First, the emperor of the Tang Dynasty took Laozi as his ancestor, and safeguarding Taoism means safeguarding the legitimacy of political power.
As for the founding of the early Tang Dynasty, it was its heyday. At this time, it was not only guaranteed in political status, but also competed with Buddhism at that time in folk beliefs. Since then, it is an incredible historical fact that Taoism has laid a solid foundation and developed a follow-up situation, relying entirely on the relationship between the emperor of the Tang Dynasty and Laozi.
According to the history books, when Tang Gaozu (Li Yuan) proclaimed himself emperor in Taiyuan in May of three years, he said that he was in Yangjiaoshan (Jiaoshan, Yi Long), southeast of Fushan County, Pingyang Prefecture, and because he was doing good in Jinzhou, he was able to see his white father: "I talked to Tang Huang, I am an old gentleman, and my ancestors are also." Therefore, he wrote a letter and established the Laozi Temple in his place. After Emperor Taizong came to power, he officially conferred the title of Laozi as the Taoist leader "Taishang Laojun". Since then, the Tang court has always believed in Buddhism and Taoism. By the time of Xuanzong, the books of Laozi, Liezi and Zhuangzi were officially renamed as the true classics of Taoism: Laozi was called the Tao Te Ching, Liezi was called the Xu Qingjing, and Zhuangzi was called the South China Classic. Taoism is unprecedentedly prosperous. However, since the Southern and Northern Dynasties, its religious ceremonies and contents have been influenced by Buddhism, and most of them have been set up by citing the Buddhist system, which is more obvious in the Tang Dynasty. This is also the practice followed by all religions in ancient and modern times, at home and abroad.
Although Xuanzong inherited his ancestral business, he worshiped Taoism and Buddhism at the same time, and was personally influenced by Taoism, so he was a Taoist. Since then, the emperors of the Tang Dynasty have often been influenced by Taoism. At the same time, Yang Yuhuan (the imperial concubine), who loves specialized rooms, also converted to Taoism, nicknamed "Taizhen" and became a female Taoist. Therefore, in the mid-Tang Dynasty, the love affairs between celebrities, ruling and opposition parties, and female Taoist priests inside and outside the court were filled with romantic atmosphere in the literary realm, such as the case-solving of female Taoist Yu and the works of female Taoist praising nostalgia.
However, although Taoism became a formal religion in the Tang Dynasty and had the same political status as Buddhism, the competition between Taoism and Buddhism has not been eliminated since the Southern and Northern Dynasties. In the early Tang Dynasty, there were fierce struggles between them, such as the struggle for teaching in the third day of the early Tang Dynasty:
In February of the seventh year of Wude, Ding Si and Gao Zu (Li Yuan) were released to Sinology, and a famous Confucian scholar was called to discuss benevolence and righteousness. Taoist Liu Jinxi asked Saman Huicheng, saying: Prince Sida (Sakyamuni) has been ascetic for six years. If the Tao proves the fruit, then the Tao gives birth to the Buddha, and the Buddha becomes a Buddha by the Tao. Therefore, the sutra (Buddhist scripture) says: Seeking the Tao is supreme. He also said: If you understand the road, you will have no heart. With this test, Tao should be Buddha first. Cheng said: from the Sinian to Tianzhu, it was not so much a scale continent as a sea reclamation. The old man and the Buddha have been there for more than 300 years. Is it a way to show the king by Buddha and ask for respect? Jin said: Taishang Avenue, born, in the spirit, higher than and in youth, is also a teacher of Buddhism. Cheng Yue: According to the seven books and nine streams, the country's classics, the Book of Changes, five movements and the same life, two instruments and four kings, wonderful things are called gods, yin and yang are called ways, and Ningyun has different avenues. Since Tao is nameless, why should Buddha be born from it? The Doctrine of the Mean says: Truth is the way. He said, "If you are self-centered and things are roads, how can you wear a golden crown, yellow and brown hair hanging over your temples, and hold a piece of jade in your hand, ranking above Luo, and call it avenue?" How ridiculous! No right to be happy. Lu Deming, a doctor in imperial academy, followed Fang's advice and separated the essence. Emperor Yue said that the three are enemies. However, it is virtuous for Deming to cover it up in one fell swoop. Then give each silk.
