Quanzhen Daoism
The Quanzhen School ( Chinese 全真道 , Pinyin quanzhen dào even 全真教 , Quanzhen jiao ) is a school of Taoism . Quanzhen translates as Perfect Reality or Perfect Integrity . Quanzhen is also known as the school of golden flowers. The founder of this school was Wang Zhe (1112–1170), who was also called Wang Chongyang. Seven of Wang Zhe's disciples later attained great importance in Quanzhen Daoism.
The school was founded in the 12th century and still exists in China as a monastic order. The teachings of this school belong to Neidan , the internal Chinese alchemy .
Quanzhen Daoism is a school of Daoism that represents a syncretism of Confucianism , Daoism and Buddhism . Confucian classics and Buddhist sutras were read and, following the example of Chan , emphasis was placed on Taoist meditation and Buddhist virtues.
In contrast to other Taoist schools, such as B. the Lingbao School , the Quanzhen is not about the revelation of new scriptures or the performance of liturgical rituals, but it is about a way of life that is oriented towards freedom, purity and tranquility of body and mind. The achievement of immortality no longer plays a role, as in other Taoist schools, but it is about internalization and spiritualization. The Quanzhen School was the first school of Daoism in which monks lived celibate in monasteries. The poverty and asceticism of the monks stood in stark contrast to the wealth and corruption of the Daoists of that time.
Knowledge of books is considered insignificant for this path, and the ultimate goal of this school is to become Buddha through the view of one's own being . This can happen through a sudden realization (see Satori ) like in Chan Buddhism.
Quanzhen Daoists often had a high literary education and came from high social positions. They exercised various professions and sometimes also worked as specialists ( Daoshi ) for Daoist rituals . The rituals, which were also performed at the imperial court, came from the Zhengyi or Heavenly Master Daoism .
literature
- Florian C. Reiter : Religions in China. History, everyday life, culture. CH Beck, Munich 2002, ISBN 3-406-47630-9 ( Beck'sche series 1490).
- Isabelle Robinet : History of Taoism . Diederichs, Munich 1995, ISBN 3-424-01298-X .