How to summon a demon for questioning: Kao Zhao rite in Tianxin Taoism

The article is devoted to the analysis of the structure, content and conceptual foundations of one of the most important rites of Tianxin Taoist tradition, which became widespread in China in the Song era (960-1279). The author studies the rite of expulsion of demons (“summoning [demons] for questioning”, kao zhao) and provides the detailed analysis of each of its four phases. The author comes to the conclusion that there are obvious parallels between the rites of exorcism in Taoist Tianxin school and the criminal procedure of the Song era.