An Overview of the Weiyi (威儀 Dignified Liturgies) of Taoism
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Weiyi in the History of Taoism
2.1. Weiyi in the Lingbao Retreat
2.2. Taoist Weiyi Masters of the Sui, Tang, and Five Dynasties (581–960)
2.3. Two Street Merit and Virtue Officials (兩街功德使) and Left- and Right-Street Weiyi Masters (左右街威儀) in the Tang Dynasty
3. Dignified Image (威儀形象) of Taoist Priests, Dignified Duties (威儀職責) of Ritual Masters
3.1. Requirements for the Dignified Image of the Taoist Priests
3.2. Requirements for the Ritual Vestments of the Taoist Priests
3.3. Requirements for the Dignified Duties of the Ritual Masters
3.4. Dignified Image of the Divine Immortals
The merit officers, the brave generals, the cavalrymen, the officials of the Three Offices, and the heavenly soldiers each appear in numbers of 340, magnificently dressed and very dignified. 功曹使者、郎吏虎賁、察奸鉤騎、三官僕射、天鄒甲卒等官各三百卌人出。出者嚴莊顯服,正其威儀。
4. Weiyi at the Altar of the Zhai and Jiao Rituals
4.1. Ritual Banners and Streamers at the Zhai and Jiao Altar
Various types of streamers, flags, and fans, including a pair of jie, a pair of chuang, a pair of jing, a pair of fans (幡) with pearls, a pair of wuming fans, and a pair of crane feathers. 節一對,幢一對,旌一對,珠幡一對,五明扇一對,鶴羽一對。(SRSYRR, DZ, vol. 9, p. 383)
A total of 4 pairs of different types of streamers, (jie, chuang, jing, mo), a pair of wuming fans, a pair of feather fans, a pair of ruyi, 12 yellow silk bags, a vermilion wooden box, 2 black lacquered wooden shelves, 5 liang of agila wood, 5 liang of kapur, 50 pieces of new tea, and 100 liang of silver. These 14 ritual tools are called the 14 dignified items in Taoist scriptures. 節、幢、旌、磨、五明扇、羽扇、如意各一對,罩護威儀黃絹袋一十二個、盛威儀朱紅木匣一隻、威儀黑漆立架二座、沉香五兩、腦子五兩、新茶五十片、銀一百兩。此十四種儀仗法器,經書稱之為威儀一十四事。10
Streamers and banners (jing, jie, chuang, pei) are dignified divine instruments. They are classic, dignified liturgical tools now made by the state. 旌、節、幢、旆,亦神仙所持,既具經典及威儀之限,如今國家所制也。(CPWDTC, DZ, vol. 24, p. 754)
The banners and streamers that flutter in the air are a necessary part of the rituals. 幡幢旌節,折旋回環,外儀之事也。(DZ, vol. 4, p. 14)
4.2. Ritual Tools at the Zhai and Jiao Altar
4.3. Ritual Lamps at the Zhai and Jiao Altar
4.4. Weiyi at the State Zhai and Jiao Ritual Altar in Tang and Song
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviation
1 | In this article, The Taoist Canon and The Encyclopedia of Taoism are the main references for the translation of scripture titles and terminology in Taoism. |
2 | See DZ 9: 378, Jiang shuyu (蔣叔輿 1162–1223) compiled, Standardized Rituals of the Supreme Yellow Register Retreat 無上黃籙大齋立成儀, fasc 1. Abbreviated as SRSYRR in this article. The form of reference for this work is DZ, vol. p. 378, where 9 is the volume number and 378 is the page number. |
3 | See DZ 24: 758, Codes and Precepts for Worshipping the Dao of the Three Caverns of Lingbao, Cavern of Mystery Section 洞玄靈寶三洞奉道科戒營始. Abbreviated as CPWDTC in this article. |
4 | For relevant studies, see Zhou Qi’s “Examination on the Taoist Weiyi” 道門威儀考 (Shi Lin史林, Zhou 2008, vol. 6, pp. 111–14), which examines the Weiyi Taoist priests of the Tang dynasty, and Liu Kangle’s discussion of the Taoist Weiyi Master in the Taoist official system of the Tang dynasty in his book, A Study of the Taoist Official System in the Middle Ages 中古道官制度研究 (Ba-Shu Publishing House 巴蜀書社 Liu 2013, pp. 162–70). |
5 | See DZ 5, p. 273, Comprehensive Mirror of Immortals Who Embodied the Tao through the Ages 歷世真仙體道通鑑. |
6 | See DZ 5, p. 603, Chronicle of Maoshan 茅山志. |
7 | See DZ 5, p. 560. |
8 | About merit and virtue officials, see Zha Minghao 查明昊 (Zha 2009). |
9 | See DZ 24, p. 781, Abridged Codes for the Taoist Community of Master Lu 陸先生道門科略. |
10 | This is the description of the altar for the sacrifice of the Mao brothers, San Mao Zhenjun, on the 23rd day of the 4th lunar month in Maoshan. See DZ 3, p. 338, Protocol of the Additional Canonization of the Mao Brothers 三茅真君加封事典. |
11 | See the lamp ritual part of Instructions for the Study of the Tao of Lingbao, Cavern of Mystery 洞玄靈寶道學科儀, signed Chisongzi (赤松子), in DZ 24. Abbreviated as ISTLCM in this article. |
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Zhang, Z.; Luo, Y. An Overview of the Weiyi (威儀 Dignified Liturgies) of Taoism. Religions 2023, 14, 779. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14060779
Zhang Z, Luo Y. An Overview of the Weiyi (威儀 Dignified Liturgies) of Taoism. Religions. 2023; 14(6):779. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14060779
Chicago/Turabian StyleZhang, Zehong, and Yang Luo. 2023. "An Overview of the Weiyi (威儀 Dignified Liturgies) of Taoism" Religions 14, no. 6: 779. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel14060779