Precept Transmission Of Chengdu Immortals Temple In The Late Qing And Republic Of China

The Chengdu Immortals Temple was built in the reign of Emperor Kangxi, which is not only the ancestor court of the Quanzhen Daoism Longmen school Bi-hole sect, but also is one of the ten jungle possessed by qualifications of precept transmission. During Qianlong and Jiaqing, the Taoism confronted with difficult situation, but it made great development after the joint efforts of disciples of the Immortals Temple. The late Qing is the most critical period in the history of the development of the Immortals Temple. During the29th year in Daoguang(1849), it was awarded the "ten jungle" in the title which laid the foundation for precept transmission. During the Republic of China, the traditional feudal system which Taoism depended on toppled down. Being Faced with the new political environment, the Immortals Temple adapted to the trend of history and actively participated in the affairs of Taoism, developed the career of carved, organized religious activities, maintained a positive momentum of development, which consolidated the position of the Bi-hole sect in the southwestern region.During the14th year in Guangxu(1888), Song Zhizhi started precept transmission in the Immortals Temple, followed by Yan Lihe, Wang Zongsheng, Xiong Libin and Wang Fuyang.In thirty-one (1942), Shen Xinjun opened forum for initiation, which coincided with Anti-Japanese War, but because Sichuan was located in the Great Southwest, the social environment was relatively stable. The Immortals Temple closely communicated with the local government from the date of the establishment. During the Republic of China it actively cooperated with the government to obtain the official support. The Immortals Temple had numerous of disciples, its palace was large and the literati frequently together here, which increased its influence.The temples economic strengthened the material foundation for the Immortals Temple’s initiation. The Immortals Temple’s economic sources were wide. The main way was relying on their land revenue. Besides, flower clubs’ revenue was another important source."The Memo of the Immortals Temple Ren Wu Tan Deng Zhen", which was kept in the thirty-one year during the Republic of China, recorded the personal information of27disciples who were initiation divisions and115disciples who received the initiation.In fact,The initiation divisions were from Sichuan, who mostly featured "Chong" Generation. Certainly, the initiation assistants were getting younger and younger. On the other hand, the disciples who received the initiation were from five provinces, included a maximum of Sichuan Province, Yunnan Province followed. Factually, they belonged to the Long Men School and Huashan School, the majority of the Long Men. Furthermore, they were involving a total of four provinces and36counties,84rings monk temples. The memo provided first-hand information to study the development of the Taoist in end of the Republic of China in the southwestern region and the distribution of Taoist Temple.In nearly60years, the Chengdu Immortals Temple’s initiations were up to more than60, which had an important impact on the development of Taoism. Initiation trained a large number of Taoist talent, and gradually made Quanzhen Taoist become the main belief in the southwestern region. In short, the Immortals Temple’s initiation strengthened Taoist forces, which had an important impact on the development of Taoist history.