Chinese ritual mastery traditions

Chinese ritual mastery traditions, also referred to asritual teachings(Chinese:法教;pinyin:fǎjiào, sometimes rendered as "Faism"),Folk Taoism(民間道教;Mínjiàn Dàojiào), orRed Taoism(mostly in east China and Taiwan), constitute a large group ofChineseorders ofritualofficers who operate within theChinese folk religionbut outside the institutions of officialTaoism.The "masters of rites", thefashi(法師), are also known in east China ashongtou daoshi(紅頭道士), meaning "redhead" or "redhat"daoshi("masters of the Tao"), contrasting with thewutou daoshi(烏頭道士), "blackhead" or "blackhat" priests, ofZhengyi Taoismwho were historically ordained by theCelestial Master.
Zhengyi Taoism and Faism are often grouped together under the category of "daoshiandfashiritual traditions" (道法二門道壇). Although the two types of priests have the same roles in Chinese society—in that they can marry and they perform rituals for communities' temples or private homes—Zhengyidaoshiemphasize their Taoist tradition, distinguished from the vernacular tradition of thefashi.
Ritual masters can be practitioners oftongjipossession, healing, exorcism andjiaorituals(although historically they were excluded from performing thejiaoliturgy). The only ones that areshamans (wu)are thefashiof the Lushan school.
The ritual masters (法師fashi) are defined, in opposition to formally ordained Taoist priests, as:
Michael Saso (University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa) distinguishesfashias "kataphatic" (of filling character) in opposition to Taoists as "kenotic" (of emptying character), and links them to other Sino-Tibetan indigenous religions:
They are known by different names throughout China, other popular ones being "ritual officers" (faguan) as they at times call themselves,or "redhead" Taoist priests (紅頭道士hongtou daoshi). There are also localised names, such as "orthodox lords" (duangong), "altar masters" (zhangtanshi), or "earth masters" (tulaoshi) inGuizhou.
They are also in competition with other orders who perform similar services: monks andtantricmasters under the auspices ofBuddhism, andtongjimedium.
The difference between ritual masters and Deities' mediums is that instead of being subject to territorial gods like the mediums, the ritual masters can marshal the powers of local Deities.
The Lushan (Mount Lu) school (閭山派;Lǘshān pài, also閭山教;Lǘshān jiàoor閭山法教;Lǘshān fǎjiào), also known as Sannai school (三奶教;Sānnǎi jiào; 'transmission of the Three Ladies'), is present inFujian, southernZhejiangandTaiwan.It is very active nowadays, and is related to the worship of the goddessChen Jinggu("Young Quiet Lady") the Waterside Dame (临水夫人Línshuǐ Fūrén), who is very popular in the same area.It is also related to the cult of Wang Laomu, and competing withMaoshan Taoism.
The tradition shows similarities withYaoandZhuangritual traditions, and has incorporated elements ofTantra, such as the use ofmudraandvajra.Lushanfashiperform rituals as the head of celestial troops while invoking the "Three Ladies" (sannai): Chen Jinggu and her two disciples, Lin Jiuniang and Li Sanniang. Although Lushanfashiare men, in performance they wear the ritual red skirt of Chen Jinggu and a crown or headdress with the words "Three Ladies" painted on it.Lushanfashialso practice ashamanicvoyage rite called "crossing the roads and the passes" (guo luguan).
The Pu'an school (普唵派;Pǔǎn pài) is present in west-centralFujian, southernJiangxiand Taiwan.The historical figure of the Buddhist monk Pu’an is worshipped by the practitioners as their "founding master" (zushi).Their texts, rituals and iconography incorporateTantricthemes adapted in aTaoiststyle, and have elements of theZhengyiand Lushan traditions.
The Xujia school (徐甲派;Xújiǎ pài) is another form of ritual masters.