The Taoist Rituals and Their Procedures
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I. Taoist Ritual Overview
Taoist rituals, also known as zhaijiao keyi (fasting and sacrificial ceremonies) and commonly referred to as "daochang" (ritual altar), are religious activities of Taoism—a traditional religion in China. Taoism’s ideological origins and belief systems inherit the doctrines of Huangdi (the Yellow Emperor) and Laozi, as well as traditional customs of worshipping heaven and ancestor veneration. The "daochang (ritual altar)" we refer to today evolved from these belief foundations. Typically presided over by ordained Taoist masters (fashi) who practice and uphold the Dao, these rituals aim to communicate with deities through ceremonial procedures, invoking divine power and connecting with spirits.
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II. Ritual Procedures
The general process includes:
Setting up the altar;
Offering sacrifices;
Burning incense;
Ascending the altar.
Subsequently, the rituals proceed in accordance with Taoist norms: the chief Taoist master (gaogong) pays respect to teachers and focuses his mind; recites the Wei Ling Zhou (Guardian Spirit Mantra); beats the drum; ignites the incense burner; invokes deities; welcomes divine presence; plays music; offers tea; scatters flowers; performs buxu (a rhythmic, ethereal chanting step); sings praises; proclaims prayers; rekindles the incense burner; leads ritual recitations; invokes blessings from deities; and sends off the deities.
During the ritual, musical instruments such as bells, drums, chimes, cymbals, flutes, gongs, and 笙 (sheng, a traditional Chinese wind instrument) are used. The rhythm and melody of the music vary according to the progress of the ritual altar.
III. Types of Rituals
Taoist rituals are generally divided into two major categories:
Yangshi Daochang (Rituals for the Living): These are ceremonies performed for living people to dispel disasters, resolve hardships, pray for blessings, and prolong life.
Yinshi Daochang (Rituals for the Deceased): These correspond to Yangshi Daochang and are conducted for the deceased (e.g., to transcend the soul or pacify the dead).
The effectiveness of Taoist rituals varies from person to person: some see results within one month, while others may take three to six months. There was a previous claim that results would take 49 days, but this is not a standardized or authoritative statement.
IV. Origins of Rituals
China has long been a country with rich ceremonial systems. As Taoism originated in China, its religious rituals were influenced by traditional Chinese sacrificial ceremonies—these traditional ceremonies became the source of Taoist ritual practices.
The term "zhai" (fasting) is explained in the Han Dynasty text Shuowen Jiezi (Explaining Characters and Analyzing Words) as "abstinence and purity." It refers to the practice where ancient people, before conducting sacrifices, must purify their bodies and minds, bathe and change clothes, abstain from alcohol, eat a vegetarian diet, and refrain from sexual activity. These acts demonstrate the sacrificer’s solemnity and reverence.
The term "jiao" (sacrifice) has two definitions in Shuowen Jiezi: one refers to ceremonies for capping (a coming-of-age ritual) and marriage, and the other refers to sacrificial rituals. Ancient sacrificial ceremonies all involved offering sacrificial items. In Song Yu’s Gaotang Fu (Rhapsody on the Gaotang Shrine), it is stated: "There were practitioners of the Dao—Xianmen and Gaoxi. They ascended to the luxuriant forests, where the nobles gathered grains. They presented pure sacrifices and prayed in the jade chamber. They performed jiao for all deities and paid homage to Taiyi (the Supreme Unity)." Here, "jiao" refers to the sacrificial rituals conducted by Taoist practitioners (fangshi), who offered sacrificial animals and used wine to worship deities.
