Xuán mén shí shì wēi yí 玄門十事威儀

The Ten Matters of Ritual Deportment of the Daoist Gate

Anonymous; Táng

A short Táng-era ritual-deportment guide listing ten key matters (shí shì 十事) of proper Daoist ritual conduct. Preserved as DZ 792 / CT 792 (Dòngshén bù, Jiè lǜ lèi 洞神部戒律類).

About the work

The “ten matters” covered:

  1. Entrance to sanctuaries (rù shān mén 入山門).
  2. Incense offering (jìn xiāng 進香).
  3. Prostrations (lǐ bài 禮拜).
  4. Reading scriptures (sòng jīng 誦經).
  5. Meditation (cún sī 存思).
  6. Rising and sitting (qǐ jū 起居).
  7. Eating (chī fàn 吃飯).
  8. Sleeping (shuì mián 睡眠).
  9. Clothing (yī fú 衣服).
  10. Going out and returning (chū rù 出入).

These are the basic routines of Daoist monastic life, codified in a simple instructional format.

Dating. Táng. Dynasty: 唐.