TALISMANIC WRITING Zhang Daoling Zhang Tianshi | 張天師 | 张道陵神禡 | 大符 | Taoism cultural folk religion
Taiwan’s folk beliefs are closely related to life. The ancestors who worked hard in hard times were accustomed to praying to the gods for blessings. This practice has been passed down through the generations. In the early years, talismans were printed during the Qing dynasty for devotees to bring home to eliminate disasters as well as bringing protection and good fortune to the family. The prints produced are called "big amulet 大符" or classified as "shenma 神禡" in the form of folk art. The composition of the 大符 is usually that of the main god sitting or standing in the center. Hailed as one of the founders of religious Taoism during the Han dynasty, Zhang Tianshi, Zhang Daoling is most often seen riding a tiger dispelling evil and escorting the dead to their final destination. Promising immortality and longevity, Zhang Daoling interpreted Taoism much like his contemporaries. “But unlike the others, he emphasized the importance of religious organization.” The Way of the Celestial Masters became popularly known as the “Way of the Five Pecks of Rice”, as payment of five pecks 五斗米 of rice per year was required to maintain membership. The First Celestial Master Zhang Daoling spread the popular movement through the province of Sichuan, and focused on ridding the world of decadence. According to Taoist Hagiography accounts, Zhang Daoling used magical powers to destroy the 8 demon marshals and their demonic followers who were spreading plague in Sichuan China. Zhang Daoling riding a plague-dispelling tiger in this 大符 are very popular during Duanwu, the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, notorious for being the hottest and most unhealthiest time of the year, the most inauspicious day. This day marked the start of summer which was accompanied with dangerous animals, the spread of pathogens through infection and the alleged appearance of evil spirits. These 大符 represents the culture and history of the interaction between the temple and its devotees. The common memory of religious beliefs established by the local people is a precious folk culture. Through the process of publicizing the "shenma 神禡" of 张道陵 in this video, I hope to continue the function of praying for blessings and the calming people's hearts. I have been most fortunate to have been gifted a set of these talismans from various templeso a in Taiwan by Professor Jim Kemp in the Asian Studies Department at Florida State College in Jacksonville. He is an anthropologist researching folk religion talismans and woodblocks following his first encounter with them in Vietnam with the US Navy during the Vietnam War in the late 1960’s. Would appreciate if you can show your support by liking this video, leaving a comment and subscribing to my YouTube channel Hakka Moi. Thank you!! Youtube 頻道 ：Hakka Moi 請訂閱、開啟小鈴鐺 ， 影片不漏看 Please Subscribe | Like | Share References & Citations https://www.davidleffman.com/hallocks-gods/ https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/vol-16/issue-2/jul-sep-2020/medium http://www.mysmu.edu/staff/margaretchan/documents/1_Tang-ki_spirit_medium_worship_web.pdf
Taiwan’s folk beliefs are closely related to life. The ancestors who worked hard in hard times were accustomed to praying to the gods for blessings. This practice has been passed down through the generations. In the early years, talismans were printed during the Qing dynasty for devotees to bring home to eliminate disasters as well as bringing protection and good fortune to the family. The prints produced are called "big amulet 大符" or classified as "shenma 神禡" in the form of folk art. The composition of the 大符 is usually that of the main god sitting or standing in the center. Hailed as one of the founders of religious Taoism during the Han dynasty, Zhang Tianshi, Zhang Daoling is most often seen riding a tiger dispelling evil and escorting the dead to their final destination. Promising immortality and longevity, Zhang Daoling interpreted Taoism much like his contemporaries. “But unlike the others, he emphasized the importance of religious organization.” The Way of the Celestial Masters became popularly known as the “Way of the Five Pecks of Rice”, as payment of five pecks 五斗米 of rice per year was required to maintain membership. The First Celestial Master Zhang Daoling spread the popular movement through the province of Sichuan, and focused on ridding the world of decadence. According to Taoist Hagiography accounts, Zhang Daoling used magical powers to destroy the 8 demon marshals and their demonic followers who were spreading plague in Sichuan China. Zhang Daoling riding a plague-dispelling tiger in this 大符 are very popular during Duanwu, the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, notorious for being the hottest and most unhealthiest time of the year, the most inauspicious day. This day marked the start of summer which was accompanied with dangerous animals, the spread of pathogens through infection and the alleged appearance of evil spirits. These 大符 represents the culture and history of the interaction between the temple and its devotees. The common memory of religious beliefs established by the local people is a precious folk culture. Through the process of publicizing the "shenma 神禡" of 张道陵 in this video, I hope to continue the function of praying for blessings and the calming people's hearts. I have been most fortunate to have been gifted a set of these talismans from various templeso a in Taiwan by Professor Jim Kemp in the Asian Studies Department at Florida State College in Jacksonville. He is an anthropologist researching folk religion talismans and woodblocks following his first encounter with them in Vietnam with the US Navy during the Vietnam War in the late 1960’s. Would appreciate if you can show your support by liking this video, leaving a comment and subscribing to my YouTube channel Hakka Moi. Thank you!! Youtube 頻道 ：Hakka Moi 請訂閱、開啟小鈴鐺 ， 影片不漏看 Please Subscribe | Like | Share References & Citations https://www.davidleffman.com/hallocks-gods/ https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/vol-16/issue-2/jul-sep-2020/medium http://www.mysmu.edu/staff/margaretchan/documents/1_Tang-ki_spirit_medium_worship_web.pdf