
The Prison of Fire for Demons
A Study of Taoist Exorcist Devices
Florian C. Reiter(Author)
Harrassowitz Verlag
Published on 2. December 2020
Book
Paperback/Softback
VIII, 124 pages
978-3-447-11550-6 (ISBN)
Description
The Prison of Fire for Demons by Florian C. Reiter presents a study of Taoist exorcist devices that in Heavenly Masters Taoism in the past and even today are dispensable for exorcist rituals. It focusses on exorcism that mainly was performed for the individual client. Sometimes large-scale liturgies were required, but often less-demanding ritual efforts sufficed.
The study relies on the collections A Corpus of Taoist Rituals and Pearls Inherited from the Sea of Rituals in the Ming Taoist Canon. Reiter presents an exorcist tradition of Thunder Magic Rituals from Hunan-province and another one from Sichuan province. The leading Thunder divinity in the latter tradition is Marshal T´ien-p´eng who is associated with the God-Emperor of the North and has a background in Shang-ch´ing Taoism. Reiter selects exorcist devices such as the Prison of Fire for Demons and various other types of demon-prisons. He also discusses the abundant amulets and seals for exorcist rituals, and presents the Divine Stick of T´ien-p´eng which is a small wooden ritual tool that today is still in use. The practice of submitting formal applications to the spirit Thunder administration to get the divine approval and backing for any specific exorcism is introduced as well. Reiter displays the historic frame for applying the exorcist devices and defines these practices as constituent elements of Heavenly Masters Taoism. All those methods and devices serve the salvation of individual clients and support society as a whole.
The study relies on the collections A Corpus of Taoist Rituals and Pearls Inherited from the Sea of Rituals in the Ming Taoist Canon. Reiter presents an exorcist tradition of Thunder Magic Rituals from Hunan-province and another one from Sichuan province. The leading Thunder divinity in the latter tradition is Marshal T´ien-p´eng who is associated with the God-Emperor of the North and has a background in Shang-ch´ing Taoism. Reiter selects exorcist devices such as the Prison of Fire for Demons and various other types of demon-prisons. He also discusses the abundant amulets and seals for exorcist rituals, and presents the Divine Stick of T´ien-p´eng which is a small wooden ritual tool that today is still in use. The practice of submitting formal applications to the spirit Thunder administration to get the divine approval and backing for any specific exorcism is introduced as well. Reiter displays the historic frame for applying the exorcist devices and defines these practices as constituent elements of Heavenly Masters Taoism. All those methods and devices serve the salvation of individual clients and support society as a whole.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Wiesbaden
Germany
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Dimensions
Height: 24 cm
Width: 17 cm
Thickness: 10 mm
Weight
243 gr
ISBN-13
978-3-447-11550-6 (9783447115506)
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
12/2020
Harrassowitz Verlag
€39.00
Available for download