View source for Holy Emperor Guan's True Scripture to Awaken the World

{{Short description|Taoist classic work}}
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'''''Holy Emperor Guan's True Scripture to Awaken the World''''' (關聖帝君覺世真經) is a [[Taoist]] classic, believed to be written by [[Guan Yu|Lord Guan]] himself during a [[Fuji (planchette writing)|Fuji]] session in 1668.<ref name="haar">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W7Q1DwAAQBAJ&q=Holy+Emperor+Guans+True+Scripture+to+Awaken+the+World+-wikipedia&pg=PA226|title=Guan Yu: The Religious Afterlife of a Failed Hero|last1=ter Haar|first1=Barend J.|date=2017|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780198803645|pages=226}}</ref> Its name is usually shortened to [[wikisource:Holy Emperor Guan's True Scripture to Awaken the World|Scripture to Awaken the World]]. The purpose of this [[scripture]] is to advise people against committing [[evil deeds]] for fear of retribution. It is classified as one of the three [[Taoist Holy Scriptures for Advising the Good]], the other two being [[Treatise On the Response of the Tao|''Lao‑Tzu's Treatise On the Response of the Tao'']] and ''[[Lord Superior Wen Chang Tract of the Quiet Way]]''.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=iCkKDAAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&pg=GBS.PT210 |script-title=zh:道教 博学文库 : 宗教文明品析丛书 |last=Xie |first=Lujun (谢路军)|date=2015|publisher=中国民主法制出版社|isbn=9787516209738 |page=205|accessdate=16 June 2018}}</ref>
== History ==
It is believed that the [[scripture]] was conceived by [[Guan Yu|Lord Guan]] himself during a [[Fuji (planchette writing)|Fuji session]] during the seventh year of [[Kangxi Emperor]], [[Qing Dynasty]].<ref>{{cite book |script-title=zh:关帝事迹徵信编|last1=Zhou |first1=Guangye (周广业) |last2=Cui |first2=Yingliu (崔应榴) |date=1824|publisher=Harvard University |page=卷三十}}</ref> It is observed there are two versions of the text, the first one directly states the edict of the Holy Emperor without any preface, this version is found on a plaque in [[Ningbo]], [[Zhejiang|Zhejiang province]], believed to carved during the [[Qing Dynasty]]. This version is also found in most English translation of the text.<ref name="haar"/><ref>{{cite book|title=A Dictionary of the Chinese Language: English and Chinese|last1=Morrison|first1=Robert|date=1815–1823|publisher=Peter Perring Thoms|location=Macau|page=146}}</ref> Another version is more prevalent in Chinese compilations, it includes a preface by [[Guan Yu|Lord Guan]] stating that he wishes everyone would follow his teachings to behave in society, if anyone challenges it, they will face his [[Guandao]].
It has been in circulation in several Asian countries besides China for centuries, including Japan, Korea, Vietnam and Thailand.<ref>{{cite web |last1=You |first1=Zi An |title=Journal of Chinese Studies No. 50: The Spread of Guandi Worship through Morality Books in the Qing Dynasty |url=http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/ics/journal/articles/v50p219.pdf |website=Institute of Chinese Studies |publisher=The Chinese University of Hong Kong |accessdate=3 July 2018 |location=Hong Kong |page=245 |language=Chinese |date=2010}}</ref> In China, many editions were printed since 1731, with additions of accompanying [[illustrations]] and have been annotated by [[scholars]]. It was probably brought to [[Japan]] by the [[Buddhist monk]] [[:ja:東皐心越|Shin-Etsu]], where he lived in [[Nagasaki]] for several years before being brought to [[Mito Domain|Mito]] by [[Tokugawa Mitsukuni]]. Mitsukuni was a great patron of [[Chinese literature]]. Shin-etsu's version was reprinted in 1730, but was destroyed during the [[Second World War]].<ref name="haar"/>
==Text==
''The True Scripture to Awaken the World'' is written in simple [[Classical Chinese]],<ref>{{cite book |last1=ter Haar |first1=Barend J. |title=Guan Yu: The Religious Afterlife of a Failed Hero |date=2017 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780198803645 |page=226 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W7Q1DwAAQBAJ&q=Holy+Emperor+Guans+True+Scripture+to+Awaken+the+World+-wikipedia&pg=PA226 |accessdate=19 August 2018 }}</ref> and on the whole it doesn't contain more than 700 [[Chinese characters]]. In the first twelve lines, its writing style follows the three-character rule that is popular among other educational Chinese classics, such as ''[[Three Character Classic]]'' and [[Di Zi Gui|''Standards for being a Good Pupil and Child'']], then it expands to the four-character rule of Chinese idioms, also known as [[Chengyu]]. Usually accompanying the scripture are examples of those who have benefited from the scripture.
== Interpretations and themes ==
Its core ideology of preserving the peace among humans is spread across many facets of human daily life. Its theory on family, business, human relationships, ecological interaction and karmic retribution, reflects the Taoist pursuit of harmony among people in the society, and serves as a guide to teach younger generation on to create a better society.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Zhou |first1=Bo (周波) |last2=Xing |first2=Haijin (邢海晶) |date=2007 |script-title=zh:道教劝善书的和谐理念--以《关圣帝君觉世真经》为例|journal=南方论刊|volume=8|pages=88–89|doi=10.3969/j.issn.1004-1133.2007.08.047}}</ref> Although classified as a Taoist scripture, its theme and choice of words have clear [[Confucianism|Confucian]] and [[Chinese Buddhism|Buddhist]] influence.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=iCkKDAAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&pg=GBS.PT210.w.3.0.0 |script-title=zh:道教 |last=Xie |first=Lujun (谢路军) |date=2015-09-01|publisher=中国民主法制出版社|isbn=9787516209738|location=|pages=211|language=zh}}</ref> The basis of Lord Guan worship revolves around [[Confucianism#loyalty|loyalty]], [[Confucianism#filial piety|filial piety]], chastity and [[Yi (Confucianism)|righteousness]]; these are direct influence from [[Confucianism|Confucian]] teachings, which have served as the backbone of Chinese culture.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ni |first1=Peimin |title=Confucius: The Man and the Way of Gongfu |date=2016 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=9781442257436 |page=1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fr1nCgAAQBAJ&q=Confucian+teachings%2C+which+have+served+as+the+backbone+of+Chinese+culture&pg=PA1 |accessdate=28 June 2018 }}</ref> Though Confucianism puts more emphasis on humane values, the ''Scripture to Awaken the World'' emphasizes these four values to form healthy minds and bodies.
