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Encyclopedia of Religion entry forBook of Rewards and PunishmentsThe " Book of Rewards and Punishments " is said to be the most popular exposition in its modern form of the Chinese religion or system of ethics known as Taoism (y.v.). It does indeed claim to be the production of the reputed founder of Taoism, Lao-tsze himself (sixth century B.C.); but, according to Prof. Douglas, it can hardly have been published earlier than the fifteenth or sixteenth century A.D., that is to say, many centuries after Buddhism became known in China (A.D. 62). Some of the maxims of the book, as given by Douglas, are as follows : " Practice righteousness and filial piety, be affectionate towards your younger brothers and respectful towards your elder brothers. . . . Do no injury, either to insects, plants, or trees. . Rejoice at the success of others, and sympathize with their reverses, even as though you were in their place. . . . Bestow favors without expecting recompense. . . Do not introduce vexatious reforms into the administration of the empire. . Don‘t shoot at birds, nor hunt animals. . . . Don‘t drive insects from their holes, nor frighten roosting birds. . Don‘t seek your own advantage at the expense of others. . Don‘t suck other men‘s brains. . . . Don‘t break asunder marriages. . . . Don‘t decry the excellences of others, nor conceal your own imperfections. . Don‘t put obstacles in the way of the promotion of men who are endowed with talents or worthy of praise. . Don‘t delight in picking and stealing. . . . Don‘t murmur against Heaven at your lot, nor accuse men. Don‘t scold the wind, nor abuse the rain. . . . Never say anything you don‘t mean. . Don‘t employ all your strength to accomplish your aims. . Live in harmony with your wife. Wives, respect your husbands. Don‘t do anything which is not useful. Don‘t leap over a well or a hearth. . . . Don‘t shout or get angry on the first day of the month, or in the morning. . . . Don‘t point rudely at the sun, moon, and stars. . Don‘t needlessly kill tortoises and serpents." Douglas‘s translation is based upon the French translation of Stanislas Julien. See Robert K. Douglas, Confucianism and Taouism; Frederic H. Bal four, " Taoism," in R.S.W. citations: Encyc. of Rel., Canney
article created 2006-04-12 , last updated 2006-04-12 |
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