earliest Taoism in China, but also the most influential religious organization. Its teachings are widely spread in Southeast Asia, Europe and America. The well-preserved "Chenghan Stone Tianfu" is the residence of Zhang Tianshi in past dynasties. It is known as "the first in South China" with its large scale and magnificent architecture. In addition, Nanchang Xishan, Zhangshu Pavilion jujube hill, Shangrao Sanqingshan, Pingxiang Wugong Mountain and Cheng Nan Magu Mountain are all famous Taoist resorts.

Longhu Mountain was originally named Yunjin Mountain. In the middle of Eastern Han Dynasty, Zhang Ling (also known as the first generation Shi Tian), the founder of Taoism, made an alchemy here. "If you succeed, the dragon and tiger will emerge, and the mountain will get its name", so Dragon and Tiger Mountain became the birthplace of Taoism in China. Since Zhang Ling, Taoist Shi Tian has been passed down here for 63 generations, with a calendar of 1900 years. It is the oldest Taoism in China, known as Confucius in the north and Zhang in the south.

Since ancient times, Jiangxi's famous mountains, rivers, places of interest and historical sites have been important places for immortals, alchemists and Huang. According to legend, Ling Lun, the music official of the Yellow Emperor, lived in seclusion in Nanchang Xishan to practice alchemy. Xishan, called Hongya Mountain in ancient times, was named after Mr. Ling Lun or Mr. Hong Yazi. Xishan Mountain is also known as Xiaoyao Mountain, Sanyuan Mountain and Nanchang Mountain.

According to Zhou's Lushan Records, there was a man named Kuang Su (continued) who lived in seclusion in the deep valley and old forest of Lushan Mountain in Jiujiang, seeking immortality and learning Taoism, and was named "Antarctic Daming Palace" by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. It is also said that the widely spread and imaginative Magu Niangniang Shouxian was born in Magu Mountain in Nancheng County with beautiful scenery. As early as Emperor Zhao of the Han Dynasty, the immortal Duke and his disciples Wang and Guo Erxian practiced in Danxia Mountain.

According to Taoist classics, Zhang Sheng, the fourth generation descendant of Shi Tian at the end of Han Dynasty, went down from Sichuan to Longhu Mountain in Jiangxi, inherited his ancestral business and founded Longhumen, a Taoist temple in Shi Tian. Dragon and Tiger School grew up in Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, Sui and Tang Dynasties. By the Song Dynasty, Zhang Tianshi had developed from the master of one religion to the symbol of three mountains: Longhu Mountain, Gezao Mountain and Maoshan Mountain. The first two mountains are in Jiangxi. In the Yuan Dynasty, he was further named "the founder of Zhengyi School" and the Taoist leader in the south of the Yangtze River. At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, Taoism in Shi Tian reached its peak and was in charge of Taoist affairs in the world.

Jiangxi Taoism has made great progress in Taoist thought and theory. For example, the development of Taoism "Daoism" by Taoism in Shi Tian has gone through three stages: first, the apotheosis of early Taoist theory in Shi Tian; Second, the metaphysics of Tao in Shi Tian's Taoist reform; Third, the evolution of "Tao theory" during the prosperity of Shi Tiandao, that is, changing the "Tao" outside people into the "Tao" pointing directly at people's hearts.

Another example is Jingmingdao, which is characterized by the integration of Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism and advocates the integration of the three religions. It is believed that the purity of Taoism, the loyalty and forgiveness of Confucianism, the Mahayana of Buddhism and the purpose of the three religions are all the same. Self-discipline is the requirement of inner cultivation, and loyalty and forgiveness are the requirements of behavior. The contribution of Taoism in Jiangxi to science and technology. In terms of alchemy, Zhang Ling, Ge Xuan, Ge Hong and Zhang Yuchu are famous. In the aspects of Fu, Fu, Zhai and Zhu, there are some places that coincide with science, so there is a so-called "efficacy".

In terms of health preservation, the theory and practice of internal adjustment are very rich. For example, the early classics such as Tianshidao, Taiping Jing and Lao Xiangzi Jules expounded the way of health preservation, advocated the integration of essence and qi, and valued essence and qi, which was regarded as the essence of Taoist health preservation by later generations. Zhang Ling's "Jiuding Danfa" is a kind of internal cultivation. Shen Xiao School is a Taoist school, which combines Inner alchemy with Fu You and advocates Inner alchemy and external medicine.

Jiangxi Taoism has many valuable creations in literature and art, such as the grand Taoist architectural art; A large number of poems, essays, inscriptions, biographies, etc. Still shining today; In particular, in order to pray and pay homage, a style of "green words" or "green chapters" was invented and spread all over the world; There are also ceremonies used in various fasting activities in the Dojo, such as music, singing and dancing, which have left a deep impression on people and become one of the essences of traditional culture and art in China.