(Revised and adopted at the Fifth Session of the Fourth Standing Council of the China Taoist Association on September 16, 1989, and revised by the Seventh National Congress of the China Taoist Association on June 24, 2005)
Article 1 These Provisions are formulated in accordance with the Regulations on Religious Affairs and the Charter of the China Taoist Association, in order to strengthen Taoism’s own development, carry on the ritual tradition of ordination with precepts in the Quanzhen (Complete Perfection) school, strictly uphold the doctrine and precepts, possess right faith in full, and keep Taoist conduct pure.
Article 2 Conditions for Quanzhen Taoist priests to receive ordination:
(1) Taking refuge in the Three Treasures of the Tao, the scriptures, and the masters, and belonging to a traditional line of master-disciple transmission;
(2) Loving the country and loving the faith, observing discipline and abiding by the law, being dignified and neat in bearing, and being healthy in body and mind;
(3) Being at least 20 years of age, having at least a junior secondary education, having left the household and resided in a temple for three years or more, keeping long hair and wearing the large-collared robe, being able to recite the Liturgy of Daily Recitation (Zaowan Gongke Jing), acting of one’s own free will, and having been examined and approved by one’s temple;
(4) Holding proof of identity and letters of recommendation from the local Taoist association and one’s temple, and being reviewed and recommended by the provincial Taoist association. In areas where no Taoist association has been established, one may be recommended by one’s temple and reported to the Taoist association at the next level up for review.
Article 3 Quanzhen ordination activities are organized and guided by the China Taoist Association and undertaken by the host temple.
Article 4 A temple holding an ordination must obtain the consent of the religious affairs department of the provincial-level people’s government where it is located; the provincial Taoist association then reports to the China Taoist Association for approval, after which the ordination is filed with the national religious affairs department.
Article 5 A temple undertaking an ordination must meet the following conditions:
(1) Being a venue for Taoist activities registered with the government;
(2) Having a sound organization, rigorous management, and pure Taoist conduct;
(3) Having an abbot of high virtue and prestige to serve as the ordaining precept master;
(4) Having the capacity to perform the liturgy of ordination;
(5) Having the halls, dining hall, living quarters, and other ritual and living facilities required for the ordination;
(6) Having ritual implements and scriptures to present to the ordained Taoist priests;
(7) Having the funds necessary for the ordination.
Article 6 The Eight Great Masters of the ordination altar nominated by the host temple—the attesting master, the precept supervisor, the sponsoring master, the ritual instructor, the ritual corrector, the liturgy prompter, the register recorder, and the guiding master—must be confirmed by the China Taoist Association and are then formally invited by the host temple.
Article 7 Conditions to be met by the Eight Great Masters of the ordination altar:
(1) Loving the country and loving the faith, and observing discipline and abiding by the law;
(2) Having already received the Great Precepts of the Three Altars;
(3) Keeping the precepts strictly and being familiar with the Taoist rituals of ordination;
(4) Being well versed in the scriptures and able to guide later students;
(5) Having left the household and entered the Tao for ten years or more, and having been ordained for three years or more.
Article 8 Quanzhen Taoist priests applying for ordination must complete the application form printed by the China Taoist Association and, only after passing review by the China Taoist Association in accordance with Article 3 of these Provisions, may they enter the altar to receive the precepts; they are collectively called ordinands.
Article 9 Quanzhen ordination is of two kinds: conferral of the great precepts and conferral of expedient precepts. Ordinands who personally attend the ordination altar to receive transmission are said to receive the great precepts; ordained Taoist priests who do not attend the altar are collectively said to receive expedient precepts.
Article 10 Quanzhen Taoist priests who have resided in a temple for many years but cannot attend the altar because of old age and frailty or other special reasons may receive expedient precepts.
Article 11 For Quanzhen Taoist priests receiving expedient precepts, following the requirements of Article 3 of these Provisions and upon verification by the China Taoist Association, the ordination altar handles the matter according to ritual.
Article 12 Ordination is based on the Three Refuges, the Five Precepts, the Ten Precepts, and the Nine Precepts for Female Perfected of the Precepts of Initial Perfection. With reference to the Precepts of the Central Ultimate, the Precepts of the Celestial Immortal serve as reserve precepts.
Article 13 The ordination certificate serves only as proof that a Quanzhen Taoist priest has received transmission through ordination (including both the great precepts and the expedient precepts); it is produced by the China Taoist Association and issued by the ordination altar.
Article 14 Ordination at a temple follows the traditional procedure and generally lasts no more than thirty days.
Article 15 Ordinands shall pay the corresponding fees to the temple holding the ordination; the fee standards are verified and set by the China Taoist Association.
Article 16 Where an ordinand abandons the Taoist faith or seriously breaks the rules and precepts, the local Taoist association shall, with the approval of the provincial Taoist association, confiscate the ordination certificate and report this to the China Taoist Association for the record.
Article 17 Where Taoist organizations or temples violate these Provisions by holding ordinations or printing and issuing ordination certificates without approval, their ordination activities and the certificates issued are all invalid, and the principal persons in charge of the Taoist organizations or temples shall be held responsible.
Article 18 Quanzhen Taoist priests from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macao Special Administrative Region, the Taiwan region, and abroad who seek ordination at temples in the mainland must, in addition to meeting the conditions for ordinands required by these Provisions, carry valid identity documents and letters of introduction from the relevant Taoist bodies and temples of their place of residence; they may enter the altar to receive the precepts only after review and approval by the China Taoist Association and filing with the national religious affairs department.
Article 19 The China Taoist Association is responsible for interpreting these Provisions.
Article 20 These Provisions shall take effect from the date of promulgation.