A Study on Taoist Efficacious Records in the Yunji qiqian 论《云笈七签》中的道教灵验记

Abstract

Efficacious records, can be defined as the records of efficacious and miraculous incidents, are widely used by religious believers to show miracles in order to convince or convert someone in the act of preaching. Research publications and academic journal articles seldom mention Taoist efficacious stories compared to Buddhist ones. However, efficacious stories recorded in the Yunji qiqian (namely The Seven Lables in a Cloudy Satchel), which is also known as “Little Daozangâ€, is the summary of the Daozang (“Taoist Canonâ€) as it has rich content and research values. Yunji qiqian is a significant reference in relation to the study of Taoism, especially Taoism before the Nothern Song Dynasty. This article attempts to dissertate Taoism efficacious stories in the Yunji qiqian from three aspects: First, from the types of efficacy and phenomena of efficacious stories. Second, the narration about efficacious stories with religious retribution descriptions as the main theme. Third, efficacious stories and the conflicts between Buddhism and Taoism.
Keywords: Taoist efficacious records, Yunji qiqian, types of efficacy, religious retribution.