High Priest

Rituals

Religious Practise

Morning and Evening Rites Refining the Vital Breath Wandering About and Seeking Masters Fasting

Religious Discipline

Commandments of the Orthodox Oneness Sect Commandments of the Complete Perfection Sect Temple Regulations

Talismans, Registers, and Magic Skills

Talismans Registers Divine Incantations Finger Gestures Pacing the Big Dipper Magical Transformation Skills Praying for Happiness and Offering Sacrifice Summoning Spirits for Interrogation Exorcism Healing Diseases Expelling the God of Plague Numerology

Rituals

Names of the Three Fasts Great Ritual Offerings to the Overarching Heaven Lantern Rituals for the Destruction of Hell Rituals of Purification and of Sacrifice to the Ancestral Souls Rituals of Purification and Salvation Rituals of Scattering Flowers and Communicating with Spirits through Lanterns Rituals for Sending Petitions to the Heavens

Ceremonial Altars

Altars for Fasts Altars for Ritual Offerings Altars for Commandments The Ancestral Altar of All Skills

Daoist Headdresses and Dress

Ritual Implements

Wooden Fish Commandment Plaques S-shaped Ornamental Objects Magical Seals Magical Staffs Magical Swords Tablets Shallow Pans Streamers Inverted Bells Horsetail Whisks Bells Large Cymbals

Ritual Specialists

High Priest Cheif Cantor Inspector of Fasts Incense Attendant Lantern Attendant Scripture Attendant

Ceremonies to Celebrate the Birth of Spirits

Assemblies to Entice Spirits Pilgrimage Times and Temple Fairs

Origin of the Title " High Priest"

" High Priest" is the name of the servant for the performance of Daoist rituals. Together with the Chief Cantor ( 都講 Dujiang ) and the Inspector of Fasts ( 監齋 Jianzhai ), the High Priest is one of the " three Ritual Masters" ( 法師 Fashi ) who conduct rituals of Fasts and Offerings ( 齋醮 Zhaijiao ) together. The term "High Priest" already existed in ancient times, and originally referred to an erudite person. The rituals of early Daoism were fairly simple, and there was no title of High Priest. The Regulations and Penalties for the Use of Lanterns and Candles in the Pervasive Mysterious Offerings ( 洞玄靈寶齋說光燭戒罰燈祝願儀 Dongxuan Lingbao Zhaishuo Guangzhu Jiefa Deng Zhuyuan Yi ) compiled by Lu Xiujing (406-477), an eminent Daoist priest of the Southern dynasty, called the High Priest a "ritual master". Only after the Tang and Five dynasties did the title of High Priest begin to be used widely in Daoist rituals, and it is still used today.

Position and Functions

The Regulations and Penalties for the Use of Lanterns and Candles in the Pervasive Mysterious Offerings says that the ritual master (i.e., the High Priest) "is virtuous inward and solemn outward. His movements and behaviour all accord with the rituals. The Three Worlds ( 三界 sanjie ) take him as an example, and ghosts and spirits respect him. He reports and prays, communicates with the Perfect Men and summons spirits, clears doubts and explains the abstruse, and corresponds with virtuous persons". In addition, the Preaching of the Commandments for Assigning Tasks During the Great Fasts of the Golden Register ( 金籙大齋補職說戒儀 Jinlu Dazhai Buzhi Shuojie Yi ) of the Tang and Five Dynasties says that "the high priest is virtuous inward and solemn outward. Both Heaven and Humans are attracted to him, and both ghosts and spirits respect him. Pacing on light, he flies to the stars to preach virtue with dignity. His kindness spreads through the Three Worlds, and his manners surpass all the officials". The High Priest should be able to Pace the Big Dipper ( 步罡踏斗 Bugang Tadou ), connect humans and spirits, preach teachings in place of spirits, and save men and ghosts. Among all the servants at the Daoist altar of offerings, the High Priest occupies the leading position. This position is generally filled by eminent Daoist priests of noble character and high prestige.