Gongjin's Campaign Memorials
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Gongjin's Campaign Memorials
The Classic of Great Peace
Taiping Jing

Author

Gan Zhongke and others

Written

Around 0 A.D.

Other names

The Scripture of Great Peace
The Black Scarf Book of Supreme Peace

Original name

Taiping Jing
Taiping Qingling Shu

Pinyin

Tàipíng Jīng

Chinese

太平經 (traditional)
太平经 (simplified)

Used by

Zhang Jiao
Zhang Bao
Zhang Liang

The Classic of Great Peace, also known as The Black Scarf Book of Supreme Peace, is one of the most important canons of Taoïsm. It is believed it's origins lie with the Book of Great Peace, with Green Headings (Tàipíng Qīnglǐng Shū 太平清領書)

Content[]

The Classic of Great Peace concentrates on the following four aspects:

1). It inherits the Tao of Laozi, the founder of Taoism, and the traditional deity religion, reconstructs the system of the early Taoist doctrine of Human and Nature in Harmony, and put forward the concepts of immortal supernatural being, deity in body and pursuit of longevity.

2). Based on the theory of five elements, it puts forward a set of ruling methods for rulers to control the country, regarding by doing nothing everything will be done as the guideline for running a country.

3). As to the cultivation methods of Taoist disciples, the canon advocates refraining from eating grain, living on qi (vital energy), taking medicines, cultivating the nature, returning from deity, acupuncture, auspice, geomantic omen, taboo and so on. At the same time, it also pays attention to Taoist magic figures or incantations, saying that eating incantations can get rid of evils, acquire blessing, treat diseases and make people live forever. It requires disciples to keep fast, bow in solute, pray, offer a sacrifice, exorcise evils, chant canon and so on.

4). The canon puts forward the retribution theory based on benefaction and immoral conducts. It is said that if a person does many kinds of evil, the heaven will bring disasters to him/her or his/her later generations. Thus, the canon seriously advises common people to do good deeds. The believing and cultivation of correct Tao may help one eliminate the burdens and become supernatural being.I. It inherits the Tao of Laozi, the founder of Taoism, and the traditional deity religion, reconstructs the system of the early Taoist doctrine of Human and Nature in Harmony, and put forward the concepts of immortal supernatural being, deity in body and pursuit of longevity.

External Links[]

Tai-ping-Jing - translation of some terms used in the Taiping Jing.

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