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The Cavern Mystery Tradition: A Taoist Ordination Rite of 711AD by Charles Benn is quite an interesting book. It looks at the ordination of two Princesses as Taoist nuns. Benn attempts to deal with the institutional framework of the Taoist priesthood of the time, something he claims has been ignored by modern scholars. The book has much to say about the role of women in Taoism, and about Taoism itself during this time period, a time often referred to as the height of Taoism.
Benn suggests that the two Princesses may have been ordained in the memory of Empress Wu to help pray for her soul. The book begins with a description of the reign of Wu Zetian and the lives of the Princesses, how and when they were ordained, and their lives afterwards. Wu Zetian is credited with establishing the precedent of ordaining Princesses in Taoism. She had her own daughter Princess Taiping ordained as a Taoist Priestess in honour of Wu's mother. Princess Taiping headed an abbey, but later married. Her ordination is often considered to be a political move, one to avoid having to ally Taiping with the Tibetans, rather than as a deeply religious matter. The ordination of the two Princesses is considered much more authentic, neither married, but stayed with the religious order their entire lives. It is interesting to note that while not much is known about one of the princesses, Gold Immortal, the other, Jade Perfected led quite an active political life after her ordination. She submitted memorials to the Emperor on matters of treason and injustice, she performed rites on behalf of the Imperial state in different parts of the country and maintained her estates and rank.
The book gives details of the Princesses rites, the setting and the ritual performed. Benn bases his work entirely on primary sources, both secular and Taoist. The Taoist source he gives the greatest precedence to is from the Repository of the Taoist Canon which gives an account of the Lingbao investiture of the two Princesses from an eye witness. It includes details of the alter, and the vows though little detail on the ritual itself. Benn includes a translation of this account in the appendix. For the rite itself Benn draws on a work that was done several hundred years earlier, he notes the problems with this, but argues that the book he is using was popular during the time. Benn also goes into detail about the hierarchical nature of the Taoist orders, and how women were included in each level of this hierarchy, except for the highest.
The detail of the ritual was something that I have to admit to skipping over, mostly due to time constraits, but definitly a book to help with current essays and to look at more indepth for the dissertation.
Benn suggests that the two Princesses may have been ordained in the memory of Empress Wu to help pray for her soul. The book begins with a description of the reign of Wu Zetian and the lives of the Princesses, how and when they were ordained, and their lives afterwards. Wu Zetian is credited with establishing the precedent of ordaining Princesses in Taoism. She had her own daughter Princess Taiping ordained as a Taoist Priestess in honour of Wu's mother. Princess Taiping headed an abbey, but later married. Her ordination is often considered to be a political move, one to avoid having to ally Taiping with the Tibetans, rather than as a deeply religious matter. The ordination of the two Princesses is considered much more authentic, neither married, but stayed with the religious order their entire lives. It is interesting to note that while not much is known about one of the princesses, Gold Immortal, the other, Jade Perfected led quite an active political life after her ordination. She submitted memorials to the Emperor on matters of treason and injustice, she performed rites on behalf of the Imperial state in different parts of the country and maintained her estates and rank.
The book gives details of the Princesses rites, the setting and the ritual performed. Benn bases his work entirely on primary sources, both secular and Taoist. The Taoist source he gives the greatest precedence to is from the Repository of the Taoist Canon which gives an account of the Lingbao investiture of the two Princesses from an eye witness. It includes details of the alter, and the vows though little detail on the ritual itself. Benn includes a translation of this account in the appendix. For the rite itself Benn draws on a work that was done several hundred years earlier, he notes the problems with this, but argues that the book he is using was popular during the time. Benn also goes into detail about the hierarchical nature of the Taoist orders, and how women were included in each level of this hierarchy, except for the highest.
The detail of the ritual was something that I have to admit to skipping over, mostly due to time constraits, but definitly a book to help with current essays and to look at more indepth for the dissertation.