道教常识问答

21、问：道教哲学是根据何种学说？

答：道教哲学是由道家基於易理而来，易之无极生太极，太极分生阴阳两仪，而生四象，而成八卦。由阴阳二气变合，而生五行（木、火、土、金、水五气）。而此五行，布於四方，运於四时，化育万物，变化而无穷尽。老子云：“道生一，一生二，二生三，三生万物”。是谓道之理，即太极阴阳的原理也。

22、问：道教之学术思想以何为中心？

答：道教哲学思想，是根据易之太极原理，已如上述。至其学术思想，则以道教《五大经》为修奉的中心经典。

23、问：何为道教五大经？

答：道教以黄帝之《阴符经》。老子之《道德经》，庄子之《南华经》，及《黄庭经》（金阙后圣君著），与《文始经》（关尹子作）为五大经。而此五大经中，又以道德经为道家崇奉思想之中心，与必修之经典。

24、问：老子道德经之旨要及定义为何？

答：老子所著《道德经》，分为上下两部，其旨要在於“自然、清静、无为”，乃为道教修奉的中心，尊为圣典。上下两篇计分八十一章。上篇第一章至第三十七章为“上经”，开章首句曰：“道可道，非常道”，故称为“道经”。下篇自第三十八章至第八十一章，为“下经”，头一句云：“上德不德，是以有德”，故称为“德经”。合上下两篇，乃称为“道德经”。

25、问：何谓符恚

答：符恚也称“符字”、“墨怼薄ⅰ暗な椤薄Ｎ一种笔画屈曲、似字非字的图形，道教谓可用它来“遣神役鬼”、“镇魔压邪”。东汉时张道陵张角等均曾以符砦人“治病”或“驱鬼”。后正一派道士盛传其法。中国古代封建帝王有亲幸道坛受符硎拢魏太武亲受符恚自是之后，每帝即位，必受符硪晕故事。

26、问：何谓斋醮？

答：道教设坛祭祷的一种仪式。即供斋醮神，借以求福免灾。其法为清心洁身，筑坛设供，书表章以祷神灵。斋者，戒洁行事，古人於祭祀之前，必先斋，斋必有戒，故亦云斋戒。醮者、祭也，祈祷也。道教所建祈禳法事道场，皆曰建醮，又统称为“斋醮”。

27、问：什么叫炼度？

答：道教认为，通过符砘蚰诘な蹩墒雇龌晔芰叮消除罪业，重获神形，获得度化，故称炼度。炼度，是超度亡魂中的一种科仪。

28、问：道教怎样敬香叩拜？

答：敬香，有两种，一是殿主烧香，此皆用线香，以三炷为准，插於大香炉内，炷与炷之间距，三炷平列以不过寸宽为合格，故有“烧香不过寸，过寸神不信”之谚。二是坛主拈香，此香以檀香为之，敬拈擅香，非常讲究，每炷擅香长短粗细，长不过寸，粗不过分。坛主拈香时，初炷香熟入炉中间，二炷插於左，三炷插於右，三炷香平列并拢。香炉左盒盛香面，右盒盛檀香。

叩拜，叩拜礼，是我国民族传统礼仪，有不同的敬意和不同的仪规，用不同的礼节以表示，故有九拜之仪。“擎拳恭手”，是以表示恭敬之意。后世演变成叩头作揖礼，直到现在，道教仍行叩头作揖礼。

叩头有三叩、九叩之别。

道教以一揖三叩再一揖，为一礼。与上圣高真祝寿、庆贺道场毕要行三礼九叩。叩头虽用拜垫，实际是五体投地，即双足，双手著地，头磕下去时要头著手。足站成八字形，双膝与手同时著地，左手搂著右手，手心皆向下，成十字形，身为一，表示著“八十一化”。

29、问：道教为何诵早晚功课？

答：玄门早晚功课，是道教徒早晚必诵的两部经典，是修道者的基本法则。功课者，课自己之功，修自身之道。修道之士要认真习诵，理解经意，深悟玄理，脚踏实地按经旨行持。道教讲结三缘，《早课》诵清静经，即分轻清之意，为祈求国泰民安，忏悔罪业，也可结仙缘。《晚课》诵救苦经，超度鬼魂，可结鬼缘。《午课》诵三官经，可赐福、消灾、解厄、赦罪，可结人缘。

30、问：何谓万法宗坛？

答：道教原有四派法坛，龙虎山天师派是为正一玄坛，茅山三茅君派则为上清法坛，阁皂山葛仙翁派称为灵宝玄坛，西山许旌阳派号为净明法坛。后因三山甚少传世，元时天师奉旨领天下道教事，故三山法砭收归龙虎山天师府，乃改正一玄坛，为“万法宗坛”，至今仍之。

21. What is the philosophical basis for Daoism?

Taoist philosophy has its roots in "Yi-Jing". "Yi-Jing" is a Chinese classic, it states "Wu-Ji" (Nothingness) gives rise to "Tai-Ji" (Unity); "Tai-Ji" gives rise to "Liang-Yi" or Two equilibrium; "Liang-Yi" gives rise to "Si-Xiang" or Four Diversification; "Si-Xiang" gives rise to "Eight Hexigrams". 

