China:The Glorious Tang And Song Dynasties - Asian Art Museum ...

the development of Daoism. This support included building Daoist temples and establishing
schools to enroll students studying Daoist canons. Under the patronage of the emperors, Daoism
flourished in the Tang. Nonetheless, Daoism had to compete with Buddhism for converts. Such
competition is reflected in a passage written by Han Yu entitled “The Girl of Mt. Hua.” It relates
how a female Daoist priest, in rivalry with Buddhists, used her charm and eloquence to attract an
audience:
In streets east, streets west, they expound the Buddhist canon, clanging bells, sounding
conches, till the din invades the palace. The girl of Mount Hua, child of a Daoist
home, longed to expel the foreign faith, win men back to the Immortals; she washed
off her powder, wiped her face, put on cap and shawl. With white throat, crimson
cheeks, long eyebrows of gray, she came at last to ascend the chair, unfolding the
secrets of Truth.
(Translated by Burton Watson, from the Columbia Book of Chinese Poetry)
From this text, we learned that monks customarily traveled far and wide to preach their doctrines,
causing unease among Daoists. In this instance, a female Daoist engaged herself among the
field of proselytizers and won over the monks. However, generally speaking, during the Tang
dynasty Buddhism was more influential than Daoism.
In the waning years of the Tang, Daoism experienced a setback. However, in the Song, Daoism
recovered and reached the height of its popularity during the reign of Emperor Huizong
(1100–1125). Emperor Huizong invited Daoist priests to his court to teach him Daoist alchemy.
He appointed famous Daoist teachers to high positions in the government. He established Daoist
temples across the empire. He also constantly performed Daoist rituals in his palace. The emperor
went so far as to declare himself to be the personal protector of Daoism. To defeat Daoism's rivals,
he at one point used his authority to ban Buddhism. The emperor’s zeal influenced his ministers,
and many of the high officials at court likewise showed an interest in Daoism. The reign of Huizong
was the heyday of Daoism in China. Daoism persists as an important religion in contemporary
China.
CHRISTIANITY
Nestorianism was the first branch of Christianity brought to China. After breaking from the
Western church during the Council of Ephesus in 431 over differences concerning the nature of the
Holy Trinity, Nestorians took refuge in Persia and dispersed widely through Asia. The record of the
781 Nestorian Monument (discovered in 1623, during the Ming dynasty) in the Tang capital has
been translated as follows:
“In 635, during the reign of Emperor Taizong [627–649], a Nestorian missionary A-lo-bun
came to the capital of China, Chang’an. He was received by the prime minister Fang Xuanling. A-
lo-bun stayed in the capital and translated Nestorian scriptures there. In 638, Emperor Taizong
issued an edict concerning Nestorianism. In the edict, Taizong considered that the teachings of
Nestorianism were helpful to human beings, and he permitted the Nestorians to teach their doc-
11