Starting from the Taishang Dongyuan Shenzhou Jing (The Supreme Scripture of Divine Curses from the Cave Abyss), a text roughly compiled during the Jin Dynasty (266–420), "zhai" and "jiao" began to be mentioned together. The text records: "Only invite virtuous sandong fashi (Taoist masters proficient in the Three Grottoes scriptures) to purify the sacred altar, recite scriptures and mantras, present memorials to deities, hold zhai and perform jiao, and offer thanks to the Five Emperors." It also states: "When holding zhai and performing jiao, one must recite [scriptures] earnestly—to calm the mind and subdue ghosts, for the merits are boundless," and "Some may hold zhai and perform jiao without following the standards of keyi (ritual procedures)."
V. Purpose of Ritual Procedures
Taoism is a polytheistic religion, where each deity has fixed responsibilities. Therefore, rituals performed for different purposes require invoking different deities. Since each ritual involves presenting the worshipper’s (zhaizhu) prayers to deities, every procedure includes a step to invoke specific deities.
For example:
In the Poyu Keyi (Ritual to Break Through Hell), the goal is to transcend the souls of the deceased and resolve karmic grievances in hell. This requires presenting prayers to Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun (the Heavenly Lord of Great Compassion Who Saves from Suffering) and also notifying the Yama Kings (rulers of the underworld) of the netherworld.
In the Liandu Keyi (Ritual of Refining and Transcending), the ritual uses the interaction of water and fire to refine the souls of the deceased, then transcend them to ascend to the immortal realm and await reincarnation. This ritual also requires invoking many deities to descend to the altar.
In Taoist zhaijiao keyi, the act of burning incense is used to invoke deities. When incense is lit before the deities’ statues or shrines, it is believed to create a connection with the divine. Most zhaijiao keyi include segments where incense is held and prayers are chanted to invite deities. Nearly all Taoist ritual procedures begin with burning incense to invoke divine presence.
In larger-scale zhaijiao keyi, a "three-incense offering" is often conducted. The three incense offerings are dedicated to the "Three Treasures" of Taoism—the Dao, the Scriptures, and the Teachers (Daojingshi Sanbao). This grand ceremony not only expresses the infinite piety of Taoist masters and believers toward the Three Treasures but also shows profound respect for the deities who descend to the altar.
The Layout of the Ritual Altar (Tanchang) in Taoist Rituals
The altar for Taoist rituals is divided into three parts: the Scripture Hall (Jingtang), the Spirit Hall (Lingtang), and the Deity Hall (Shendian):
Scripture Hall: The place where Taoist scripture masters (jingshi) recite scriptures, perform repentance rituals, and conduct the main ritual procedures.
Spirit Hall: The area where the spirit tablets of the deceased are placed and where worshippers pay respects to the deceased. In the Liandu Keyi, since the ritual involves offering food to all wandering spirits, a "Hanlin Altar" (Hanlintan) is set up opposite the main refining altar. This altar enshrines the spirit tablets of lonely ghosts and wandering souls, providing a spiritual anchor for all such spirits summoned to the ritual.
Deity Hall: The location where worshippers pay homage to deities before the ritual begins. It refers to the main halls housing deities’ statues, which may also be temporarily set up for the ritual.
The need to establish three separate altars symbolizes that the three realms—heaven, earth, and humanity—are relatively independent and cannot be confused. The only figures capable of communicating between these three realms are ordained Taoist masters who hold divine roles.
The Requirement of Purity for the Altar
The statues and spirit tablets enshrined on the altar must be kept clean at all times. The requirements for altar purity are multifaceted:
No dust shall accumulate on the deities’ statues or spirit tablets.
Taoist masters must wear clean and dignified ritual robes when reciting scriptures or performing rituals at the altar.
Purity also extends to the personal lives of Taoist practitioners: for example, those reciting scriptures must abstain from garlic, chives, meat, fish, and alcohol. If one’s breath smells of alcohol or foul odors, the deities will neither hear nor accept the recitation of scriptures or prayers.
The separation of the three altars serves not only to distinguish the three realms but also to facilitate communication between Taoist masters and deities. Regardless of which altar is used, maintaining the purity of the altar is essential to ensuring the effectiveness of the zhaijiao keyi ritual.
