The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (2495 page)

(Chin., ‘cube of heaven’). Chinese Muslim name for the
ka‘ba
.

 
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(Chin., ‘heaven's drum’).
Taoist
exercise to drive off harmful influences/spirits before breathing exercises. The drumming noise is produced by finger motions on the back of the head.

 
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(Chin.). The Heavenly Mandate, a concept developed in Chou philosophy (
c.
8th cent. BCE) to define legitimate rulers. The concept is attributed to
Mencius
. It holds that an emperor lacking in virtue has forfeited the right to rule. This right is then granted from
T’ien
to the conqueror who establishes the next dynasty. T’ien-ming was developed further during the Han dynasty, and thereafter it was received by emperors in the
Temple
of Heaven. It could be recalled by heavenly disapproval (expressed through portents and signs), and rulers would then have to amend their rule.

 
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T’ien-shang Sheng-mu
(‘Holy Mother in Heaven’)
.

A Chinese Goddess of seas, protector of seafarers, and patron saint of fishermen and boat-people. She is one of the most popular divinities on the SE coast of China and its adjacent islands. The common people call her affectionately Ma-tsu (Lord Mother).

 
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(Chin., ‘celestial master’). Title of Taoist masters, descendants of
Chang
Tao-ling, of the
wu-tou-mi
tao, and of its successor,
cheng-i
tao. A t'ien-shih has little actual authority, though he may formally recognize the head of Taoist congregations or communities. The Western equation of t'ien-shih with ‘the pope’ of Taoism is wide of the mark.

 
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T'ien-t'ai
,
Tiantai, or Fa-hua-tsung

(Chin., ‘School of the Celestial Platform’). School of Chinese Buddhism derived from
Chih-i
(538–97), who lived on Mount T'ien-t'ai. Because of its veneration of the
Lotus S
tra
it is also known as the Lotus school. T'ien-t'ai looked back on previous Buddhist history and sought a way of giving status to its diverse teachings, classifying the Buddha's teaching into
‘five periods and eight schools’
, and allowing that his teaching was adapted, in successive periods of his life, to different levels of attainment (
up
ya-kau
alya
). The
Lotus S
tra
contains the consummation and highest level of teaching. T'ien-t'ai approximates to the teaching of
N
g
rjuna
, whom it sees as its patriarch. T'ien-t'ai was taken to Japan by
Saich
, where it is known as
Tendai
.