Master Yin’s Mellifluous Chanting: Daoist Scripture Recitation in Tang Dynasty Epigraphy

Building on recent scholarship on entombed epitaph inscriptions ( muzhiming 墓志銘) and Daoism, this article examines a commemorative burial inscription of a Daoist monastic priest, Revered Master Yin 尹尊師 (d. 747), who garnered the attention of the imperial court and Emperor Xuanzong 玄宗 (r. 713–756) th...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Chinese religions 2024-06, Vol.52 (1), p.29-77
Main Author: Feezell, Tyler
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Inscriptions
Language
Reputations
Taoism
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Building on recent scholarship on entombed epitaph inscriptions ( muzhiming 墓志銘) and Daoism, this article examines a commemorative burial inscription of a Daoist monastic priest, Revered Master Yin 尹尊師 (d. 747), who garnered the attention of the imperial court and Emperor Xuanzong 玄宗 (r. 713–756) through scripture recitation and ritual performance. Daoists recited a range of texts, but the language of the epitaph suggests a particular focus on Numinous Treasure ( Lingbao 靈寶) works. Combining a reading of the epitaph alongside several monastic manuals and commentaries, which outline Tang recitation practices, this paper sheds light on aspects of everyday Daoist practice in the Tang dynasty. Read together, these sources suggest a unique Daoist vision of scripture recitation, one characterized by celestial sound production and the powerful, transformative nature of its reproduction.
ISSN:0737-769X
2050-8999
2050-8999
DOI:10.1353/jcr.2024.a928800