Clock used by Taoism
The bell culture of Taoism
There are four kinds of clocks in Taoist temples: big clock, newspaper clock, confession clock and emperor clock. Dojo uses white clock and imperial clock, and it uses big clock and newspaper clock for opening and closing. Ancient clocks were originally made of bamboo and pottery. Later, there were stone clocks and metal clocks with fixed pitch. There are many inscriptions on clocks and watches to show sacredness and majesty. The following is an introduction to various clocks:
First of all, the big clock
Also known as the clock, it is usually about 1.5 meters high and about 0.6 meters in diameter, and hangs above the bell tower. Used to call the crowd and tell the time day and night. The upper part of the clock is engraved with a faucet called a fisherman, and the lower part has two groups of lotus-shaped bumpers, also called eight leaves. The two seats are connected by two right-angled strips, which are called six lanes; There are also small annular protrusions in the upper half, which are called areola; Below the collision seat is called the straw house, and below it is called the colt claw. Taoism is generally not allowed to hang big bells and drums in the ten-square jungle, so it is called "bell-plate jungle". Big bells and drums hang in the jungle, usually stop at 30 or 14 nights, and are used on the first day and the fifteenth day, which is called "opening the big silence and stopping the big silence".
There are many reasons for ringing the bell 108. One is to quote the cloud of "Zhu Zhen" in Chen Yuanlong's "Gezhi Jingyuan": "Anyone who rings the bell 108 times counts the number of December, 24 qi, 72 Hou"; One thinks that 108 kinds of troubles can be cleared away. Taoism has a very strict custom of playing big clocks. In the morning, the fifth watch room handed the chessboard to Zhong, who took over the "Three Clearances" and rolled it for three times to give the clock "Four Reliefs". The clock took over the "three clears". It started to be quiet first and then slowed down in the morning, and stopped at night to be quiet first and then slowed down. Its attack method is "tight thirteen, slow fourteen". After three turns, the "Four Royals" Jiaotong University played drums. When I rang the big clock, I said "Wen Zhong" silently. Meditate in the morning: "smell the bell, worship the old gentleman, leave the hell, get out of the fire pit, and be willing to become a monk and spend the time with all beings." After Sanqing, he read the name "Jade Emperor, Great Heaven, Xuanthe king of world God"; "Nine days to popularize the thunder of Buddha" struck twice; Three strikes: "Seeking a sense of sound, Taiyi, to save the suffering Buddha" and thirteen thoughts: "The emperor's infinite ancestors are mixed with the emperor and heaven." One word at a time. Reading Slow Fourteen: "Shuo Dan (the first day begins to be quiet, and I stop reading Moonlight at 30) Hong Zhong knocks early, and the empty valley sounds golden bells, knocking on the ears of the holy gods, penetrating ghosts and gods, wishing national life, protecting the people's safety, consolidating mountains and rivers, upgrading civil and military positions, and the boundless world. Bi was hit by the "Tight Thirteen", and before Wen Tong, Bi was hit by the "Slow Fourteen" and read: "Hong Zhong struck the mountain gate twice, and the magical method always flourished. His parents and apprentices were both Taoist lovers. Each of them is blessed by heaven, and they all have a share in learning and cultivating the truth. They struggled to protect themselves without magic, and the yellow buds grew longer every day. The Snow Dynasty is nourishing and prolonging their age. They were born with one breath, three talents and five elements of spirit. One sentence at a time, and so on
Second, tell the time.
The clock is smaller than the big one and is usually hung in front of the hall, mainly used to tell the time. In the Taoist jungle, except the first and fifteenth days, the big clock is still used on the thirtieth and fourteenth days, and the static clock is usually used. It's called "opening silence" and "stopping silence". The clock is also striking 108, but the inscription of the clock is different, morning and evening are the same. Read "Three Clearances": "Jade Qing", "Shangqing" and "Taiqing". Then he made a seven-star hole and said to himself, "The Jade Emperor forgives sins, Buddha". Then meditate.
