Rituals

Taoist rituals involve bringing order and harmony to the cosmos. There are many types of rituals but they often involve purification, meditation and offerings to the deities. They are highly complex in detail therefore the priests usually take control. Often the priests will chant, play instruments and dance in ritualistic techniques. Depending on the type of ritual, they can last up to two to seven days long.

 

There are two major types of rituals being funeral rites or periodic rites on behalf of ancestors and rites on behalf of local communities.

 

The first type of ritual is commonly taken place in temples. Temple rituals are used to regulate ch’i and balance of flow of Yin and Yang for everyone. Worshipping the Taoist deities is considered a ritualistic tradition and it includes meditation on talismans.

 

The second type of ritual can involve tens or even hundreds of villages. These rituals can be expensive. A specific example of one of these rituals is the Chiao (jioao). This ritual is a cosmic renewal which contains several rituals within it. During this ritual, villages bring offerings to the deities and a priest then dedicates the offerings in the names of the families. The priest will also perform a ritual to restore natural order to the universe. This links to the belief of Wu Wei. A common characteristic for these rituals is the request for the deities to bring peace and prosperity to the villages.