The [[Buddhism in China|Buddhist]] influence in the scripture is reflected by statements of [[Karma in Buddhism|karmic forces]] of one's actions, where one plants and sow the seeds of either one's happiness or destruction. In its ending verses, the scripture states that good and evil are two roads that separate one's future happiness or misery, and it is up to the reader to follow the wishes of Lord Guan or his/her own desires. As Buddhism is also another prevalent belief in [[Chinese culture]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.uniassignment.com/essay-samples/history/how-buddhism-affects-chinese-culture-history-essay.php|title=How Buddhism Affects Chinese Culture History Essay|website=www.uniassignment.com|language=en|access-date=2018-06-28}}</ref> the ''Scripture to Awaken the World'' is written with the core Buddhist belief of karma to advise people to behave themselves.
In comparison with other holy books, violence plays a more important and personal theme here. In his scripture, Lord Guan explicitly says that he will act as an enforcer, and will behead anyone who ridicule his teachings. His role as an enforcer befits his character and also shows that violence in the overall religious setting of imperial China was more normal than it is often thought.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ter Harr |first1=Barend J. |title=Violence in Chinese Religious Culture |date=2011 |publisher=Blackwell Publishing Ltd |isbn=9781444395747 |pages=249–62 |url=http://www.blackwellreference.com/public/tocnode?id=g9781405191319_chunk_g978140519131922 }}</ref>
==Translations==
There is no formal translation of the scripture in English. However, the shorter and direct version can be found in "[[A Dictionary of the Chinese Language]]" compiled by the [[Anglo-Scottish]] [[missionary]] [[Robert Morrison (missionary)|Robert Morrison]].
==Propagation==
The propagation of ''True Scripture to Awaken the World'' is not only in books, but in many media, such as illustrations, songs, [[oral storytelling]], stage plays, and carvings on rock plaque and on temple wooden pillars. In China, [[oral storytelling]] is a popular entertainment for normal citizens. It is also used to spread good teachings.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wang |first1=Jiarui (王家瑞) |last2=Xiong |first2=Yanzhou (熊艳洲) |last3=Chen |first3=Chunhuan (陈春环) |script-title=zh:孝廉文化在善书中的教化与传播 |url=http://www.hanchuan.gov.cn/news/201586/n006950402.html |website=www.hanchuan.gov.cn |publisher=[[Hanchuan]] People's Government |accessdate=4 July 2018 | language = zh-hans |date=6 August 2015}}</ref> The folklorist [[:ja:直江広治|Hiroji Naoe]] commented that during the 1940s, he recognized the influence of [[oral storytelling]] in spreading Lord Guan's teachings in [[Shanxi]] province. He met two female oral storytellers in [[Taiyuan]], and found that their story programs include many of Lord Guan's stories and teachings. He discovered that one of the main reasons that Lord Guan's teachings could reach deep into the minds of the illiterate lay person in remote areas was the contribution of oral storytelling.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Naoe |first1=Hiroji |last2=Wang |first2=Jianlang (王建朗) |script-title=zh:中国民俗文化 |date=1991 |publisher=上海古籍出版社 |isbn=978-7532508556 |edition=1}}</ref>
Oral reading of scripture is part of ritual worship of the deity. According to records, during the 17th century, Chinese immigrants in [[Nagasaki]], Japan saw Lord Guan as their protector deity, and their worshiping ritual was grand and formal: besides setting up food offerings, [[dragon dancing]], etc., they also invited Buddhist or Taoist clerics to recite the ''True Scripture to Awaken the World''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Zheng |first1=Tuyou (郑土有) |series=中华民俗文丛 |script-title=zh:关公信仰 |date=1994 |publisher=学苑出版社 |location=Beijing |isbn=9787507711073 |page=8 |url=https://book.douban.com/subject/1642491/ }}</ref>
The [[Pure Land Buddhism]] monk, [[:zh:释印光|Yinguang]] also recommended the reading and circulation of ''True Scripture to Awaken the World'', [[Treatise On the Response of the Tao|''Lao‑Tzu's Treatise On the Response of the Tao'']] and ''[[Lord Superior Wen Chang Tract of the Quiet Way]]'' in his replies to his believers on how to raise a child. In his letters, he states the importance of a child, when able, to read and memorize these 3 books and follow their teachings diligently.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Shi |first1=Yinguang ([[:zh:释印光|zh]]) |script-title=zh:印光法師文鈔續編下冊 |url=http://www.amtb.org.tw/pdf/rb16-05.pdf |website=amtb.org.tw |publisher=Amitabha Buddhist Society |accessdate=1 July 2018 |page=131 |language=zh|date=12 January 2006}}</ref>
==References==
<references />
[[Category:Taoist texts]]
[[Category:Taoism in China]]
[[Category:1668 books]]
[[Category:Guan Yu]]
[[Category:Channelled texts]]