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SCMP Reporter

Ancient faith has more support from a government than in centuries

The core concept of the Daodejing, the founding canon of Taoism by Chinese philosopher Lao Zi ,  is arguably the suggestion that doing nothing is the most effective  action.

It is because of this philosophy of non-action and its promotion of retreating from society and  government that Taoism has  been ignored by the nation's  rulers for centuries.

But in a move seen as part of its campaign to heal social problems and filling the mainland's ideological void by rediscovering  Chinese culture, the government threw an  extravagant show last week in Xian, Shaanxi province, and Hong Kong to promote the 5,000-character classic, which is the basis of the only indigenous faith among the five  sanctioned religions.

Taoist leaders praised the forum for demonstrating an unprecedented level of support from a Chinese government in centuries, with some estimating it  to have cost US$1 million.

But doubts have  also been raised over whether the promotion was just another ideological talking shop.

Divided into two parts, in Xian and Hong Kong, the six-day forum was backed by the State Administration for Religious Affairs and the two regions' governments.

With a theme of 'constructing a harmonious world through the Tao',  the forum was also hailed by some speakers as adding weight to China's 'soft power' as an emerging nation.

Among  dignitaries attending the event was Liu Yandong, a member of the Communist Party Central Committee, Xu Jialu, a vice-chairman of the National People's Congress, and Ye Xiaowen, head of the State Administration for  Religious Affairs. Taoist leaders and experts from 17 countries also took turns to discuss the significance of the Daodejing and Taoism.

Taoism  came closest to being  a state religion in the Tang dynasty. But Zhang Jiyu ,  a vice-chairman of the China Taoist Association, said the 2,000-year-old faith was now seeing  its  best  time in centuries.

'For hundreds of years, the essence and meaning of Taoism had never been properly promoted,' Mr Zhang said.

'It has been marginalised because Chinese people think it's backward and superstitious, especially since the May 4 movement. People in modern times prefer things from the west as more superior and consider all Chinese things as inferior.'

Mr Zhang said the number  of Taoists  was on the rise and temples were being rebuilt nationwide.

A better economy and a change of perception had allowed Taoist groups to do things  not possible in the past, such as compiling literature on Taoism, said Mr Zhang.

The priest from the Daoyi sect, which allows priests to marry  and stay at home, said he hoped the forum could help to promote  a message that Taoism was  more sophisticated than  fung shui or fortune-telling. The other sect is Quanzhen, which forbids marriage.

Like most religious leaders on the mainland,  Mr Zhang is a delegate to the National People's Congress, while  the China's Taoist Association's chairman and most of its 10 deputies are also members of the congress or the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. They boast their official roles are an endorsement of China's religious freedom, although the faith encourages retreat from government.

For Martin Palmer,  general secretary of the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC) in Britain, rediscovering traditional culture and religion is the right course for  rebuilding a better China.

'In the past, when dynasties collapsed in China, they were mainly because of internal processes,' said the Christian, who attended the forum in Xian.

'Now China is mimicking the west and picking up the worst from the west, such as consumerism and rampant individualism,' Mr Palmer said.

A scene rather contradictory to the harmonious notion was on view a block away from the Xian venue, as scores of petitioners staged daily sit-ins at the  government office hoping to get readdress for their problems.

'I've listened to politicians and businessmen [at the forum] telling us how the Daodejing is the centre of Chinese culture.  If one in 10 of those people really believes and actually acts on that, I think those will be the model that China would follow.'

But he  said a cultural change from the top could be helpful.

'When you have the vice-chairman of the National People's Congress ... saying that Daodejing is important, that's a huge cultural change.'

The sign of change first came in 2003 when the ARC was approached by the central  government to discuss how traditional Chinese religions could help to create a better China, Mr Palmer said.

'The government approached us, said that something had gone wrong and asked who it could turn to to create a culture that is communal for the needs of everyone.'

Tradition appeared to be the way out as the Communist Party lost its ideological grip.

'The Communist Party should be grateful [to the religions]. Nobody believes in communism in the country. They might believe for individual promotion, but they don't believe communism is going to create a workers' paradise; they don't believe it's going to solve all the ills.'

Buddhism and Confucianism, which make up the three major Chinese philosophies  with Taoism, have been given various forms of official support in recent years.

An international forum on Buddhism was held in Hangzhou  last year, while  Confucian schools are sprouting across the country.

The  promotion of Chinese culture is also seen as a move to counter the influence of western religions, especially Catholicism and Protestantism. Advocates of  traditional values also hope 'soft power' can improve China's international influence.

Tian Chengyang , who was among the first Taoist priests to preach the religion in the west by setting up a temple in Barcelona  in 2001, said the time was now ripe to boost Taoism as an international religion.

'Now China is rising, we should make use of this opportunity and promote our civilisation to the world. It will be very useful in boosting China's international status,' he said.

The approximate number of characters in the Daodejing, Taoism's founding text  5,000



Rebirth of Taoism fills spiritual void in rush to consumerism