| Abstract |
Popular in Ming-Ch'ing, the folk secret religion was a common and new sect. The folk secret religion was transformed from Buddhism; it also combined with Confucianism and Taoism. Using easy ways to attract people, for example, healing diseases and avoiding disasters, it was believed by low-ranking people. However, it was banned by the government because of its unusual thinking. Though it had many branches, it has never been united. But people and scholars pay much more attention to some popular literature, such as mo-chieh, Mi-le (Maitreya Buddha), chen-k'ung chia-hsiang (original home in the world of true emptiness), and Wu-sheng lau-mu (Eternal Mother). Therefore, there are lots of research papers in Mainland China and Taiwan in the last decade. This article will give introductions and criticism of related research. It is divided into five parts: the summary of the folk secret religion, the specific description of all kinds of secret sects, the research of Pao-chüan (precious volume) and faith , the government's ban for religions and the sects' rebellions , and the introduction of sect heads. |
