On The Southward Spread Of Taoism And Its Influence

"The Southward spread of Taoism" means the spread of Taoism founded in the area north of Wuling(五岭 ) to Lingnan ( 岭南 ), south of Wuling. This thesis mainly gives the simple venation and the basic outline of the spread of the early Taoism during Han ( 汉) , Wei (魏) and Liuchao ( 六朝 ) dynasties, and discusses some characters and influences of the spreading.During Han and Jin (晋 ) dynasties, Taoism began to spread to the South China, because of a number of some subjective and objective factors.The subjective factor is the needs of Taoism itself. Like other religions, Taoism has the demands and functions to attract and collect adherents in order to enlarge its influence.On the objective side, there was a predestined relationship between Taoism and Lingnan. This expresses as the following: 1 - Geographically speaking, Lingnan has geographical conditions suitable for the development of Taoism. Lingnan has beautiful mountains and rivers and also the speciality of products. This provides not only the ideal homestead for the "becoming immortal" ( 成仙 ) tenet of Taoism, but also the practical place for the Taoist "orange osmanthus making and eating" ( 炼服 ) .This makes Lingnan a suitable and fertile place for the spreads and development of Taoism.2 Lingnan has humanistic conditions that correspond to the growing of Taoism. The console of political climate and stability of social order in ancient Lingnan became a peaceful place that Taoism spreads and develops. Especially the ancient customs of Lingnan, such as witch adore, totem adore, immortal belief, superstitious pursuing have some applicable to both or all common in the "become immortal" ( 成仙 ) tenet and the Taoist manner of Zhaijiao (斋醮) . It may be described as "the same origin, leading to common response", and "the things of similar categories, growing each other". So that Lingnan became a fundamental place that Taoism spreaded and developed. 3 . In the earlier time, Lingnan had begun the popular exchange with Chu (楚) Shu (蜀) and Wu (吴) , which were called "the first signs of Taoism". This is not only because they were near each other, and the traffic convenience, but also because of their same race and the habitude approach. Among them, there was the expansion of political force; the activities of merchant; and the migration of people. All of these provided the channels for the spread of Taoism to the south China.The spread of Taoism to the South China began with the advent of emigration wave in the later of Donghan ( 东汉 ) dynasty. It maybe divided into two phases:The initial stage of the spread was during Han and Jin dynasties. From the last years of Donghan dynasty, many people who believed in Taoism came to the South China. Some were the common believers. Some were the "angels". Some were the official from the North China. They opened theway for Taoism spread to the South China. Up to Liang Jin ,Two Taoist masters, Bao_ Liang and GeJ Hong , came across each other in Lingnan. They advised on Taoist scripturesand manners together, even established Lingnan Taoist Holy Land__Guangzhou Yuegangyuan and LuoFu Chongxuguan Taoism spread to the South China authentically.The developing spread stage were the last years of Jin dynasty to Nanchao , when a lot of families who believed in Wudoumidao, such as Ge family , Sun family and Tao family formed many religious sects in Lingnan. They were engaged in the spreading of Taoism, and Taoism began to popularize in Lingnan. The people who pursued Taoism became more and more. Some were the local Taoist priests. Some were the external Taoist priests. Some were the officials. Some were the common people.The area where people believed in Taoism widened. There were many Taoist activities from the central Guangdong to the borderland, even to the Li ) and Liao regions in Guangxi .Taoism presented some vivid regional characteristics of Lingnan when it spread to the South China, combining with the culture of Lingnan. Its characteristic maybe summarized as follows: 1 Blending the elements of Confucianism an...