Section Five: Rules of Conduct and Etiquettes

There are many “rules of conduct” (Jie) in Daoism, and rules of conduct are normally grouped into sets. Some sets include more than 1200 rules, and others average around 300. These sets are divided to three different levels called “Shang Pin Jie”, “Zhong Pin Jie”, “Xia Pin Jie” corresponding higher, middle and lower levels. Rules Accepting Ceremony is the ritual given by an authoritative institute to an acceptor such as a Taoist Monk. These types of ceremonies first appeared in history around Jin-Yuan Dynasty, given out by Bai Yun Guan (White Clound Temple) in Beijing.

In Daoism, Jie or sets of rules are designed for the self regulating of a Taoist in order to reach certain religious goals one has embarked on. The purposes of the rules are to prevent one from evil intentions, improper desires, bad languages and harmful behaviors. They are there to help the keeping and developing of one’s integrity and purity, to help with one’s progress on the way of Dao. Following the rules can help one fast track to the state of no wrongful actions and no desire, and to eliminate the mindset of a secular person.         

In addition to “Jie”, Taoist institutes, such as a temple, often set its own sets of regulations which governs the behavior of monks or people reside in or even visiting the temple. Violations of these regulations are certainly punishable.

“Wu Jie” means the set of five rules. The five rules are no killing, no stealing, no improper sexual activities, no improper words and no drinking of alcohol. It is believed that the “Wu Jie” are the basics for maintaining the well beings of our bodies. As long as one can stay with the rules, one will be able to win bless from the deities, to have a healthy and long life, and to avoid suffering and bitterness of life. Later in the history 3 more were added to “Wu Jie” to form “Ba Jie”, or set of eight rules. The three additional rules are no beds of high and large, no perfume and over dressing, and no enthrallment of singing and dancing.

“Shi Jie” means the set of ten rules. The rules are no rebellious act against one’s parents, teachers or masters; no killing or torturing of life; no law breaking actions; no improper, unlawful sexual behaviors; no improper words against or slandering of the Taoist Classics; no exposing of one’s body inside halls for worship; no bullying of the weak and old, rubbing them off their belongings; no exposing of one’s body outside the dorm; no indulgence of alcohol and evil speaking; no atrocious behavior for gaining benefit for oneself.    

“Nu Zhen Jiu Jie” is a set of nine rules designated for female Taoists. The rules are be respectful, gentle and careful of words; be clean and away from indecency; be kind to all include animals and materials; be diligent in reading the classics and consuming no meat or alcohol; be simple in life style; be free from worries and anxieties and cautious about of emotional up and downs; no parties or improper gatherings; no hiring of servants; no stealing. 

Unlike “Jie”, Taoist etiquettes are proper behavior codes used when one interact with others in Taoist environments. So etiquettes are designed out of respect of one another. Etiquettes can help one to stay in the role as Taoists; it also helps the creating and maintaining of an orderly and harmonious atmosphere. Some violations of the etiquettes are certainly punishable, just as the violation of “Jie” is punishable as well. Taoist etiquettes include requirements on dressing, talking, eating, and walking, sleeping, behaviors standards during a ritual and etc. It encompasses almost all aspect of life of a Taoist, especially a Taoist Monk.  

Etiquettes inside a temple

Taoists of Quan Zhen Daoism branch are required to live inside a temple. Taoists of Zheng Yi Daoism branch are required to live, while they are inside a temple, in separate place away from regular people. The dorms of the monks should be kept neat and clean; inside the dorm no meat and alcohol are allowed, nor sleeping without clothes on. Generally speaking the dorms of monks are off limits to the public, and inviting other people to stay overnight is forbidden. Living quarters for male and female Taoists are always in different sections of the temple.

Taoist monks normally greet each with the title “Dao Zhang (elder)”, “Dao You (friend)”, or “Dao Ye (Senior)” when other party is much older in age.

First thing in the morning is to make a tour of all the worshipping halls, pay respect to the Gods and Masters, and then perform the Morning Ritual.

Burning or offering incents are always performed for every occasion when facing the Masters or Deities. It is believed the smoke of incents can deliver the message of a worshiper to the subject of worship. The key to a successful offering is one’s bona fides, not how much incent is burned or offered. The going standard is burn three incent for the head monk of the hall; and incent stands parallel to each other within an inch distant. 

Koutou is traditional way of saluting in China. In Daoism when performing Koutou, one’s feet should turn a little bit outward, with keens and the right hand touching the ground, while left hand touching the back of the right hand, bowing down till the forehead touch the back of one’s left hand.  

Gong Shou Li is a way of greeting each other with left hand holding the right hand from the outside, raise them to the level of one’s chest without bending the body. The way of holding the hands symbolize the goodness is praised and evil suppressed since left implies the good and right the evil.

Zuo Yi is another traditional way of greeting. The greeting is done with two hands folded in front at the level of stomach and lowering the hands while bending the body forward slightly. When doing Zou Yi one will common say the phrase “Wu Liang Tian Zun” at the same the time. “Wu Liang Tian Zun” literally means “Numerous Loads in Heaven”, it is a way to call on to the deities for bestowing wisdom and bless. Zuo Yi is normally done when people greet others which are older than them or with higher seniority.   

