Abstract:
The predecessor of Kaiyuan Taoist Temple in Chang’an of the Tang Dynasty was Qingdu Taoist Temple in the Sui Dynasty, which was moved from Yongxing Ward to Yongle Ward in the early years of Wude, and took over from the abandoned Baosheng Buddhist Temple which was set up in the Sui Dynasty. Qingdu Taoist Temple was renamed as Kaiyuan Taoist Temple in the 26th year of Kaiyuan. Because of the special location and the complex relationship between religion and politics in Chang’an, in order to avoid the rapid growth of Taoism, Emperor Xuanzong made a special religious policy for Kaiyuan Taoist Temple and its predecessor Qingdu Taoist Temple different from others: except casting lifesized bronze statues of Emperor Xuanzong, Kaiyuan Taoist Temple in Chang’an were not allowed to grant the Tao Te Ching(《道德经》)commented by Emperor Xuanzong, the supernatural statues, or offer incenses at the death anniversaries for former emperors and empresses. So Kaiyuan Taoist Temple in Chang’an didn’t enjoy the status of official Taoist temples.Both diachronic and synchronic research helps not only to understand the execution of Emperor Xuanzong’s edict of setting up Kaiyuan Taoist Temple but also to understand Emperor Xuanzong’s religious policy and political considerations.
