{{short description|Name of several different Taoist texts}} {{italic title}} {{Expand Chinese|date=January 2022|fa=yes}} {{Taoism}}{{Chinese|t=太平經|s=太平经|showflag=p|p=''Tàipíng Jīng''|w=''Tai P'ing Ching''}} thumb|200px|Daozang edition of ''Taipingjing'' '''''Taipingjing''''' ("Scriptures of the Great Peace") is the name of several different Taoist texts. At least two works were known by this title:
:*{{zh|t=天官歷包元太平經|p=Tiānguān lì Bāoyuán Tàipíng jīng}}, 12 Chapters, contents unknown, author: Gan Zhongke {{lang|zh|甘忠可}} :*{{zh|t=太平清領書|p=Tàipíng Qīnglǐng Shū}}, 170 Chapters, only 57 of which survive via the Daozang, author: unknown
''Taipingjing'' usually refers to the work which has been preserved in the Daozang. It is considered to be a valuable resource for researching early Taoist beliefs and the society at the end of the Eastern Han dynasty. Zhang Jue (d. 184), the leader of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, taught "Taiping Taoism" ({{linktext|lang=zh|太平道}}) based on this work.
The contents of the ''Taipingjing'' are diverse but it primarily deals with subjects such as heaven and earth, the five elements, yin and yang and the sexagenary cycle.
== Fundamental concepts in the ''Taipingjing'' ==
The ''Taipingjing'' is a guide that reveals the proper methods to bring forward an era of great peace or equality, the "Great Peace", an idea which probably dates back to the Warring States period.<ref name="Ideology">{{cite book|first=Max |last=Kaltenmark|title= The Ideology of the Taiping Jing}}</ref>{{rp|21}} The idea of the "Great Peace" became more prominent during the Han period.<ref name="Ideology"/> The main idea brought forward by the scriptures is that the world is in a terrible state of chaos. There is a loss of cosmic balance, and this is made obvious by omens such as droughts, floods, famines, epidemics and other natural disasters.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|first=Gregoire |last=Espesset|title= Later Han Religious Movements and the early Daoist Church|encyclopedia=Early Chinese Religion: Part 2: Qin and Han|year=2009|page=1604}}</ref> There is also chaos in the courts of the imperial house, proven by recorded events such as freakish births (perhaps a hint at the meddling of eunuchs), all of which demonstrate Heaven's displeasure towards the mortal realm.<ref>{{cite journal|first=Howard |last=Levy|title=Yellow Turban Religion and Rebellion at the End of Han|journal= Journal of the American Oriental Society |volume= 76 |year=1956|issue=4|pages=214–227|doi=10.2307/596148|jstor=596148}}</ref> Humans have been polluted by their sins and their ancestors' sins (evil accumulated through many generations).<ref name="date">{{cite journal|first=B.J. Mansvelt |last=Beck|title= The date of the 'Taiping Jing'|journal=T'oung Pao |series=Second Series| volume=66 |year=1980}}</ref>{{rp|153}} The Universe reciprocates the mortal realm's condition; for there to be balance again, the people must heal themselves and cultivate their inner Dao. Salvation lies in the hand of great princes known as Celestial Masters. Chinese antiquity was divided into three eras: High Antiquity, Middle Antiquity and Late Antiquity, but it was only High Antiquity that contained a time of Great Peace,<ref name="Ideology"/>{{rp|22}} maintained with the collaborative efforts of the rulers of that era and the Celestial Masters. There was no infant mortality, no bad harvests and the climate was convenient.<ref name="Ideology"/>{{rp|22}} This balance was so delicate that the suffering of one entity was enough to make things out of synch.<ref name="Ideology"/>{{rp|23}} The ''Taipingjing'' claimed that a better era than the one experienced by the Han dynasty can only begin with the emergence of a new healthy emperor, a new Heavenly Mandate and an end to evil omens.<ref name="date"/>{{rp|157}}
== The ''Taipingjing'' in the Han dynasty == There are two known versions of the ''Taipingjing'' that emerged during the Han dynasty. The first one was presented to Emperor Cheng of Han (32–7 BCE) under the title ''Tianguan li baoyuan Taiping jing''.<ref name="date"/>{{rp|19}} It was written in this book that the House of Han was nearing the end of its cosmological cycle and that a new mandate was about to be presented to restore the dynasty.<ref name="date"/>{{rp|20}} The book decrees that a man by the name of Chijing zi would bring and teach the ways of the Dao to the emperor.<ref name="date"/>{{rp|20}} Emperor Shun of Han (126–145 CE) also received similar scriptures called ''Taiping Qingling Shu'', which would later be used by Zhang Jue, the leader of the Yellow Turban Rebellion.<ref name="date"/>{{rp|20}} Xiang Zheng's memorial states that it was based on respect between Heaven and Earth and conformity with the Five Elements.<ref name="date"/>{{rp|20}} Another version was called the ''Taiping Dongji jing'' and was supposedly introduced to the Celestial Master by Taishang Laojun.<ref name="date"/>{{rp|20}}
== The Wang Ming edition == There was no definitive modern edition of the ''Taipingjing'' until 1960, when Wang Ming published the ''Taipingjing Hejiao''.<ref name="date"/>{{rp|151}} The Taiping Jing once contained 170 chapters divided into 10 parts (each containing 17 chapters).<ref name="date"/>{{rp|151}} Each "part" is labelled by the ten Celestial Stems. However. the first two parts (37 chapters) and the last three parts (the last 51 chapters) are missing in Ming's modern edition.<ref name="date"/>{{rp|152}} So, in actuality, only five parts remain, and of these parts, certain chapters have not been accounted for.<ref name="date"/>{{rp|152}} Ming's edition also includes "Magic Texts" (divided into four chapters and 2133 magic characters) and some images.<ref name="date"/>{{rp|152}} Some chapters follow the form of a dialogue between the Heavenly Teacher and the six zhenren, while others stick to the essay format, containing methods, instructions or notes.<ref name="date"/>{{rp|152}} Perhaps the ''Taipingjing'' had many authors, hence the various writing styles in the chapters.<ref name="date"/>{{rp|152}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Wikisourcelang|zh|太平經|''Tiānguān lì Bāoyuán Tàipíng jīng''}} {{Wikisourcelang|zh|正統道藏|''Daozang''}} *[http://texts.00.gs/Tai-ping_Jing.htm ''Tai-ping Jing''] *[http://lib.ecit.edu.cn/guoxue/其他历史书籍/辑注类/太平经合校/peace1.htm {{lang|zh|辑注类->太平经合校卷一至五十 – 东华理工大学图书馆}}] *[http://www.xiulian.com/xmzhf/035tpjhj.HTM {{lang|zh|太平經合校}}]
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Category:Taoist texts