This was the first round of religious disputes in the early Tang Dynasty. The main participants are important figures of Taoism and Buddhism, but Lu Deming, who is dominated by Confucianism, made a fair judgment and finally compromised and returned to Confucianism. Later, the figures who started the fierce competition between Taoism and Buddhism, although Yin was fueled by the imperial court, the main task was to push Taishiling (similar to the director of modern astronomy) Fu Yi:
In the eighth year of Wude (Yiyou), the Taishi ordered frugality and was ashamed to be an official, and recommended Fu Yi as his own generation. Yi was a Taoist in the Sui Dynasty, and he was very frustrated. As he inherited the revolutionary government, he won the court. And for the order, there is Taoist Fu, who is quite idle in reading, and the game is too honest, so it is attached, one in ten. Play with caution and don't report it. In nine years, Fu Yi was ordered by the Grand Prix, and he was asked to teach in addition to the teacher for seven days before and after. After Fu Tingyi, Prime Minister Xiao Yu denounced it as a mistake, saying: Hell is only for this person. Gao Zufu returned to Yi Shu and taught him Confucianism. What are the advantages of becoming a monk in China? From time to time, a Buddhist mage, Farin, wrote two volumes of "On Breaking Evil".
It was the summer of April, when Prince Jian was established and King Shimin of Qin became a citizen. Difficult to prosper, Fu Yi destroyed the Buddha's power and begged for abolition. Gaozu was delayed because of the high spring and autumn period. The monks, such as Farin, argued and went to the DPRK together with Li Huangmen's On Ned. Emperor Wuyi, etc. Praise the destruction of Buddhism as a private association, but I didn't get it, so I destroyed the two religions and compensated them. At the end of May, there was a cloud in the imperial edict: It was originally to clear up the source, so it was necessary to get rid of Friar Sand, nuns, Taoist priests, female crowns and those who kept the precepts diligently, so that they could stay in the temple and provide food and clothing. It can't be diligent and unprofessional, and it can't be a good provider. It was ordered to stop and return to Mulberry. It's a rule. We should follow the teaching method. If you sit against the rules, you should stop. There are three temples (Buddhist temples) and three temples (Taoist temples) in Beijing, one in each of the other States in the world, and the rest are destroyed. On June 4th, the king of Qin made it difficult for the government to negotiate peace with the soldiers, and Gao-zu took the king of Qin as the prince and paid for the military and political affairs. It's a letter from two religions, that is, ghost, sea and moon, amnesty the world, and desist from sand before.
As can be seen, the dispute between Taoism and Buddhism is a big court insider case in the early Tang Gaozu era. Religion and politics have always been inextricably linked, which is extremely thought-provoking.
Second, Emperor Taizong put Taoism before Buddhism, and Tang Wuzong destroyed Buddhism and promoted Taoism.
In the eleventh year of Zhenguan, Emperor Taizong came to Luoyang and suddenly issued an imperial edict on the status of Taoism and Buddhism, which caused another protest from Buddhists, and the result was of no help. The contents and facts of his letters, such as history, are as follows:
Fortunately for Luo Jing, the emperor wrote a letter saying: Laojun sets an example, righteousness is empty, and Sakyamuni is responsible for keeping cause and effect. Ask them to teach you and learn from them in different ways. In his sects, there are different interests. However, the prosperity of the avenue originated from ancient times, from the nameless beginning, and the material is high and tangible. Moreover, this country is the first to live under the rights of the stone family. From now on, Zhai has offered a position for the bank. As for titles, Taoist female crowns can precede monks and nuns. In the final analysis, the custom is smooth in Jiushi and lingering in Chiba. The imperial edict was issued, and the Samoans in Jingyi gave advice to each other, but some departments refused to accept it.
Since Emperor Taizong took Laozi as his ancestor, he wrote a letter that needed no dispute.