Taoist Rules and Regulations

There had the biggest Taoist organization all over the country in Wudang Mountain during the Ming Dynasty. According to the words of Yang-Jinmin, official of Yunyang Region, there were more than 10,000 Taoists in this region. We can imagine that it was impossible to rule these Taoists without laws. In Taoism, these laws are called Taoist rules and regulations.
The most authoritative rules in Wudang Mountain was the imperial order set by Cheng Emperor Zhu-Li of Ming Dynasty. In all halls and temples in Wudang Mountain, there had a stele pavilion in which inscribed this order, saying " All Taoists in Wudang Mountain must have happy spirit and everlasting simplicity... Any Taoist that dose not well cultivate and do bad things to affect others' cultivation or Taoist reputation should be exiled out of the mountain, or even tell on the government."
The imperial order made Wudang Taoism have independent right of justice. Yuanhe Temple in Wudang Mountain was one judicatory institution, called Taoist prison.
Taoist rules and regulations in South Cliff Palace of Wudang Mountain had stated that the country has laws while the mountain has 108 rules, from firing the face or toasting the eyebrows or making medicines or being exiled out of Taoism, to punishing by sticks or by making to carrying medicines, and to making to worship gods with offerings, different punishments to different violations.
Taoist rules and regulations in Purple Cloud Palace also stated that all these rules and regulations are the yardstick of gods' behaviors and actions, gods should not neglect, so the humans can't violate them, or should be punished heavily.
There are more than 1,000 rules and regulations in Taoism, whose purpose is to make Taoists self-controlled, to the effect of concentrating on Taoism.
All those behaviors and actions that violate Taoist rules and regulations are looked down upon in the civilized society, also strong opposed by Taoism. Anyone violation has a correspondent punishment.

Taoist Rules and Regulations in Purple Cloud Palace

Palaces, halls, and temples are the sacred places for Taoists to cultivate their minds and characters where has no harassment from the immortal world but the morning clock, evening drum, and the reading both in the morning and evening to make it possible for you to get rid of all other thoughts, just concentrate on cultivation. Once you come into Taoism, you should pay the religion service and observe Taoist rules and regulations. In order to protect the holiness and power of Taoism, twelve rules and regulations are set. Here are the following:
1. All leaders in all levels should not neglect his duty, or should be ordered to carry medicines.
2. All leaders in all levels should work harmoniously and help each other, or should be ordered to carry medicines.
3. Anyone who is interested in doing bad things and travels privately in the folk, should be destroyed the face by fire.
4. Anyone who doesn't respect a worthy person but praise the evil for the purpose of outstanding oneself should be exiled out of Taoism.
5. Anyone who exploits the public property to rich oneself should be exiled out of Taoism.
6. Anyone who makes friends with the evil or accommodate visitors privately should be punished by sticks.
7. Anyone who speak evilly of others and does great harm to others should be punished by sticks.
8. Anyone who plays unstatedly before gods and destroys the temples should be punished by sticks.
9. Anyone who frames a case against others and breaks the harmony among Taoists should be exiled out of Taoism.
10. Anyone who has meat and drink to bother the temples should be punished by sticks.
11. Anyone who steals the property when carrying them and privately makes meal for oneself should be punished by sticks.
12. Anyone who publicly believes other belief and makes excuses for it should be exiled out of Taoism.
All these rules and regulations should be strictly observed; any violation should be punished according to them, no matter you are old or young, relative or irrelative; but the senior, the sick, the one on business, and the one who is excited to break them involuntarily are to the exception.

Taoist Rules and Regulations in Palace of Harmony

The purpose to publicize Taoist rules and regulations is to make all Taoists understand that all things we do should be for the benefit of the leader and most of the Taoists and that we should observe these rules and regulations to the letter, or should be punished according to the rules and regulations.
1. Anyone who has disorder in mind and the habit of oversleeping or makes a noise in serious situation should be ordered to kneel to worship gods and offer offerings.
2. Anyone who heavily violates Taoist rules and regulations and does not take the sentence by right of his strength should be punished by sticks.
3. Anyone who steals the money in the hall for one's own purpose should be exiled out of Taoism publicly.
4. Anyone who is against Taoist rules and regulations and doesn't observe the restriction should be exiled out of Taoism.
5. Anyone who collects money for oneself and cheats long-term habitants should be exiled out of Taoism.
6. Anyone who rapes the women, steals others' property, or does great harm to others should be destroyed the face by fire.
All the above is to help Taoism develop stronger and spread wider. All Taoists have the obligation to observe them, or should be punished heavily.

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