Eschatology Imagery：A study of the vegetarianism of Taiwanese Sectarianism

• Main Authors: Chao, Chien Chih, 趙建智
• Other Authors: Tsai, Yen Zen
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/3y95ak

碩士 === 國立政治大學 === 宗教研究所 === 98 === Since the birth of the Republic of China, I-Kuan Tao, Maitreya Great Tao and Tian Tao which originated in China development very well in Taiwan, They are famous as the high proportion of strict vegetarians and also have a great impact for the vegetarian ethos of contemporary Taiwanese society. The goal of this study is to explore the nature and causes of the vegetarianism of Taiwanese sectarianism, understand why vegetarian food in Taiwanese sectarianism sacred and important position, and find the common or different characters of these religious vegetarian patterns relative to the various religions of the world of Chinese vegetarian type. Finally, to explore the history of the development of the Taiwanese sectarianism and religious characteristics to identify the religious significance and meaning of this phenomenon included. The study concludes that the four types of Chinese religious vegetarian culture: "the compensatory-type", "time-and-space-type", "identity-type" and "regression-type”. Compensatory-type is based on the sacrifice of the meat welfare of individuals to pray that you can achieve a variety of desire. Time-and-space-type is a kind of food taboos to separate the sacred and secular time and space, a common ceremony. Identity-type makes Buddhist monks different from the general community and life style with a unique identity. Regression-type regards vegetarianism as human return to the original state of innocence. The common features of these Chinese vegetarian cultures are to transform personal physical and mental and give a sense of the sacred on morality, abstinence and clean function. Taiwanese sectarianism belongs to regression-type, based on the absolute exclusion of meat and the irreversible vegetarian identity, which is different from other Chinese religious vegetarian type, and shape the uniqueness of Taiwanese sectarianism. The study found that the Taiwanese sectarianism practice vegetarian via eschatological ethics. Significant vegetarian culture phenomenon is their apocalypticism. Vegetarian represents not only the myth of time which the ancient park regression but also a symbol of the coming of the Messianic age. Believers should to be vegetarians. It’s for practicing the doctrine which everyone has the moral and separating from secular society to replace the sanctity of Buddhist monks and proclaim the sanctity and orthodoxy of these sects. Therefore, we are faced with not only a religion of the contemporary Taiwanese food culture phenomenon, but rather a form of expression of various apocalyptic eschatology movement at all times. Through the discussions of the cleansing ritual and community boundaries through the field of symbolic anthropology, the study pointed out the Taiwanese sectarianism strongly vegetarian practice and the reaction of the environmental impact of the changes for the integrity of their group including: (1) The catechumens conditions decreased, resulting in the creation of the Rite of “Clean Mouth”. (2) Tension in the relationship between politics and religion and other religious attacks, leading to the death does not change the principles of vegetarian. (3) Depth the social missionary and monastic life, leading to the emergence of vegetarian books and Vegetarian FAQ. (4) Sectarian division, leading to the opposing sects prohibit the proposed eggs. (5) The vegetarian concept because society emerging, leading to emphasize the difference between “Clean Mouth” and vegetarian. These phenomena also show that Taiwanese sectarianism vegetarian cultures are not fixed norms against social change, but environmental changes and adjust the dynamic mechanism of its manifestations.