Research On The Official Praying System Of The Tang Dynasty

In the ancient undeveloped society, agriculture plays a pillar role in national development. It relates to adequate food and warm clothing, financial levy as well as military expenditure. Therefore, emperors value most to agriculture for a long time among dynasties. Because of the limit of scientific and technological level, agriculture has no chose but to rely on nature. So plenty rain becomes a guarantee for the development of agriculture. And this phenomenon promotes the behavior of praying for rain from witchery to official etiquette system. On the basis of previous research result, we search for the resource, by dint of related references historical background, aim on praying for rain in official etiquette system and in folk customs, this thesis does a discussion about the status of agriculture in economy and national development. Besides, through this thesis, we could gain rough understanding on national policy and official etiquette.This thesis consists five parts:The first chapter is introduction. It focuses on the reason of choosing the topic of this thesis, meanwhile, discusses the research method and thesis frame briefly.The second chapter talks more about the behavior of praying for rain before Tang dynasty. This part expands narrative from the object of praying for rain to organizers and participants, methods and time of the whole system. Praying for rain is a long process and its develops with people’s understanding of nature. In the ancient and then later time, the pray objects are things which are related to natural phenomena, as well as mythological figures. Besides, organizers and participants of pray ceremony are emperor, officials and wizards. The method of praying for rain contains incineration, exposure and spirit punishment, but the pray time is not fixed.The third chapter is the main part of whole thesis and aims at the changes of rain praying ceremony after one book published which called<Kaiyuan Etiquette in Tang Dynasty>. As to the objects, the system of praying for rain becomes more and more rich and valued. There are more ritual forms on the pray ceremony. It is worth mentioning that the minorities on mainland China are influenced by Han people’s policies gradually, in particular, the ceremony of praying for rain. On one hand, it reflects nation’s powerful and unity. On the other hand, it is a way to show the influence on culture and belief aspects. Furthermore, government’s special care leads to the upgrade of pray level. Specialized place and more stable pray time emerge in this time of period.The fourth chapter discusses the phenomena which rain praying ceremony combined with religion, as well as the reflection of the whole pray system to later dynasties. Sector one discusses the fusion process between rain praying ceremony and dragon belief. This part values more on the appearance of dragon king’s title, humanoid dragon and dragon princess, and dragon’s rainfall function. Sector two discusses Taoism’s influence on rain praying ceremony, key to analysis the change of rainmaker’s form in civil society, dojo in palace and Taoist priests in rain praying ceremony. The last sector is a reflection of the entire system. To the beginning, emphasize the affect which Tang dynasty gives to later dynasties. And then talks about the affect of the whole rain praying system.The last chapter is the epilogue. This part introduces the change and influence of rain praying ceremony in the history. Emphasis on the impact of official legislation on rain praying system in Tang dynasty.