A Study Of Cultivation And Refinement Thoughts Of Shangqing Daoism

Daoism was described "a gene store-house of Chinese culture that contributed greatly to the civilization of humankind" by the French Sinologist K.M.Schipper. It is a religion that aims to achieve Dao and excels in Magic Arts. If we want to acquire a good understanding of this "gene store-house of Chinese culture", Daoist Magic Arts system and the thoughts of cultivation and refinement are subjects we cannot dodge. However, the esoteric idiosyncrasy of Daoism makes it rather difficult to conduct this kind of study. On the other hand, it is a field that calls for extensive research.Shangqing Daoism enjoys praises such as "Daoism Huayang occupies a position that equals Confucianism Zhusi" and " Maoshan is the origin of Daoism". This school was also regarded as the representative of Daosim. Its Magic Arts system and the thoughts of cultivation and refinement almost mirror all the periods in Daoism history, and are the quintessence of Daoism schools. Therefore, the studies on the Cultivation Thoughts of Shangqing Daoism contribute significantly to a deeper understanding of the "gene store-house of Chinese culture" and to further research on it.This dissertation systemically summarizes all the theories of the thoughts of cultivation and refinement of Shangqing Daoism from three aspects: the longitudinal historical perspective of the thoughts of cultivation and refinement, the transverse perspective of analyzing Magic Arts system, and the distillation ofthe theoretical foundation.From the longitudinal historical perspective, this dissertation deems that the thoughts of cultivation and refinement of Shangqing Daoism evolved from introspecting the harm of exterior elixir dietetics. It initiated the change of Cultivation and Refinement Thoughts from the outer aspects to the inner aspects, which became the milestone in the long process of the evolvement from the Exterior Alchemy to the Inner Alchemy. Furthermore, in Shangqing daoism, visualization Skills received unparalleled emphasis and gradually developed into a dominant Daoist magic art. In addition, the cultivation and refinement thoughts of Shangqing school also reflect an obvious transformation from the Little Vehicle spirit of individual consummation to the Great Vehicle spirit of being of use and help. This transformation was prominently embodied in the process of absorbing Lingbao Fasting Skills and Thunder Skills thoughts. Moreover, Shangqing Daoism also experienced a change from stressing the Nourishment of the Body to the integration of both the Cultivation of Spiritual Nature and Bodily Life. The elements of Mind and Spiritual Nature were also ceaselessly strengthened.From the transverse perspective of analyzing Magic Arts system, this dissertation carefully sums up and analyses various Magic Arts of Shangqing Daoism, and proposes that all the Magic Arts are actually different forms of Daoism in the exploration of the grand theoretical issues such as the truth of the universe, and the rebuilding of the body and mind of mankind.Finally, from the perspective of distilling the theoretical foundation, this dissertation points out that cosmology, ideas of human body, eschatology and ideas of Dao and Arts not only are the groundwork of Magic Arts system and cultivation and refinement thoughts in Shangqing Daoism, but also guarantee the theoretical level of Shangqing Daoism, and unifies all sorts of Magic Arts existing in this school.