The Cultural Implications of the Daoist Five-Thunder Symbol

• Main Authors: Lai,Yan Zhang, 賴衍璋
• Other Authors: Hsieh, Jen Chen
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2013
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/06324184500268109567

碩士 === 華梵大學 === 哲學系碩士班 === 101 === Abstract The spell system has always been a huge and complex system in Daoism. It can be dated back to the spell text survived from the Han Dynasty, and the modern spell system is expanding. The five-thunder spell is probably the largest system in the huge and continuously expanding Taoist spell system. The five-thunder spell is called the spell of all spells. This suggests its incomparable influence among all spells. The five-thunder spell was used in all parts of life in traditional culture. Generally speaking, instead of a single spell, the five-thunder spell is a spell system using the “five-thunder spell”. Today, dozens or even hundreds of five-thunder spells have been collected, and there are more outside the collection. Although comprehensive five-thunder spells look complex, they all link with the thunder god belief. People usually associate the god of thunder with fear, punishment, and freight. In this paper, the image of the god of thunder is more than that. In early agricultural society, thunder played an irreplaceable role. It even had decisive influence on weather. In labor work, climate change, daily life regularity, and the growth of all kinds, the significance of thunder was indicative. The god of thunder has thus become an important part of folk belief. A systematic way of thinking has also developed in culture. Due to the importance of thunder, many important concepts related to the functions of thunder are mentioned in the 24 solar terms in China. In Book of Change, it is categorized in the zhen (thunder) trigram. In Daofa huiyuan, there is detailed description about the thunder spell. By integrating the thunder spell with the five-element concept of China and Taoist spell concept, the five-thunder spell became a system in itself. The implication of the spell text implies the thoughts about the “god of thunder”, “five elements”, and “spell” in Chinese culture. By combining with the tian-ren relationship in Daoism, they became an independent system. The process of drawing spell is the most important part. It is important because of the tool used to draw the spell and how to achieve the tian-ren relationship with the tool. This means how a spell maker makes the communication between man and god possible through drawing the spell with a brush. This paper attempts to discuss the cultural implication of the images carried by the five-thunder spell in terms of culture, philosophy, and religion, so as to further clarify the core value of the five-thunder spell. Keywords: Taoist, Daoism, the five elements, thunder spell, thunder, five-thunder spell, 24 solar terms, Book of Change, zhen trigram, Daofa huiyuan, tian-ren relationship