Cosmology: Daoism has made a tremendous contribution to the
development of ancient astronomy and has deepened man's understanding
and mastery of the outside world. Daoism holds that the universe
is created from emptiness. For example, The Book of the
Supreme Venerable Sovereign's Opening of the Heavens 1
says that the evolutionary process of the universe is made
up of many phases, such as "great origin", "chaotic
origin", "supreme beginning", "supreme
start", "supreme simplicity", "chaos",
"nine palaces", and "original sovereign"
(see p. 618, Vol. 34, The Daoist Canon 2). Although
such a theory is still within the religious intellectual system,
it initiates man's understanding of the universe and gestates
the sprout of science of the universe. Daoists came to know
gradually that the universe has gone through an evolutionary
process of growing from small to large. Ge Hong adopts the
view that "Pangu created the world" mentioned in
Three-Five Calendar 3 by Xu Zheng of The Three Kingdoms,
holding that "before the formation of heaven, earth,
the sun and the moon, the universe was in the shape of an
egg; chaotic, black and yellow," and that the heaven
and earth were not created until Perfect Man Pangu roamed
in the universe and created the sun and the moon (see Records
of Immortals of the Original Beginning and the Highest Perfection
4, p. 23, vol. 3, in The Daoist Canon). Daoist Theories
of the universe developed continuously afterwards. Daoism
explains the structure of the universe with the theory of
integral heaven, holding that heaven is a ball-shaped shell
wrapping the earth, which floats in the ball of heaven in
the shape of a board, while the sun, the moon, and stars are
attached to the ball of heaven, and that the buoyant force
of the "tie of the vital breath" enables heaven
and earth not to fall. The famous Daoist Hao Datong of the
Complete Perfection Tradition 5 was an expert at calendrics
and arithmetic, while Zhao Youqin conducted large-scale research
in astronomical physics. The latter studied solar and lunar
eclipses and did optical experiments. Some of his experiments
and discoveries recorded in his New Book on the Changing
Astronomical Phenomena 6 were revolutionary in the history
of world astronomy.
Astrology: Daoism holds that constellations in heaven are
the abodes of spirits. Also due to the Daoist belief in the
theory of correspondence between heaven and man, ancient Daoists
devoted a great deal of energy to observing the stars and
drawing star charts. The 28 constellations in heaven that
signify energy nodes and orientations have caught people's
attention ever since the emergence of Daoism. Daoism holds
that worship of the Big Dipper could eliminate disasters and
get rid of diseases, prolong the life span and achieve longevity.
Therefore, in The Daoist Canon, there are a number of Daoist
scriptures about prayer to the Big Dipper or concerning the
Dipper constellation, and numerous scriptures are illustrated
with the star chart of the Big Dipper. Many of the ancient
Chinese astronomers and astrologists were Daoists or persons
influenced by Daoism, such as Li Chunfeng, Yuan Tiangang,
and so on.
Calendar: Based on the observation and research of the laws
of heaven, earth, and the universe, Daoism establishes "calendar
of 24 energy nodes" which bears important influence on
subsequent Chinese calendars (For details, see p. 438, vol.
28, The Daoist Canon). In The Daoist Canon, there is
also a Daoist calendar named "calendar of 28 constellations",
a "solar calendar" which is different from that
of the government. It prescribes that one year has 12 months
and each month has 30 days, and divided a year in half, the
first half starting with the Kui constellation and the second
with the Jiao constellation. This calendar has major influence
on the "calendar of 12 vital breaths" formulated
by Shen Kuo.
Timers: The characteristics of Daoist cultivation methods
determine that Daoists need exact timing when cultivating
inner and outer alchemy. As a result, many Daoists delve into
timing techniques so that they make much valuable contribution
in this field. One of the early Daoist devotees' major suggestions
accepted during the reign of Emperor Aidi of the Han dynasty
is that the 100 degree-gradation, which is the gradation standard
of the timing instrument "louke", is changed into
120 degree-graduation (see "Biography of Li Xun"
in History of the Han). The Daoist Li Lan of the Northern
Wei dynasty invented "chenglou" (steelyard timer).
After being improved in the Song dynasty, it had been used
by the government till the Northern Song dynasty. Tao Hongjing,
a famous Daoist of the Southern Dynasties, once designed "natural
louke". His reason was, "flowing water can be made
into natural louke. Then the twelve hours circulate, and people
do not have to wait and watch." (p. 735, vol. 22, The
Daoist Canon.) Daoists of the Complete Perfection Tradition
even invented some handy timing instruments that are "ingenious,
delicate, and simple"(see p.137, vol. 32. The Daoist
Canon).
Notes:
Author: Jiang Sheng
Translator: Lv Pengzhi
Editor: Eli Alberts
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