By Yang Xi
China.org.cn correspondent reporting from Sichuan
yangx@china.org.cn

At Heming Mountain in Dayi County of Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, a prayer meeting was organized on May 31 by the China Association of Taoism, supported by the Sichuan Province Association of Taoism.

The objective of the prayer meeting was to bring blessings and consolation to victims in the quake-hit areas and mourn for the dead.

Taoism is a traditional religion indigenous to China. It is generally believed that Taoist organizations were formally established 1,900 years ago by Celestial Master Zhang Daoling during the reign of Emperor Shundi (AD 126-144) of the Eastern Han Dynasty. However, the original sources of Taoist doctrines can be traced back to the Pre-Qin period (4000-221 BC). Heming Mountain is the spiritual home of Taoism in China.

Ren Farong, president of the China Association of Taoist, delivers a speech at the prayer meeting at HemingMountain, May 31, 2008.

At the beginning of the ceremony attendees observed a one-minute silence to mourn for those killed by the huge quake in Sichuan Province on May 12.

At the gathering, all the Taoist devotees also read praying scriptures and made three bows, grieving for the deceased during the quake and bringing blessings for the survivors.