A Research On The Demon Statutes Of Nüqing

This paper contains two parts:the first part is chapter one with the interpretation of documents and archaeological materials and the second part consists of chapter two,three and four with analysis on eschatology,the concept of evils and precepts in The Demon Statutes of Nuqing(????).By analyzing text thoughts,this paper try to grasp the context in which Taoism was the heir to the tradition and absorbed Confucian and Buddhism,and describe how Taoism,especially Celestial Master Taoism(???),completed itself with the effort to maintain social order and safeguard the daily life.Chapter one is basing on the existing six-volume edition of The Demon Statutes of Nuqing in the collected Taoist scriptures,reorganization and research focus on text comparison between The Demon Statutes of Nuqing and other Taoist or non-Taoist literature in this paper.The use of excavated archaeological materials is also in view.All these things we possess show the clue that in the original edition of The Demon Statutes of Nuqing there may be some description on tomb-tending ceremonies,some articles for evils and stipulations of Taoists' assemblies which are hardly restored.The innovation point is finding several passages in YawYang Essays(????),which helps studying on relationship between Upper Clarity(???)and Celestial Master Taoism.Archaeological findings imply that The Demon Statutes of Nuqing was just in embryo in the north and not shaped before Celestial-Master Taoists who started migrations to the southern area learned and suffered the impact of those southern grave ceremonies which were connected with special scriptures represented by The Demon Statutes of Xuandu(????).The first four volumes may form in the early Eastern Jin Dynasty and the fifth volume appeared late.In a nutshell,text formation experienced a long period more than a date.The Demon Statutes of Nuqing influenced the formation of Celestial-Master scriptures as well as Upper Clarity scriptures.Characterized by its diachronism,the text formation process of The Demon Statutes of Nuqing makes textual research more difficult as well as ideological iNiiestigation easier,for the sake of the similar varying trend with denomination developing and historical development of Six Dynasties.Chapter two is an inquiry into eschatology.The innovation part is finding that eschatology shows the course to maturity.It infers that eschatology sources from Heaven-human induction,divination,astrology and the ideology of Great Peace of the Han dynasty more than been influenced by Buddhism.eschatology in The Demon Statutes of Nuqing attempts to explain the root of a society that is morally bankrupt,politically unstable,full of plague and starvation,mentioned in every volume of The Demon Statutes of Nuqing.Chapter three is an inquiry into the concept of evils.The concept of evils in The Demon Statutes of Nuqing succeed almost all kinds of traditional explanations on the possibility and rationality of evils.Characterized by its encyclopedic demon collection,The Demon Statutes of Nuqing aims to explain and rationalize plight or emergencies in daily life.Chapter four is an inquiry into precepts in The Demon Statutes of Nuqing.Relative less in quantity,the precepts show the connection with Confucian ethic.In the process of Taoism discipline reformation,The Demon Statutes of Nuqing offers a typical immature example.However,some particular precepts which seem Taoist could also be found.Analysis on eschatology,the concept of evils and precepts may be summed up as one conclusion that early Taoism,especially Celestial Master Taoism,always makes attempts to maintain social order and safeguard the daily life.