The Structure And Connotation Of Lingbao Retreat Altar In The Southern Song Dynasty

Taoist altar is the ceremonial site for rituals, and also intermediary space for communicating with Gods. The structural features and characteristics reflect Taoists comprehension of the universe and themselves. This thesis is aimed to analyze the main form, basic facilities, gestational process and ideological implication of Lingbao Retreat altar, by researching the structure of that in the Southern Song Dynasty.The first part of this paper is to explain the basic definition and connotation of Taoist altar. The second part is analyzing the main form and basic facilities of Taoist altar, including platform shape, consecrate display, layout settings, affiliated halls and so on. The main point of next part is analyzing the gestational process of altar in view of the time and location, purification of the altar, nocturnal audience and meditation. By the end of this article, it will summarize the religious philosophy of altar based on the ritual ontology, religious sense and ultimate belief.