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Subject:The Influence of Buddhist Sutras, Daoist Canons, and Yi-ology Succession in the Tang and Sung Dynasties on《The Encyclopedia of Zi-Wei-Dou-Shu》.
In this paper, we investigate the formation of Zi-Wei-Dou-Shu and how people at that time use this astrology to fulfill their life needs, from the aspects of politics, religions, academic environments, and social life.The key characters in this paper are Chen Tuan, Zhou Dun-Yi, Shao Yong, and Luo Hong-Xian, who played important roles in the evolution of Zi-Wei-Dou-Shu. They not only carried on the past knowledge, but also inspired the later generations. In Chapter Two, we analyze the worship of Bei-Dou and the use of military astrology by the Qing and Han dynasties. In Chapter three, we analyze the Buddhist sutras, Daoist canons, and Yi-ology succession in Tang and Song dynasties. Thepossible influence of the above-mentioned factors on Zi-Wei-Dou-Shu are also elaborated in these two chapters. In Chapter four, we study Luo Hong-Xian, a post-Wang-Yang-Ming scholar. We point out how his comprehension of the three teachings (Confucianism, aoism, and Buddhism) affected his life and publications. We also explain why we suspect he might be the editor of 《The Encyclopedia of Zi-Wei-Dou-Shu》, but claimed that Chen Tuan was the author of the book, while he himself only wrote the preface.
We have studied the historical documentation by the Ming Dynasty including 《Zhi-Zhai-Shu-Lu-Jie-Ti》in the Song Dynasty,《Song-Shi Yi-Wen-Zhi》in the Yuan Dynasty,《Ming-Shi Yi-Wen-Zhi》, 《Wu-Xing-Zhi》, and 《Tian-Wen-Zhi》in the Ming Dynasty, and so on. Many fang-shu were mentioned in these documents, but Zi-Wei-Dou-Shu were not. According to the official documents of Zi-Wei-Dou-Shu, the ter Zi-Wei-Dou-Shu first appeared in《Wan-Li-Xu-Dao-Zang》in the Wan-Li Period of the Ming Dynasty. However,《The Encyclopedia of Zi-Wei-Dou-Shu》, available in the Chia-Ching Period of the Ming Dynasty and prefaced by Luo, Hong-Xian, was earlier than《Wan-Li-Xu-Dao-Zang》. Both books appeared after the middle of the Ming Dynasty, which gives us hints of the evolution of Zi-Wei-Dou-Shu. The documentation before Zi-Wei-Dou-Shu was formed is incomplete. It is said that Zi-Wei-Dou-Shu integrates different kinds of fang-shu, including astrology, the theory of Yin-Yang and Wu-Xing, Yi-Jing, Ba-Gua, Ba-Zi, Feng-Shui, Qi-Men-Dun-Jia, Ze-Ri, and so on. It even integrates the opinion on the human body in Chinese medicine, as well as Buddhist and Daoist thoughts. It was until the Qing Dynasty that the architecture and contents of Zi-Wei-Dou-Shu became complete.
The term fang-shu is another name of shu-shu. It includes the knowledge of astronomy, meteorology, calendar, arithmetic, geomancy, geography, and so on. It is a subject about heaven and earth, with focuson humanity and life. The origin and applications of fang-shu can be dated back by the Han Dynasty. In Shu-Shu-Lue of the Han-Shu Yi-Wen-Zhi, one hundred and nine branches of fang-shu are mentioned. They can be divided into six categories: tian-wen, wu-xing, za-zhan, xing-fa, shi-gui, and li-pu. It is believed that ancient people studied fang-shu for the purpose of improving their health, extending their life, pursuing fortune and avoiding back luck, as well as predicting the rise of an emperor. Among the categories of fang-shu, Zi-Wei-Dou-Shu falls in the category of fortune-telling. Fortune-telling can be further divided to Si-Zhu, and astrology. Briefly speaking, Chinese astrology uses the stars and their positions to predict the fortunes and misfortunes, while Si-Zhu uses the combination of decimal and duodecimal cycles and Ying-Yang Wu-Xing to predict one’s fate. Zi-Wei-Dou-Shu, which we discuss in this paper, is based on Chinese astrology. It also combines the knowledge of other shu-shu. Among all the fang-shus, Liu-Ren, Qi-Men-Dun-Jia, and Tai-Yi-Shen-Shu are considered high-level fang-shus. Because they are difficult to learn, there are fewer and fewer people spending time on them. Modern fang-shu learners tend to start from Ba-Zi and Zi-Wei-Dou-Shu. Although Zi-Wei-Dou-Shu was formed the latest, it was modified and improved by many developers and affected by other fang-shu’s. Its applications range from the prediction of a nation’s destiny and economy to business between companies and personal fate. If one studies this subject from the scientific point of view, he can not only understand his own fate, but also help other people.
The focus of this paper is to research into the development and formation of Zi-Wei-Dou-Shu before Luo Hong-Xian wrote the preface of 《The Encyclopedia of Zi-Wei-Dou-Shu》. After the Ming Dynasty, there appeared two branches: the eighteen stars based on《Wan-Li-Xu-Dao-Zang》and 《The Encyclopedia of Zi-Wei-Dou-Shu》by Chen Tuan. Since Qin dynasty, there are also disputes between 《The Encyclopedia》and《The Collection of Zi-Wei-Dou-Shu》. The disagreement and disputes result in the blossom and competition of different branches of Zi-Wei-Dou-Shu. The above-mentioned topics, including the differences between the eighteen stars from 《Dao-Zang》and 《The Encyclopedia of Zi-Wei-Dou-Shu》, the theory of making the birth chart, the development of different branches, and the interpretation of the birth chart, are not discussed in this paperand will be our future works.
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