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Zaili teaching

December 18, 2023

Zailiism (在理教, the "Way of the Abiding Principle"[a]) or Liism (理教[b]),[2] also known as the Baiyidao (白衣道[c] "White-Clad Way") or Bafangdao (八方道[d] "Octagonal Way"), is a Chinese folk religious sect of north China, founded in the 17th century by Yang Zai.[3] It claims a Taoist identity[4] and is centered on the worship of Guanyin as the incarnation of the principle of the universe, the "Only God of the Unlimited" (无极只神 Wújí Zhīshén).[5]

Zailiism
在理教 Zàilǐjiào
TypeChinese salvationist religion
FounderYang Zai
Origin17th century
Tianjin
Members1948: 15 million[1]
Other name(s)Liism, Gate of the Principle (理门 Lǐmén), White-Clad Way (白衣道), Octagon Way (八方道)
Official websitehttp://www.liism.org/

History edit

Yang Zai's life edit

Zailiism was founded during the waning years of the Ming dynasty by Yang Zai (1621-1754; alias Yang Chengqing or Yang Rulai), a holder of the jinshi degree from Jimo, Shandong.[3] Although anxious to take up an official position, Yang remained in Jimo to care for his aged mother.[3] After her death he became a religious leader, and there are different accounts about how this happened.[3] Some sources attribute this to a vision or encounter with Guanyin.[3]

He certainly migrated to the mountains of Ji County in Tianjin.[6] Here he remained for ten years in meditation in the Lanshui Cave, he purified himself and formulated his philosophical teachings revolving around the Eight Proscriptions (ba jie).[6] At the age of eighty he took ten disciples, who were sent in different directions to spread the teaching. Yang, thanks to his techniques of meditation and refinement, reputedly died at the age of 133.[6]

18th century: Yin Ruo leadership edit

The religion was formally established in Tianjin, and by the mid 18th century it had spread throughout north China.[7] Mass following was founded on the work of Yin Ruo (1729-1806; alias Yin Laifeng and Yin Zhongshan), the second great patriarch in the history of the sect.[8] In 1766, Yin founded the first common house (gong suo) in the suburbs of Tianjin; common houses became the basic and characteristic organisation units of Zailiism.[9] They are both temples and meeting houses, and early common houses were rooms in private homes and village temples.[9] By the early republican period some of them had evolved into elaborate complexes of buildings and courtyards.[9]

Common houses were run by two layers of leadership: ritual and administrative. The ritual ministers were the dangjia, celibate men who engaged in a strict self-cultivation regimen.[10] In Tianjin every common house had a single dangjia, who more than parish priests were holy men and moral exemplars, who led few yearly rituals of the sect.[9] The administrative counterpart was the "manager" (chengbanren), a lay who cared for the daily activities of the common house.[11]

19th and 20th century edit

The spread of Zailiism did not go unnoticed, and in the 19th century Qing dynasty officials carried out various investigations to verify the orthodoxy of the sect, always concluding that it was orthodox and contributed to the economy and morality of the population. Some officials advised the throne not only to recognise the sect, but even to encourage it to counter the growing influence of Christianity.[12]

In 1891, Zaili lodges led an uprising in Rehe, in a climate of Han Chinese discontent with privileges of the Mongol nobility and the Catholic Church.[13] Although the uprising was crushed, the tensions festered and reemerged within the Boxer Rebellion at the turn of the century.[14]

The sect grew rapidly in the last years of the Qing dynasty and in the early republic. Zaili adherents operated a large number of lodges and took over some disrepaired temples of other religions.[15] By the late 19th century it had already established a strong presence in Manchuria, and by the early 20th century it started to exhibit a national character.[16] It even spread among ethnic Chinese in Russia.[5] By the 1920s the sect had an established presence in all major cities of China, and when Jiangsu province outlawed it in 1929, influential leaders of Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai appealed to the national government to have the ban lifted.[16] In August 1929 the Ministry of the Interior gave explicit approval to Zailiism.[16]

Contemporary developments edit

Zailiism returned active in China's Hebei province since the late 1990s.[17] It also has 186,000 members in Taiwan, corresponding to 0.8% of the total population. There is a Chinese United Church of Liism (中华理教总会 Zhōnghuá Lǐjiào Zǒnghuì[e]) and other smaller bodies.

