道德经的精髓探秘中古道教步虚仪的神秘起源与古灵宝经之谜 以洞玄灵宝玉京山步虚经为钥匙解读
探秘《道德经》的精髓：揭开中古道教“步虚”仪的神秘面纱 —— 以《洞玄灵宝玉京山步虚章》为钥匙解读古灵宝经之谜
东晋末年的“古灵宝经”《洞玄灵宝玉京山步虚章》，是一部近数十年来备受国际道教学界关注的著作。其主要原因在于，该经所阐述的灵宝“步虚”仪式，对中古以来道教斋醮仪式的演变发展产生了深远影响，至今仍被广泛使用；此外，“步虚词”作为中古文学一种重要文体形式，该经提供了最早形态；最后，围绕该经在敦煌本《灵宝经目》中的归属问题激发了学术界讨论。
该經内容概说：
敦煌本《靈寶經目》記載：“升玄步虛章一卷，已出。”可見，這卷經典是由元始天尊傳下來的一部分。明代萬曆時期，《續道藏》收錄了這卷經典。該卷開篇為對大羅天玄都玉京山七寶玄台紫微上宮的描述，並包括「太上智慧經讚」、「右英夫人吟讚」、「五真人讚」等內容。
關於《洞玄靈寶玉京山步虛章》的分類歸屬：
小林正美先生提出了「元始系」和「仙公系」的分類法，其標準包括：一、最尊崇的是葛巢甫所創作之《靈寶赤書五篇真文》（元始系）或老子之《道德經》（仙公系）；二、最尊崇之主神是元始天尊（元始系）或太極真人與葛仙公（仙公系）；三、作者各自隸屬不同派別。
我們認為，要判定《洞玄靈寶玉京山步虛章》的真正歸屬，最關鍵的是要理解該經最核心教義思想，以及該經在古靈寶系列中的角色和使命。該卷紀載了葛氏道派從葛玄到葛授「上清三洞太真道經」的過程，是一部專門闡釋靈寶「步虛」儀式的聖典。然而，小林正美先生提出陸修靖編纂敦煌本《靈寶經目》將該卷誤入「元始系統」，實際應當歸入「仙公系統」。因此，在國際學術界，一直存在著對其歸屬問題的大量爭論和探討。
值得我們深究的是，何以古靈寶經創設如此儀式？以及這些儀式如何從高級神祗在天堂行走轉化為地上的齋醮活動？
(一)关于传统文化背景
唐代杜光庭称：“‘Step into the void’ is a poem that originated from the 'Lingbao Tianjing Yujing Mountain Jing', and it is a song sung by the ten heavenly saints as they dance around the Jade Capital Mountain.” (11) According to Tang Dynasty Wu Ren's "Yuefu Ancient Tizhi," "Step into the Void" is a Daoist tune, describing the beauty of immortals lightly floating in heaven. (12) Song Dynasty Zeng Gong's "Leishi" states that "Step into the Void" is a song sung in Daoist temples, praising immortals' lightness. (13)
(二) The Origin of Lingbao “Stepping into Emptiness”
According to Liu Jingzhong of South China during Southern Dynasties, Chen Shigong, also known as Cao Pi, created this ritual during Three Kingdoms period. Some theories suggest that this practice was influenced by Indian Buddhist chanting or ancient Chinese sacrificial music and poetry.
In conclusion, tracing back to its origins and examining its historical development will reveal more about why such rituals were created and how they evolved over time.
