Szilágyi András (szerk.): Ars Decorativa 23. (Budapest, 2004)
Gábor KÓSA: Extatic Flight and the Realm of Light. Changes in the Estimation of Chinese Manichaeism as mirrored in its relationship with Shamanism
After that, they sent for a female shaman, who set up her altar to drive away (the spirit). 24 Thereupon, the spirit also prepared an altar and started to perform his magic practices. He did everything quicker than her. (She) could not gain control over him, so she ran away out of fear. Soon, Yang's wife and two daughters died. Then, there was a person who was an expert on demonic practices and was known as (a follower of) the Religion of Light. So he was asked to spend one night (in the house) with his sacred book. (In the morning,) the demon fled, spitting about and cursing that person. 25 After that, the weird phenomena ceased yet the person died in the same year." 26 3.2. "Manichaeism and shamanism are equally ridiculous." The paradigm of the Song era (960-1279 AD) The bellow extract is to be found in the Taoist Canon and contains the summary statements that Bo Yuchan, the famous master of the Song era, made on shamans and Manichaeans. Bo Yuchan (12 th century) was born in Minqing (Haiqiong (kßM), Fujian province; originally, his name was Ge Changgeng MScl^. 17 and acquired great reputation on the southeast coast. 2 " Of his works complied by his disciples, the work cited below (Haiqiong Bo zhenren yulu S^âïj£Àso#) was completed by one of his most intimate disciples, Peng Si. Basically, the work contains Bo Yuchan's discourses and talks. #3. mm^m±±zm « mm&&m& WEB « ±±t£j< - ^zmm • « k'£&£ »«WH (•••> msia : mm^mmm^xmm^ • mzmm • í&zm ífjüLii - rn&fêwmfiFmmiïm* - WSMÊ • f££fê n ' ssm-« - wstm • i&zm-%m.£ • m± &ûiMifrfaivk « ^mm&m&à • mm^mm - * - WlAffiti ' ÄA^ttiiH« - 5A**H*fTifofl)t "Shamans often stole the language of the Highest (Lord Lao); therefore, in their practice they often employ the magic formulae of the Highest (Lord Lao). However, it is even more ridiculous that people of old wrote the followings on shamanic [magic] talismans in cursive handwriting: 'the Highest (Lord Lao) in the Heaven', yet shamans nowadays do not know the meaning of the characters, so they say, 'the Great King in the Mysterious'. Ridiculous! (...) (Peng) Si asked (his master Bo Yuchan SJÜgf), 'In the country there live numerous vegetarians, who observe fasts and follow the Religion of Light. They declare that thus they can destroy demons. Their followers say that this teaching was bequeathed to them by the Highest Lord Lao. Is it really so?' (Bo Yuchan) answered, 'In the country of Sulin there lived a lay follower who bore the title mushe. First, he studied the (Taoist) methods to achieve immortality, but in vain. Later, he dealt with the Buddha's teachings; nevertheless, he did not make any progress. Eventually, he retired to the Great Näga Mountain, where he got in contact with the heretic teachings of the West. There was an Envoy of Light called Pipojia fflJt^iJD, who taught him one single special technique of magic and then ordered him to observe and practise it; therefore, after that, he followed this teaching exclusively. 29 In fact, this (teaching) is totally irrational; it consists of one single commandment: the earth in its entirety, hills, rivers, trees, water and fire all comprise Vairocana's" 1 sacred body, so one must not step on it or perform any act against it. 1 ' If one keeps out of the body of the Buddha Vairocana, observes the eightfold fast and pays reverence to the five directions, they do so solely because of this teaching and prohibition. This teaching is supervised by three powers, the first being the Heavenly King, the second the Envoy of Light, the third is the Earth of Magical Form. 12 Pipojia's most significant teaching can be