Philanthropy edit

The most characteristic element of Zailiism is the emphasis on physical purity and abstinence from addictive substances.[6] Zailiism spread as members founded charities and campaigned for abstinence from alcohol, tobacco, and opium, and offering cures for the addicts.[18] Zaili followers developed drug rehabilitation centres using herbal medicines and self-cultivation techniques (zhengshen), which were said to fully cure two hundred addicts per year.[19]

Zaili members also founded the "China's General Association for the Prevention of Alcohol and Tobacco According to the Righteously Good Teachings" (中華全國理善勸戒煙酒總會 Zhōnghuá quánguó lǐ shàn quàn jièyān jiǔ zǒng huì), that was recognized by the Yuan Shikai government in June 1913.[20]

See also edit

Footnotes edit

  1. ^ 在理教 Zàilǐjiào. "Zai li" means "abiding principle", "staying in principle", "staying in truth", "remaining faithful to the universal truth"; "jiao" means a "teaching" or "transmission".
  2. ^ 理教 Lǐjiào, "transmission of the principle".
  3. ^ 白衣道 Báiyīdào
  4. ^ 八方道 Bāfāngdào
  5. ^ traditional characters: 中華理教總會

References edit

  1. ^ Michael Pye. Exploring Religions in Motion. Walter de Gruyter, 2003. ISBN 1614511918. p. 159
  2. ^ Goossaert, Palmer. 2011. p. 98
  3. ^ a b c d e Dubois (2005), p. 107.
  4. ^ Palmer, 2011. p. 27
  5. ^ a b Tertitski (2007).
  6. ^ a b c d Dubois (2005), p. 108.
  7. ^ Goossaert, Palmer. 2011. p. 98
  8. ^ Dubois (2005), p. 109.
  9. ^ a b c d Dubois (2005), p. 110.
  10. ^ Goossaert, Palmer. 2011. p. 98
  11. ^ Dubois (2005), p. 111.
  12. ^ Dubois (2005), pp. 111–112.
  13. ^ Goossaert, Palmer. 2011. p. 98
  14. ^ Goossaert, Palmer. 2011. p. 98
  15. ^ Goossaert, Palmer. 2011. p. 98
  16. ^ a b c Dubois (2005), p. 112.
  17. ^ DuBois, 2005
  18. ^ Goossaert, Palmer. 2011. p. 98
  19. ^ Yeh, 2000. p. 344
  20. ^ Yang, 2008. p. 213

Sources edit

  • D. A. Palmer. Chinese Redemptive Societies and Salvationist Religion: Historical Phenomenon or Sociological Category?. On: Journal of Chinese Ritual, Theatre and Folklore, V. 172, 2011, p. 21-72
  • Mayfair Mei-hui Yang. Chinese Religiosities: Afflictions of Modernity and State Formation. University of California Press, 2008.
  • Vincent Goossaert, David Palmer. The Religious Question in Modern China. University of Chicago Press, 2011. ISBN 0226304167
  • Tertitski, Konstantin (2007). "Zailijiao in Russia: A Chinese Syncretic Religion in Diaspora". International Sinological Symposium. Taipei: Fu Jen Catholic University. 4: 414–443.
  • Dubois, Thomas David (2005). (PDF). University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0824828372. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-02-14. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
  • Wen-hsin Yeh. Becoming Chinese: Passages to Modernity and Beyond. University of California Press, 2000. ISBN 0520222180

