Research On Taoist Commandments

This dissertation aims at the Taoist commandments before 1911. It is divided into three parts: introduction, body, and conclusion.The introduction gives definition to Taoist commandments, and points out commandments in this dissertation refer to taboo, discipline, and regulation. It analyzes that the birth and appearance of Taoist commandments are based on the nature of Tao, theory of human nature, and view on life. And its theoretical premises are human and heaven mutually sensing and retribution of kindness and evil. It also points out the realistic significances of the research on Taoist Commandments: one is the need to sort out traditional culture; the second is the need to construct contemporary Taoist ethos and rejuvenate Taoism. It narrates the situation of Taoist commandment research both home and abroad and analyzes the deficiency of current research. Finally, it lists the research methods of this dissertation, including historical study, moral study, comparative study and sociological research method.The body consists of six chapters.The first chapter discusses the development of Taoist Commandments. According to factors such as the stages division of historical development of Taoism, the combination of development and changes of Taoist doctrine and dogmata, the birth and development of religious groups, sorting out and compiling books on Taoist commandments, and people who impart the...