Daoism believes the world is made of Yin and Yang on the most basic level. On top of Ying and Yang are the “Five Elements (Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and the Earth)” which come out of the interaction between the two, and the “Five Elements” are responsible for the formation of the universe and all the creations in it. The “Five Elements” are also responsible for the operations of our universe.

In "Dao-De-Jing" it says "Dao gives rise to one, one gives rise to two, two gives rise to three, and three gives rise to ten thousand beings".

22. What are the central ideas of Daoism?

The most central idea of Daoism is Taiji based on “Yi-Jing”. The most basic ideas of Daoism are illustrated in Taoist Classic "Wu-Jing" - the "Five Basic Cannons of Daoism".

23. What are the five basic Cannons of Daoism?

They are,

"Yin Fu Jing" by Yellow Emperor,

"Dao-De-Jing" by Lao Zi,

"Nan Huang Jing" by Zhuang Zi,

"Huang Ting Jing" by Jing Jue Hou Sheng Jun, and,

"Wen Shi Jing" by Guan Yin Zi.

24. What are the main ideas of “Dao-De-Jing”?

“Dao-De-Jing” is made of two parts, the part of Dao and the part of De, total eight one chapters. “Dao De Jing” promotes the ideas of "naturalism, purity, tranquility and Wu-Wei. It is considered the most important works of Daoism.

25. What are talismans?

Talismans are special bush written symbols using ink mixed with evil expelling minerals. They are used to communicate with deities to ask for protections, to order the spirits, and to expel ghosts. They are also used to cure illness. Talismans are often written by Taoist monks.

26. What is the ritual of "Zhai-Jiao"?

"Zhai" means vegetarian meal, and "Jiao" means offering and praying. Before the ritual of “Zhai-Jiao” one must prepare oneself by staying vegetarian for a number of days, and during the ritual one need to pray and make offering when asking for good fortune and the leaving of bad luck. The ritual is usually perform in Taoist temples.

27. What is the ritual of "Lian-Du"?

Daoism believe by using internal alchemy and talismans one can release the dead from their bad karmas and suffering. "Lian-Du" is ritual so performed to achieve such goals.

28. How is the ritual of "incense offering" performed?

There are two kinds of "incense offering" rituals. One is performed by Dian-Zhu or the manager of a Taoist Building. In this kind of ritual, the Dian-Zhu will light three long incense sticks parallel to each other. The distant between the adjacent incenses should not be greater than an inch or they will not be accepted by the deities.

The second kind is performed by the manager of a temple, the host of a ceremony or monks with high status. Three inch long sandal wood sticks are used as incense. This kind of ritual is normally performed during more serious occasions.

Incense offering is normally accompanied by bowing and "Kowtow" (kneeling and lowering one's head to the ground a number of times) done by ritual performers as well as beneficiaries of the ritual. Bowing is commonly used by Taoist as one greets another.

"Kowtow" ritual is either performed in set of three or nine. A set is done like this, bow once followed by Koutow three times and ends with another bow. A set like this is also call one "Li". At important occasions "Li" should be performed in groups of three.

When performing "KowTow" one must be on his knees, left hand holding the right hand, palm down touching the ground and then lower the head to touch the back of the hands three times. 

29. Why do Taoists perform morning and evening rituals everyday?

"Morning and Evening Classics" are two important Taoist Canons which record the principles of Daoism and the rules of conducts for all Taoists. All Taoists must follow the guidance of these two classics in order to have a better understanding of the Dao and to achieve the goals of self cultivation.

Daoism also believes that one needs to make three connections. First, through reading the canon of "Purity and Tranquility" in the morning ritual, one repents one's wrong, prays for the betterment of the world, thus making a connection to the eternal world. Second, by reading "Jiu Ku Jing" in the evening ritual, one helps the spirits and ghosts to break away from their suffering, thereby making a connection to the world under. Third by reading "San Guan Jing" in noon ritual, one prays for others the lifting of misfortune, the coming of good luck and the pardons from above, hence making a connection to the world of humanity. 

30. What is "Wan-Fa-Zong-Tan"?

"Wan-Fa-Zong-Tan" literally means the “altar of ten thousand might”. There are four major Taoist altars; they are the Zheng-Yi Altar in Long-Hu mountain of Jiangxi Province, Shang-Qing Altar in Mao-Shan Mountain, Ling-Bao Altar in Ge-Zhao mountain, and Jing-Ming Altar in Xi-Shan Mountain.   

By Yuan Dynasty, due to various reasons, the last three altars had been abolished and their functions merged with Zheng-Yi Altar in Long-Hu Mountain. After the merge Zheng-Yi Altar changed its name to "Wan-Fa-Zong-Tan". "Wan-Fa-Zong-Tan" is still in use today at its original location.