Ten Taoist Questions: How Much Do You Know About Common Taoist Knowledge?

It is difficult to condense common knowledge into ten questions, so we have tried to select representative ones.

 

1. Orthodox Taoist rituals for attracting wealth, praying for blessings, peace, and resolving disasters do not overdraft future fortune.  ( )

2. Taoist rituals must involve submitting petitions (Shangbiao), otherwise they will not be effective.  ( )

3. Orthodox deities descend to the human realm and possess living bodies.  ( )

4. Drawing talismans must involve 'Jiesha' (binding/condensing energy), otherwise they will not be effective.  ( )

5. Any magical practice that does not undergo internal cultivation to communicate with deities is a method for communicating with the Yin (spirits of the dead).  ( )

6. Offering food (Shishi) can be done by anyone at their own discretion; it is beneficial and harmless.  ( )

7. Repaying the 'Shousheng' (Longevity Life) debt can only be done once in a lifetime.  ( )

8. The rule of 'Wu Bu Chao Zhen' (not worshipping the True Lord on Wu days) is a mandatory rule in Taoism that must absolutely not be violated.  ( )

9. Taoist priests without official titles can also perform the 'Bai Dou' (Worship of the Dipper), and believers can do it themselves.  ( )

10. If one's destiny is unfavorable, Taoist magic cannot change it.  ( )

 

Correct Answers:

1. Orthodox Taoist rituals for attracting wealth, praying for blessings, peace, and resolving disasters are different from other religions, so they do not overdraft future fortune.  

 Answer: True.

 Explanation: Orthodox methods rely on the power between Heaven and Earth, which is recognized by Heaven and Earth, so there is no overdrafting of future fortune.

2. Taoist rituals must involve submitting petitions (Shangbiao), otherwise they will not be effective.  

 Answer: False.

 Explanation: Taoist rituals come in many forms; submitting petitions is just one of them.

3. Orthodox deities descend to the human realm and possess living bodies.

 Answer: False

 Explanation: Orthodox deities never descend to the mortal world; everything claiming to be possession by a deity in the world is not an orthodox deity.

4. Drawing talismans must involve 'Jiesha', otherwise they will not be effective.

 Answer: False

 Explanation: There are many forms of talisman magic; some are effective through sincerity alone, so 'Jiesha' is not strictly necessary.

5. Any magical practice that does not undergo internal cultivation to communicate with deities is a method for communicating with the Yin.

 Answer: True.

 Explanation: Deities are pure Yang; communication relies entirely on sufficient Yang energy. If one does not undergo internal cultivation, Yin and Yang mix, or Yin prevails while Yang declines, one can only communicate with spirits (Ling). Communicating with spirits is communicating with the Yin.

6. Offering food (Shishi) is something anyone can do; it is beneficial and harmless.

 Answer: False.

 Explanation: Randomly offering food can bring risks, similar to carrying a large sum of money alone at midnight to a slum; you might get robbed or face worse consequences. Therefore, it must be done according to fixed rules, preferably during a ritual ceremony led by a high-ranking priest, rather than done privately on one's own.

7. Repaying the 'Shousheng' (Longevity Life) debt can only be done once in a lifetime.

 Answer: False

 Explanation: As long as the numerical principles are followed, it can be performed multiple times.

8. The rule of 'Wu Bu Chao Zhen' (not worshipping the True Lord on Wu days) is a mandatory rule in Taoism that must absolutely not be violated.  

 Answer: False.

 Explanation: Wu days were rest days for Taoist temples in the Tang Dynasty, a tradition continued to this day. However, in cases of emergency or disaster, ritual activities can still be performed.

9. Taoist priests without official titles can also perform the 'Bai Dou' (Worship of the Dipper), and believers can do it themselves.

 Answer: False

 Explanation: 'Bai Dou' must be performed by a Taoist priest with an official title to be effective; otherwise, it may easily invite disaster.

10. If one's destiny is unfavorable, Taoist magic cannot change it.

 

 Answer: False

 Explanation: 'My fate is determined by me, not by Heaven.' Taoist magic was created precisely to change predetermined destiny and improve the lives of believers.