Da Shi: The Great Master Title in Song Dynasty Taoism 大士
Paul PengKey Takeaways
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Da Shi (Great Master) was a title used in Song Dynasty Taoism, primarily as an honorific for high‑ranking religious officials and spiritual figures.
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The term originally belonged to Buddhism (Mahāsattva, “great bodhisattva”), but was appropriated by Emperor Huizong of Song (宋徽宗) in 1119 to elevate Buddhist figures within a Taoist framework. He changed Guanyin Bodhisattva to “Guanyin Da Shi” and incorporated all Buddhist clergy into the Taoist system.
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The title also appeared as a grade in the Taoist clerical hierarchy, below the highest rank of “Golden Gate Feather Guest” (金门羽客, Jīn Mén Yǔ Kè).
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Note: The use of Da Shi in Taoism was a product of imperial decree, not an indigenous Taoist title; its appearance reflects the unique religious politics of the Northern Song period.
Definition
Da Shi (大士, Dà Shì, lit. “Great Master”) is a title of respect in Chinese religious history that originally referred to Mahāsattva, a great bodhisattva in Buddhism. During the Song Dynasty (960–1279), Emperor Huizong (r. 1100–1126) forcibly incorporated Buddhist figures and clergy into the Taoist religious system as part of his state‑sponsored “return to Taoism” policy. Under an edict issued in 1119, Guanyin Bodhisattva was renamed “Guanyin Da Shi,” and the title Da Shi was applied to certain high‑ranking religious officials within the Taoist hierarchy. The term thus appears in Taoist contexts as a result of imperial decree rather than organic Taoist doctrinal development.
Classical Sources
The usage of Dashi in Song Dynasty Taoism is documented in the Song Shi (《宋史》, History of the Song Dynasty) and the Encyclopedia of Taoism (《道教大辞典》), compiled by Li Qingxuan and other contemporary scholars.
The relevant passage from the Song Shi reads:
"据《宋史》载，宋徽宗宣和元年(1119)正月乙卯日，诏改佛祖号为大觉金仙，罗汉为尊者，观音菩萨为观音大士，僧人为德士，女尼为女德，并入道教。"
(Meaning: "According to the History of the Song Dynasty, on the yimao day of the first month of the Xuanhe era (1119), Emperor Huizong issued an edict changing the Buddha's title to 'Great Awakened Golden Immortal,' arhats to 'Venerable Ones,' Guanyin Bodhisattva to 'Guanyin Dashi,' monks to 'Virtuous Ones,' and nuns to 'Female Virtuous Ones,' all incorporated into Taoism.")
This passage establishes the imperial context in which the title Dashi was elevated and applied to major Buddhist figures within the Taoist religious system.
Classification
The primary historical record for this imperial action is the Song Shi (《宋史》, “History of the Song Dynasty”), which states:
“据《宋史》载，宋徽宗宣和元年(1119)正月乙卯日，诏改佛祖号为大觉金仙，罗汉为尊者，观音菩萨为观音大士，僧人为德士，女尼为女德，并入道教。”
(Meaning: “According to the History of the Song Dynasty, on the yimao day of the first month of the Xuanhe era (1119), Emperor Huizong issued an edict changing the Buddha’s title to ‘Great Awakened Golden Immortal,’ arhats to ‘Venerable Ones,’ Guanyin Bodhisattva to ‘Guanyin Da Shi,’ monks to ‘Virtuous Ones,’ and nuns to ‘Female Virtuous Ones,’ all incorporated into Taoism.”)
The Encyclopedia of Taoism (《道教大辞典》) also notes that the title Da Shi appears in the list of Taoist clerical ranks, but emphasizes that its use was limited to the Song period and did not become a standard element of later Taoist institutional titles.
Historical Context and Significance
Emperor Huizong’s policy of “incorporating Buddhism into Taoism” was a short‑lived but dramatic religious reform that sought to elevate Taoism to the status of state religion while demoting Buddhism to a sub‑category. The use of the Buddhist title “Da Shi” in a Taoist context was part of this strategy of appropriation. After Huizong’s downfall and the fall of the Northern Song, the policy was largely reversed, and the title Da Shi returned primarily to Buddhist usage. In later Taoist history, “Da Shi” is rarely used as an official clerical title, except in historical references to the Song period.
Zhengyi Perspective
In the Zhengyi tradition, the title Dashi is understood within the framework of spiritual attainment and religious authority. While the specific historical usage during the Song Dynasty reflects imperial policy rather than purely religious criteria, the underlying principle—that certain individuals have achieved a level of spiritual realization that merits special recognition—is consistent with Taoist soteriology.
The Zhengyi school emphasizes that titles such as Dashi are not merely honorifics but indicate a genuine level of spiritual accomplishment. As the Tao Te Ching teaches, "The sage embraces the one and becomes the model for the world." In this light, those who bear the title Dashi are understood to have realized the unity of the Dao and to serve as exemplars for the religious community.
Related Concepts
- Immortal (神仙, Shén Xiān): The category of beings that includes those who might bear the title Dashi. → See: Immortal
- Taoist Priest (道士, Dào Shì): The ordained clergy who might hold the rank of Dashi. → See: Taoist Priest
- Celestial Master (天师, Tiān Shī): A higher rank in the Taoist hierarchy, sometimes associated with the title Dashi. → See: Celestial Master
- Song Dynasty (宋朝, Sòng Cháo): The historical period when the title Dashi gained particular prominence in Taoism. → See: Song Dynasty
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Taoist Priest (道士, Dào Shì): The ordained clergy who might have been given the rank of Da Shi during the Song → See: Dao Shi
Source Texts
- Li Qingxuan (李清轩). Encyclopedia of Taoism (《道教大辞典》). Modern compilation. Zhengtong Daozang reference edition.
- Anonymous. Song Shi (《宋史》). Yuan Dynasty. The official history of the Song Dynasty, documenting Emperor Huizong's religious policies.
