Zhang Shouqing’s Controversy between Buddhism and Taoism

It became a pan-religious place. Taoism and Buddhism took advantage of their own advantages to flock to Wudang Mountain. In order to compete for this geomantic treasure land, the two sides launched a fierce debate. According to Song Dynasty and Li Shu's "Wudang Mountain Fu and Preface" : "The texts in the Buddhist collection are also Taoist books; discussing Xumi and iron fences, penglai and square pots. It may be regarded as the smelting place of the Western Heaven, or it may be regarded as the residence of immortals." Buddhism says that Wudang Mountain is the pure land of the West. Taoists say that Wudang Mountain is the home of gods. Since neither side could produce strong evidence, the debate reached a deadlock. "Don't ask whether it is true or not, but also discuss whether it is true or not." So the Buddhist and Taoist families began to compete for the upper-level rulers.

The founding emperor of the Tang Dynasty admired Taoism and claimed to be a descendant of Laozi. Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty named Lao Tzu the "Emperor Xuanyuan", and Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty named Lao Tzu the "Great Saint Ancestor Gao Shang Jin Qian Xuanyuan Emperor." These moves by the royal family were very beneficial to the development of Taoism. During the Zhenguan period of the Tang Dynasty, there was a severe drought. Yao Jian, the governor of Junzhou, prayed for good luck in the rain at Lingying Peak of Wudang Mountain. Upon hearing this, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty immediately ordered the construction of the Wulong Temple. It is a pity that Taoism has not taken more effective measures to speed up its development, and believers still live in caves and rock recesses "looking at the wall, asking questions and making snow". It became the house of Xuanwu’s gods. In particular, the Quanzhen Sect that emerged during the Jin and Yuan Dynasties played an extremely important role in the development of Wudang Mountain. Wudang Mountain became a blessed place where emperors of the Song and Yuan Dynasties prayed.

The emperors of the Northern Song Dynasty highly praised Zhenwu. It turns out that when the Zhao Song Dynasty was founded, the "Fire Emperor was the emperor of enlightenment", and General Heisha, the essence of fire energy, was made the Yisheng Baode Zhenjun. Volume 25 of "Xu Zi Zhi Tong Jian Chang Bian" by Li Shou of the Song Dynasty: "Heaven created the Song Dynasty and brought in the virtue of fire." Considering that the "strong omen of the virtue of fire" is not conducive to the long-term development of the country, according to the five elements of yin and yang "water and fire" Based on the theory of mutual restraint and mutual benefit, it was decided to worship the water god Zhenwu at the same time. It is hoped that Zhenwu will "defeat the Yan Song Dynasty" and bless the country, and Zhenwu will become the "god of the family of the country". Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty granted Zhenwu the title of "The martial spirit that suppresses the innocence should bless the Holy Lord".

In the second year of Emperor Zhenzong’s Tianxi reign (1018), taking advantage of the opportunity of the imperial court to confer the title of Zhenwu, the Taoist priests of Wulong Temple wrote to the emperor to upgrade Wulong Temple to Wulong Temple.

In the fourth year of Zhenghe (1114), Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty, Emperor Zhao Ji had a dream. He dreamed of a god lifting fire to "hold it and travel south." The next day, he asked a Taoist priest to realize his dream, and the Taoist priest said that this was the god of fire. When traveling, you can ask Zhenwu to restrain him. Huizong ordered the Zixiao Palace to be built in Zhanqifeng, Zhanqifeng, Zhanwu's spiritual cave house in Wudang Mountain to worship Zhenwu. This is a large-scale palace building that surpasses the Buddhist Taiyi, Yanchang, Xiangyan and Changshou palaces in scale and structure. For the first time, Taoism surpassed Buddhism in terms of momentum. At the same time, famous Taoists Chen Tuan, Deng Ruozhuo, Xie Tiandi, Sun Yuanzheng, Deng Anzao, Cao Miaoguan, etc. gathered in Wudang Mountain to build temples, rectify academic affairs, compile Taoist scriptures, and preach doctrines. The Taoism of Wudang Mountain From weak to strong, Buddhism was pushed aside. What's more, the Buddhist statues carved in the Lion Peak Grotto were also changed to Laojun statues by Taoists. Ming Dynasty Wang Shizhen's "Bianzhou Continuation": "Qiu Chuji's disciples may not be all virtuous. They often occupy temples and use them as temples, or remodel the statues of the three religions."