Morning and Evening Rituals are of the most important daily activities a Taoist Monk must perform. Morning Rituals are normally performed between 5 to 7 am and Evening Rituals are between 5 to 7 pm. During the rituals reading out of Taoist classics takes up a major portion of the time, and the first purpose is to help the progress of the performer on the way of Dao. Daoism believes reading out classics is a very important way to cleanse the self, to firm one’s will, and to communicate with the deities whose help will play key roles in one’s pursue of the Dao. It is further believed that as long as one can completely focus on the teaching of the Classic without doubts or wobbling, one will be able to achieve immortality and achieve Dao for certain. There are some other activities can be included in these rituals as well, such as, praying for living beings, soliciting peace and fortune during Morning Rituals; and praying for the dead the stopping of suffering and the elevation from the world under during the Evening Rituals.

Daoism also believes “Cultivation of self in the way of Dao relies on the teachings of Taoist classics written by immortals and deities. Reading and studying of the classics is to uncover one’s true self. Without religious teachings, Dao cannot be popularized, without the reading and studying of the classics, the life and energy cannot be preserved. Classics record the true message to immortality given by enlightened masters; Incantations represent the true secrets given by heavenly immortals. He who can read the classics with sincereness will uncover their true meanings; he who can act with determination on the teachings of the classics will achieve the promised results. Reading and acting accordingly are the two legs of cultivation that all Taoists of immortality must do”.

In Daoism religion, there is a rule that rituals cannot be performed the date of “Wu”, and the day of “Wu” comes every ten days.  On “Wu” day, no incents to be burned, no classics to be read out, no any worships or offerings to be given out.  

Monks live inside Taoist temples are required to wear uniforms including accessories such as crowns, hoods, socks and shoes specially made for Taoist Monks. The tradition of wearing uniforms started during South Song Dynasty by Taoist Lu Xiu Jing. Ok

In modern days the uniforms of Taoist Monks are generally divided to several categories, Da Ling (daily wear uniforms), Jie Yi (gowns for rule-acceptance events), Hua Yi (ceremonial gowns), Fa Yi (ritual uniforms). Da Ling are the types of clothing people commonly wore before Song Dynasty, there is long kind and short kind; Jie Yi are gowns exclusively wore during rule-acceptance ceremonies; Hua Yi are gowns wore by monks who perform reading, singing and music instruments; Fa Yi are formal ceremonial gowns wore only by leading Monks of the ceremonies and head Monks of the temple. The common colors of Taoist uniforms are dark green, blue and black, ceremonial wears are normally in red, purple or yellow decorated with various patterns of life, wisdom and celestial world.

There is a kind of head wears called “Jin”, Jin is a piece of cloth in different shapes or colors, it is used to wrap around one’s hair. Traditionally there are nine different kinds of Jin, they are Hun Yuan Jin, Zhuang Zi Jin, Chun Yang Jin, Jiu Liang Jin, Hao Ran Jin, Xiao Yao Jin, San Jiao Jin, Yi Zi Jin and Tai Yang Jin.   

Another kind of headwear is called “Guan”. “Guan” are crowns. There are five kinds of “Guan”. They are Huang Guan, Wu Yue Guan, Xing Guan, Lian Hua Guan and Wu Lao Guan. Guan is considered formal wear, can only be worn during rituals and ceremonies. For example, while wearing a Guan it is not allowed entering a restroom. There are requirements for foot wears as well, such as white socks and black shoes made of cotton.

There are multitude of rituals and ceremonies in Daoism. One most common kind is called “Zhai Jiao”. All Taoist monks are required to be able to perform “Zhai Jiao”. “Zhai Jiao” is rather complicated procedure wise. It includes incent burning, bowing, singing, reading, petition and adjuration, offering and etc. “Zhai Jiao” can normally be divided into two categories, one called “Qing Jiao” and another called “You Jiao”. They are differentiated from each others on the purposes they intended to reach. “Qing Jiao” is designed to soliciting blessings, fortunes, removing of unwanted events for the living; while “You Jiao” is intended to help the dead. Regardless which one is performed, the performers are required to shower, change into clean clothes, stay away from alcohols and meats of animals.

During the ritual, lighting incents is normally accompanied by lighting the candles, offering of tea, flowers and fruits. When offering, the monks must hold the things to be offered with two hands and raise them to the level of forehead, then bow and put them on the offering table.    

At major ceremonies or during important rituals, the leading monks and heads of the temple are required to perform “San Li Jiu Kou”. “San Li Jiu Kou” is the most formal solute to the gods and celestial beings.

There are many unique equipments and instruments for performing Taoist rituals. Some are music instruments; others are for displaying, offering, command issuing and etc. It is important to know that on “Wu” day, no ceremonies or rituals are allowed. “Wu” day comes every ten days, and it can be checked using a Chinese lunar calendar.