External links edit

  • Official website

December 18, 2023
zaili, teaching, zailiism, 在理教, abiding, principle, liism, 理教, also, known, baiyidao, 白衣道, white, clad, bafangdao, 八方道, octagonal, chinese, folk, religious, sect, north, china, founded, 17th, century, yang, claims, taoist, identity, centered, worship, guanyin,. Zailiism 在理教 the Way of the Abiding Principle a or Liism 理教 b 2 also known as the Baiyidao 白衣道 c White Clad Way or Bafangdao 八方道 d Octagonal Way is a Chinese folk religious sect of north China founded in the 17th century by Yang Zai 3 It claims a Taoist identity 4 and is centered on the worship of Guanyin as the incarnation of the principle of the universe the Only God of the Unlimited 无极只神 Wuji Zhishen 5 Zailiism在理教 ZailǐjiaoTypeChinese salvationist religionFounderYang ZaiOrigin17th century TianjinMembers1948 15 million 1 Other name s Liism Gate of the Principle 理门 Lǐmen White Clad Way 白衣道 Octagon Way 八方道 Official websitehttp www liism org Contents 1 History 1 1 Yang Zai s life 1 2 18th century Yin Ruo leadership 1 3 19th and 20th century 1 4 Contemporary developments 2 Philanthropy 3 See also 4 Footnotes 5 References 6 Sources 7 External linksHistory editYang Zai s life edit Zailiism was founded during the waning years of the Ming dynasty by Yang Zai 1621 1754 alias Yang Chengqing or Yang Rulai a holder of the jinshi degree from Jimo Shandong 3 Although anxious to take up an official position Yang remained in Jimo to care for his aged mother 3 After her death he became a religious leader and there are different accounts about how this happened 3 Some sources attribute this to a vision or encounter with Guanyin 3 He certainly migrated to the mountains of Ji County in Tianjin 6 Here he remained for ten years in meditation in the Lanshui Cave he purified himself and formulated his philosophical teachings revolving around the Eight Proscriptions ba jie 6 At the age of eighty he took ten disciples who were sent in different directions to spread the teaching Yang thanks to his techniques of meditation and refinement reputedly died at the age of 133 6 18th century Yin Ruo leadership edit The religion was formally established in Tianjin and by the mid 18th century it had spread throughout north China 7 Mass following was founded on the work of Yin Ruo 1729 1806 alias Yin Laifeng and Yin Zhongshan the second great patriarch in the history of the sect 8 In 1766 Yin founded the first common house gong suo in the suburbs of Tianjin common houses became the basic and characteristic organisation units of Zailiism 9 They are both temples and meeting houses and early common houses were rooms in private homes and village temples 9 By the early republican period some of them had evolved into elaborate complexes of buildings and courtyards 9 Common houses were run by two layers of leadership ritual and administrative The ritual ministers were the dangjia celibate men who engaged in a strict self cultivation regimen 10 In Tianjin every common house had a single dangjia who more than parish priests were holy men and moral exemplars who led few yearly rituals of the sect 9 The administrative counterpart was the manager chengbanren a lay who cared for the daily activities of the common house 11 19th and 20th century edit The spread of Zailiism did not go unnoticed and in the 19th century Qing dynasty officials carried out various investigations to verify the orthodoxy of the sect always concluding that it was orthodox and contributed to the economy and morality of the population Some officials advised the throne not only to recognise the sect but even to encourage it to counter the growing influence of Christianity 12 In 1891 Zaili lodges led an uprising in Rehe in a climate of Han Chinese discontent with privileges of the Mongol nobility and the Catholic Church 13 Although the uprising was crushed the tensions festered and reemerged within the Boxer Rebellion at the turn of the century 14 The sect grew rapidly in the last years of the Qing dynasty and in the early republic Zaili adherents operated a large number of lodges and took over some disrepaired temples of other religions 15 By the late 19th century it had already established a strong presence in Manchuria and by the early 20th century it started to exhibit a national character 16 It even spread among ethnic Chinese in Russia 5 By the 1920s the sect had an established presence in all major cities of China and when Jiangsu province outlawed it in 1929 influential leaders of Beijing Tianjin and Shanghai appealed to the national government to have the ban lifted 16 In August 1929 the Ministry of the Interior gave explicit approval to Zailiism 16 Contemporary developments edit Zailiism returned active in China s Hebei province since the late 1990s 17 It also has 186 000 members in Taiwan corresponding to 0 8 of the total population There is a Chinese United Church of Liism 中华理教总会 Zhōnghua Lǐjiao Zǒnghui e and other smaller bodies Philanthropy editThe most characteristic element of Zailiism is the emphasis on physical purity and abstinence from addictive substances 6 Zailiism spread as members founded charities and campaigned for abstinence from alcohol tobacco and opium and offering cures for the addicts 18 Zaili followers developed drug rehabilitation centres using herbal medicines and self cultivation techniques zhengshen which were said to fully cure two hundred addicts per year 19 Zaili members also founded the China s General Association for the Prevention of Alcohol and Tobacco According to the Righteously Good Teachings 中華全國理善勸戒煙酒總會 Zhōnghua quanguo lǐ shan quan jieyan jiǔ zǒng hui that was recognized by the Yuan Shikai government in June 1913 20 See also editTaoismFootnotes edit 在理教 Zailǐjiao Zai li means abiding principle staying in principle staying in truth remaining faithful to the universal truth jiao means a teaching or transmission 理教 Lǐjiao transmission of the principle 白衣道 Baiyidao 八方道 Bafangdao traditional characters 中華理教總會References edit Michael Pye Exploring Religions in Motion Walter de Gruyter 2003 ISBN 1614511918 p 159 Goossaert Palmer 2011 p 98 a b c d e Dubois 2005 p 107 Palmer 2011 p 27 a b Tertitski 2007 a b c d Dubois 2005 p 108 Goossaert Palmer 2011 p 98 Dubois 2005 p 109 a b c d Dubois 2005 p 110 Goossaert Palmer 2011 p 98 Dubois 2005 p 111 Dubois 2005 pp 111 112 Goossaert Palmer 2011 p 98 Goossaert Palmer 2011 p 98 Goossaert Palmer 2011 p 98 a b c Dubois 2005 p 112 DuBois 2005 Goossaert Palmer 2011 p 98 Yeh 2000 p 344 Yang 2008 p 213Sources editD A Palmer Chinese Redemptive Societies and Salvationist Religion Historical Phenomenon or Sociological Category On Journal of Chinese Ritual Theatre and Folklore V 172 2011 p 21 72 Mayfair Mei hui Yang Chinese Religiosities Afflictions of Modernity and State Formation University of California Press 2008 Vincent Goossaert David Palmer The Religious Question in Modern China University of Chicago Press 2011 ISBN 0226304167 Tertitski Konstantin 2007 Zailijiao in Russia A Chinese Syncretic Religion in Diaspora International Sinological Symposium Taipei Fu Jen Catholic University 4 414 443 Dubois Thomas David 2005 The Sacred Village Social Change and Religious Life in Rural North China PDF University of Hawaii Press ISBN 0824828372 Archived from the original PDF on 2016 02 14 Retrieved 2016 03 06 Wen hsin Yeh Becoming Chinese Passages to Modernity and Beyond University of California Press 2000 ISBN 0520222180External links editOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Zaili teaching amp oldid 1141141029, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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