Abstract:
The Tang Dynasty was an important age when Taoism became prosperous in history and rose from a folk church to state church and when it exerted great influence on the Tang society. The Book of Taoism, a historical classic, kept a record of the official Taoist sin-exempting incantation casting ceremony in the Tang Dynasty, which was an indication of a Taoist ceremony upgraded to a grand official ceremony of sacrifice offering. The emperors of the Tang Dynasty craved after sin-exempting incantation casting because of their conversion to Taoism and because of the atmosphere of worshiping Taoism in political life of the Tang society. According to Taoist institutions and sutras, the sin-exempting incantation casting ceremony is of religious function and symbolic significance.
