Chapter 6 The Transcendent of the Plate: The Lingji zhimi 靈乩指迷 (Instructions on the numinous stylus) and the Reform of Spirit-Writing Techniques during the First Half of the Twentieth Century
In: Communicating with the GodsSearch for other papers by Chun-wu Fan[純武 范] in
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Abstract
During the Republican period, the reverence for science directly impacted the development of spirit-writing, leading to the creation of the “Scientific Numinous Stylus” (kexue lingji 科學靈乩), which became popular in the 1930s and is still known as the “transcendent of the plate” (diexian 碟仙). This technique makes use of a small, white porcelain plate inscribed with an arrow pointing to the rim and placed facing down on a board on which characters were inscribed in concentric circles. In a séance, usually three persons lightly placed a finger on the plate and silently prayed for the transcendent to descend. With the arrival of the transcendent, the plate began swirling on its own accord, and the participants could ask their questions. The Transcendent of the Plate shows how techniques of spirit-mediumship changed in response to the necessities of the times and external challenges. Differently from traditional spirit-writing by stylus, the Transcendent of the Plate made use of paper and plate, it was low cost and simple, and was very popular in Shanghai and the Lower Yangzi area. As a result, the technique spread beyond the circles of classically educated gentry to ordinary urban dwellers. The engine that drove both transformations was the print media and book market, which directly and indirectly created the conditions for spreading the new technology through promotion and distribution channels.