The Eight Diagrams and Twelve Earthly Branches hit every word: "Look at the roots and treasures and lose the Kun heap, but the ugly ones failed to keep the sea at noon." Taoism called it "tight seven, slow eight, flat twelve." Bi also made a meditation on the seven-star cave: "Three Yuan forgives the Buddha." Add a gossip and twelve branches, and then make a seven-star point to meditate: "Taiyi saves the Buddha from suffering." Plus gossip and twelve branches. Finally, "fall to the four emperors" and give the board to the temple drum.
Third, the bell
White bell is a Jason Chung hanging on the left side of the temple drum, which is mostly used for offering sacrifices to Dojo. It is called "Memorial Bell" because of the memorial ceremony of Taoist worship and the memorial bell and temple drum. Generally speaking, the sound of raindrops is the striking point of bells. It is the continuation and change of Shangzhong in ancient sacrificial music. In ancient times, the upper middle school stood upright on a wooden base and was knocked by hand. The Taoist bell has been ringing on the wooden pedestal until now.
Fourth, the emperor clock.
The shape of the imperial clock is roughly the same as that of the telegraph clock and the big clock, but the lower mouth is not lotus-shaped but round and flat, and its size is much smaller than that of the clock. The emperor clock is usually held in his hand, and an inch-long pestle is where he holds it. There is a long metal impactor in the imperial bell, which is connected with the top of the imperial bell by a wire. When the hand shakes, the imperial bell will make a pleasant sound in the impact. In fact, this is the clock used by the teacher in the present ceremony. In Taoist ceremonies, the emperor's bell is controlled by confession, and its sound is also strictly customized. Generally, "wind chimes" are used for chanting outlines, holding Buddha statues and other places, while "dripping bells" are used for chanting, offering sacrifices and mourning. It is a tool widely used in Taoist rituals.
Drums used by Taoism
Taoist drum culture
Drums are also one of the batters. Made of gold, wood, jade, stone, etc. It comes in various shapes and sizes and is usually used as a legal document for temples. The drum hung upstairs is called Drum Tower, which appeared no later than the Northern and Southern Dynasties.
The drums used in Taoism are drum, temple drum and tambourine, which are introduced as follows:
First of all, the drum
The diameter of the big drum is about one meter long, except for "opening big and quiet" and "stopping big and quiet" In the morning, I handed four imperial boards to Zhong, who took the "Sanqing", rolled three times and threw four imperial boards on the big clock. After three times, I handed the "four imperial boards" to the drum. Before the drum is connected to the Sanqing, a double pestle is held on the drum edge: "knock-knock-knock" four times, and then the second sound: "knock-knock-knock-knock". Then the third sound: "Dong-Dong-Dong-Dong-Dong". Sanqing finished playing the long drum array, from slow to fast, and at first he said to himself, "Thunder shines on Buddha." If you can't stop quickly, change your mind and hear the sound of wind, clouds, thunder, rain, electricity and hail. At this time, there are many drumming techniques, such as "one horse alone", "Eight Bridges Surabaya" and "Pentium". Turn your head over, beat the drums, and then go from slow to fast. After the second turn, drum twice, and then from slow to fast. After three turns, drum four times.
Second, the temple hall drum
Temple drum is a medium-sized drum placed in the main hall, which is placed vertically or horizontally on the wooden frame and is generally used for daily sacrifice. There is a saying in the Taoist jungle that drums are used to call people to the temple to do their daily homework. Generally speaking, it is very important to open the altar to chant Buddhist scripture after three drums. The performance style of the temple drum is similar to that of the big drum. When burning incense, you should knock on the drum. Temple drums are mostly used for sacrifices, and drums are the "king of utensils" in Taoist altars. Generally speaking, on the altar, especially during sacrificial ceremonies or burning burners, drummers are mostly experienced old teachers.
Third, tambourine
The so-called tambourine is a drum with a percussion instrument in its hand. Some have handles, others have no handles, which are generally used to go out to the altar in the temple to "turn Buddha", or to "go to heaven and earth to disperse", "wish the general", "sacrifice orphans" and "answer the phone" and other Dojo. Some drummers call their drum style "one horse alone", because they can only beat the drum with one hand and hold the drum with one hand, and the drum is also very pleasant.
The Taoist "bell and drum music" is not only an integral part of China's ancient ritual and music culture, but also the sustenance of Taoist people's religious feelings. (Ren Zongquan)