What Do the Lingbao Celestial Scripts Tell Us about Some Fundamental Characteristics of Daoism?
Toward the end of the Eastern Jin 東晉 (317–420) and the beginning of the Liu Song 劉宋 (420–479) Dynasties, a series of scriptures, what we now know as the ancient Lingbao scriptures (<i>gu Lingbao jing</i> 古靈寶經), emerged. The texts contained various kinds of celestial scripts, which were r...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-09-01
|
| Series: | Religions |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/9/1146 |
| _version_ | 1827723905296498688 |
|---|---|
| author | Pengzhi Lü |
| author_facet | Pengzhi Lü |
| author_sort | Pengzhi Lü |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Toward the end of the Eastern Jin 東晉 (317–420) and the beginning of the Liu Song 劉宋 (420–479) Dynasties, a series of scriptures, what we now know as the ancient Lingbao scriptures (<i>gu Lingbao jing</i> 古靈寶經), emerged. The texts contained various kinds of celestial scripts, which were regarded as the archetype of all the Lingbao scriptures. Among them, the 3 most important were the 672 graphs of the Perfected Script on Five Tablets in Red Writing (<i>Chishu wupian zhenwen</i> 赤書五篇真文), found in the <i>Scripture of Celestial Writing</i> 天書經 (<i>DZ</i> 22), the 256 graphs of the Self-Generating Jade Graphs of the Secret Language of the Great Brahmā (<i>Dafan yinyu ziran yuzi</i> 大梵隱語自然玉字), found in the <i>Inner Sounds of All the Heavens</i> 諸天內音 (<i>DZ</i> 97), and the 64 graphs of the Jade Script of the Five Directions and Five Sprouts (<i>Wufang wuya yuwen</i> 五方五牙玉文), found in the <i>Preface to the Five Talismans of Lingbao</i> 靈寶五符序 (<i>DZ</i> 388). This article traces the origins of these Lingbao celestial scripts, analyzing and explaining the content of their images and text, as well as the beliefs and practices related to them. It then summarizes how Lu Xiujing 陸修靜 (406–477), a prominent Daoist of the Liu Song Southern Dynasty, classified and understood the various scripts in his <i>Catalogue of Lingbao Scriptures</i> (<i>Lingbao jingmu</i> 靈寶經目). Such discussions reveal some basic characteristics of Daoism that distinguish it from other religious traditions: the veneration of written symbols, the pursuit of longevity and immortality, and the synthesis of philosophy and belief. Beliefs concerning celestial writing and scripts occupy a pivotal position in the broader system of Daoist scripture and teachings. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:07:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6b6cd083940d4992850cf8211517dc56 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:07:22Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-6b6cd083940d4992850cf8211517dc562023-11-19T12:45:40ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442023-09-01149114610.3390/rel14091146What Do the Lingbao Celestial Scripts Tell Us about Some Fundamental Characteristics of Daoism?Pengzhi Lü0School of Humanities, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 611756, ChinaToward the end of the Eastern Jin 東晉 (317–420) and the beginning of the Liu Song 劉宋 (420–479) Dynasties, a series of scriptures, what we now know as the ancient Lingbao scriptures (<i>gu Lingbao jing</i> 古靈寶經), emerged. The texts contained various kinds of celestial scripts, which were regarded as the archetype of all the Lingbao scriptures. Among them, the 3 most important were the 672 graphs of the Perfected Script on Five Tablets in Red Writing (<i>Chishu wupian zhenwen</i> 赤書五篇真文), found in the <i>Scripture of Celestial Writing</i> 天書經 (<i>DZ</i> 22), the 256 graphs of the Self-Generating Jade Graphs of the Secret Language of the Great Brahmā (<i>Dafan yinyu ziran yuzi</i> 大梵隱語自然玉字), found in the <i>Inner Sounds of All the Heavens</i> 諸天內音 (<i>DZ</i> 97), and the 64 graphs of the Jade Script of the Five Directions and Five Sprouts (<i>Wufang wuya yuwen</i> 五方五牙玉文), found in the <i>Preface to the Five Talismans of Lingbao</i> 靈寶五符序 (<i>DZ</i> 388). This article traces the origins of these Lingbao celestial scripts, analyzing and explaining the content of their images and text, as well as the beliefs and practices related to them. It then summarizes how Lu Xiujing 陸修靜 (406–477), a prominent Daoist of the Liu Song Southern Dynasty, classified and understood the various scripts in his <i>Catalogue of Lingbao Scriptures</i> (<i>Lingbao jingmu</i> 靈寶經目). Such discussions reveal some basic characteristics of Daoism that distinguish it from other religious traditions: the veneration of written symbols, the pursuit of longevity and immortality, and the synthesis of philosophy and belief. Beliefs concerning celestial writing and scripts occupy a pivotal position in the broader system of Daoist scripture and teachings.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/9/1146DaoismBuddhismancient Lingbao scripturesLingbao celestial scripts<i>Catalogue of Lingbao Scriptures</i>Daoist philosophy |
| spellingShingle | Pengzhi Lü What Do the Lingbao Celestial Scripts Tell Us about Some Fundamental Characteristics of Daoism? Religions Daoism Buddhism ancient Lingbao scriptures Lingbao celestial scripts <i>Catalogue of Lingbao Scriptures</i> Daoist philosophy |
| title | What Do the Lingbao Celestial Scripts Tell Us about Some Fundamental Characteristics of Daoism? |
| title_full | What Do the Lingbao Celestial Scripts Tell Us about Some Fundamental Characteristics of Daoism? |
| title_fullStr | What Do the Lingbao Celestial Scripts Tell Us about Some Fundamental Characteristics of Daoism? |
| title_full_unstemmed | What Do the Lingbao Celestial Scripts Tell Us about Some Fundamental Characteristics of Daoism? |
| title_short | What Do the Lingbao Celestial Scripts Tell Us about Some Fundamental Characteristics of Daoism? |
| title_sort | what do the lingbao celestial scripts tell us about some fundamental characteristics of daoism |
| topic | Daoism Buddhism ancient Lingbao scriptures Lingbao celestial scripts <i>Catalogue of Lingbao Scriptures</i> Daoist philosophy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/9/1146 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT pengzhilu whatdothelingbaocelestialscriptstellusaboutsomefundamentalcharacteristicsofdaoism |