A Study Of Taoist Seals In The Tang Dynasty

Taoist seal is one of the important instruments of Taoism,which is usually used in Taoist rituals and religious activities such as fasting,praying and offering alms-giving,etc.,to confirm the legitimacy and authority of dharma activities.Tang Dynasty is the peak of Taoism development,and the use of Taoist seal is more common than before.The study of Taoist seal in Tang Dynasty can reveal the ideological connotation,operation mechanism and its role in social life of Tang Dynasty from the perspective of artifacts.From the perspective of handed down documents and archaeological materials,Taoist seal has appeared since the beginning of Taoism in the Eastern Han Dynasty.It was stimulated by Taoist theocracy and developed on the basis of Fang Shi seal between the Qin and Han Dynasties,it has developed by absorbing the relevant contents of secular official seal.The Taoist seal in Han and Jin Dynasties had an important influence on the form and content of the Tang Dynasty.The process of making Taoist seal in Tang Dynasty was complicated and rigorous.The preparation before printing,the rituals during printing and the ceremony after printing greatly enhance its mystery,which is obviously different from the traditional folk witchcraft.In the aspect of form,the appearance of wood seal in Tang Dynasty increased the surface of the seal,and the characteristics of wood easy to seal increased the number of the seal,which enriched the form of the seal.In Tang Dynasty,the change of the form of Taoist seal was closely related to the reform of secular official seal,and the development of immortal genealogy led to the diversification of the contents of the seal.The management system of Taoism seal in Tang Dynasty was improved.Gods in the heaven have the ultimate management power of the seal,emphasizing the authority higher than the official seal.The seal in the secular society can only be obtained by the high level of Dharma rank,which is mainly used in religious activities such as fasting and religious rites for different petition purposes,but all its activities are still under the official control.Taoism seal has a wide range of occasions and powerful functions,which embodies the organic unity of Taoism group's own norms,the country's fasting ceremony and the attraction of believers.The highly stylized and strict use of rituals in France and India shows the final submission of Taoism to Buddhism exclusion and official pressure.In the folk legal activities,Taoism seal is used to cure diseases,geomancy,expel beasts and ghosts,prevent disasters,wars and other areas closely related to people's daily life.In fact,it is only a tool used by Taoists to attract believers,strengthen the strength of Daoism,relieve panic,enhance social confidence and stabilize the ruling order of the Tang Dynasty.The power voucher function of Taoist seal provides reference for the emergence of Buddhist seal,while Buddhist seal in turn provides inspiration for the change of Taoist seal.Using Taoism seal as media,the communication and connection between Confucianism,Buddhism and Taoism in Tang Dynasty were further strengthened.