Classic of Great Peace

Taipingjing (Classic of Great Peace), also called as Taiping Qingling Shu (Black Scarf Book of Supreme Peace), is one of the most important canons of Taoism. It is said that this canon was handed down from Taoist Yu Ji of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220).

The contents of Taiping Jing concentrate on the following four aspects:

I. It inherits the Tao of Laozi, the founder of Taoism, and the traditional deity religion, reconstructs the system of the early Taoist doctrine of Human and Nature in Harmony, and put forward the concepts of immortal supernatural being, deity in body and pursuit of longevity.

II. Based on the theory of five elements, it puts forward a set of ruling methods for rulers to control the country, regarding by doing nothing everything will be done as the guideline for running a country.

III. As to the cultivation methods of Taoist disciples, the canon advocates refraining from eating grain, living on qi (vital energy), taking medicines, cultivating the nature, returning from deity, acupuncture, auspice, geomantic omen, taboo and so on. At the same time, it also pays attention to Taoist magic figures or incantations, saying that eating incantations can get rid of evils, acquire blessing, treat diseases and make people live forever. It requires disciples to keep fast, bow in solute, pray, offer a sacrifice, exorcise evils, chant canon and so on.

IV. The canon puts forward the retribution theory based on benefaction and immoral conducts. It is said that if a person does many kinds of evil, the heaven will bring disasters to him/her or his/her later generations. Thus, the canon seriously advises common people to do good deeds. The believing and cultivation of correct Tao may help one eliminate the burdens and become supernatural being.