The Mongols dominated the Central Plains and promoted Taoism. Especially at the turn of the Song, Jin, and Yuan Dynasties (1219), Taoism supported the Yuan Dynasty. The Southern Song Dynasty and the Jin Dynasty sent envoys to Qixia, Shandong Province to summon Qiu Chuji, the leader of the Quanzhen sect of Taoism, but neither of them responded to the edict. Soon, Genghis Khan, the Mongolian leader who was fighting in the Western Regions, also sent an envoy to summon him. After reviewing the situation, Qiu Chuji happily applied for the job. At the age of more than 70, he led 18 disciples who traveled thousands of miles to camp in the snowy mountains of the Western Regions to pay homage to Genghis Khan. They were deeply appreciated by Genghis Khan. After the Yuan Dynasty unified China, Quanzhen Taoism from the north spread to Wudang Mountains, and Quanzhen Taoist priests such as Lu Dayou and Zhu Zhenchang entered the mountains. Propaganda of Quanzhen Taoist teachings, restoration of palaces and temples, and gradually formed the mainstream faction. The Quanzhen sect advocates the unity of Taoism, Buddhism and Buddhism. It is a new sect formed by integrating the loyalty and filial piety of Confucianism, the precepts of Buddhism and the teachings of Taoism. The idea of ​​the unity of the three religions cleverly avoided the conflicts between the various sects, conformed to the social trends of the time, advanced with the times, and was welcomed by all walks of life. (1285) Ye Xizhen, a Taoist priest from the Quanzhen sect of Wudang Mountain, responded to the imperial edict and went to Kyoto to perform magic, which "stopped the wind and calmed the thunder, and prayed for the rain to stop the disease", which was appreciated by Kublai Khan. In the second year, Ye Xizhen was granted the title of "leader of the capital and appointed as the guardian of Wudang". In the same year, Kublai Khan issued an edict to upgrade the Five Dragons Lingying Temple to the Five Dragons Lingying Palace. He sent incense and ordered Wudang Taoist priests to pray for the emperor's birthday several times.

From 1286 AD to 1313 AD, the Nanyan Rock Palace was finally completed, and the Empress Dowager of the Yuan Dynasty gave the palace the name "Tianyi Zhenqing Palace". This year, Zhang Shouqing was 59 years old. From the time he built the South Rock Hall at the age of 32 to the time when the main hall was finally completed, it took 27 springs and winters.

Tie Mu'er, Emperor Chengzong of the Yuan Dynasty, also believed in Zhenwu. In the seventh year of Dade (1303), he decreed that Zhenwu was: "Yuan Sheng Renwei Xuantian God". At the same time, on the west side of Zixiao Palace in Wudang Mountain Build the "Fudi Gate".

After Emperor Renzong of the Yuan Dynasty Aiyu Libalibada came to the throne, because his birthday fell on the third day of March, which happened to coincide with the Christmas Day of Zhenwu God, Mount Wudang received even more attention from the court. During the Wanshou Festival of the Emperor, the court would That is to say, an imperial envoy was sent to Wudang Mountain to offer sacrifices. The "Big Five Dragons Ling Ying Rui Ying Stele of Wanshou Palace" written by Jiesi in the Yuan Dynasty records: "The Tianshou Festival of Renzong coincides with the day of the gods. Every year, he sends envoys to build golden altars to wish the five dragons from the mountain." This special case. It was also inherited by the emperors of the Yuan Dynasty after Renzong. On the third day of March every year, envoys were sent to Wudang Mountain to offer sacrifices as usual. "It is like the story of the Tianshou Festival." According to the "Emperor of the Great Yuan Dynasty Bestows Wudang Datian Yi Zhen Qing Wanshou Palace": "On March 3rd, it is said that the god first descended, tens of thousands of ladies and gentlemen gathered together, offered gold and silk, and went to Wudang Mountain." The impact has reached as far as Sichuan, Yunnan and other remote provinces.

At the same time, the Taoist priests of Wudang Mountain took advantage of the opportunity to deepen their relationship with the Yuan Dynasty royal family. When Renzong ascended the throne, there was a drought in Kyoto, so he issued an edict to the Taoist Zhang Shouqing of Wudang Mountain to pray for rain, which was successful. The next year there was a drought and no rain in the spring, so Zhang Shouqing was ordered again to pray for rain, but in the summer there was no rain, and again he prayed for rain. According to the "Emperor of the Great Yuan Dynasty Bestowed upon Wudang Da Tian Yi Zhen Qing Longevity Palace Tablet": "In March of the first year of Emperor Qing's reign, there was no rain in the capital, so people went around to look for it, and ordered Wudang Taoist Zhang Shouqing to pray for rain. If it doesn't rain next spring, pray for it. And when it rains, it doesn’t rain in summer. If you pray and it rains, it will rain and it will rain, and the two palaces will be happy." The empress dowager donated her private money to Zhang Shouqing to expand the Tianyi Zhenqing Palace, which became the "Emperor's Palace, Tianyi Zhenqing Wanshou Palace". A and B are in charge of setting the point of mention. The priest is named "Qiyuan Longqing Tianjun Mingzhen God", the goddess is named "Cining Yude Tianhou Qiongzhen Shangxian", and the teacher is named "Ti Xuanmiao Yingtaihe Zhenren". "Zhang Shouqing returned to the mountain to take charge of the official affairs of the Taoist sect. So far, Wudang Mountain has not only become a blessed place for emperors of the Yuan Dynasty to "visit heaven and wish them birthdays", but also won the honor of "the mysterious body Ying Taihe Zhenren" because of Zhang Shouqing. The status of Taoism in Wudang Mountain is at its peak, and it cannot be ignored Shake. Buddhism was squeezed out of Wudang Mountain.