主編:詹石窗
出版:香港蓬瀛仙館
ISSN 1728-7642

Daoism Studies ›› 2022, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (2): 101-113.

• EA RTH COLUMN:A STUDY OF TAOIST THOUGHT • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Principle of Inerfluve of Cosllaion in Daoist Tales of Encountering Immortals——A Case Study on Nvxiu in Du Guangting' s Yushi Yaosheng ofTang Dynasty

Yu Ling   

  • Online:2022-12-10 Published:2022-12-27
  • About author:Yu Ling, PhD Candidate, Institute of Taoism and Religious Culture, Sichuan University. Research Directions: Chinese Buddhism. Mailing Address: Liberal Arts building, Sichuan University, Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan Province; Postcode: 610065. Email:yosclin2020@qq.com.

Abstract: According to the Taoist tales, the gods of stars often follow the principle of interfluve in astrology, to pattol in the region, fulilling their duties, which entirely shows the primary role that the principle of interfluve of constellation have played in the characters and geography of Taoist tales. Nvxiu (女宿) , ranks the third in the seventh of the twenty-eight stars in Xuanwu constellation and is in charge of tailoring, marriage, military and civil achievements. It was adapted and hidden as an auxiliary line in the two versions of the Supervisory Censor Yao (御史姚生) compiled by Du Guangting (杜光庭) at the end of the Tang Dynasty and the Yao' s Three Childes (姚氏三子) adapted by Li Fang (李肪) at the beginning of the Song Dynasty, so as to highlight these two authors' mind of preaching with "inculcating moral through folklore" (以文載道) and the meaning of praising sages with "civilizing people through literature" (以文化人) ; From the corresponding relationship between the location of meeting immortals and the infuential fields of Nvxiu, we can also reflect on the utilization of constellation interfuve’(星宿分野) resources by Taoist writers and the evolution of it in various dynasties.

Key words: Astronomy, Du Guangting (杜光庭), Constellation interfluve (星宿分野), Tales of encountering immortals (遇仙傅說), Taoist literature