Chinese folk religion

====Thanksgiving and redeeming====
The aims of rituals and sacrifices may be of thanksgiving and redeeming, usually involving both.{{sfnp|Yao|2010|p=177}} Various sacrifices are intended to express gratitude toward the gods in the hope that spiritual blessing and protection will continue.{{sfnp|Yao|2010|p=177}} The ''jiào'' ({{lang|zh|醮}}), an elaborate Taoist sacrifice or "rite of universal salvation", is intended to be a cosmic community renewal, that is to say a reconciliation of a community around its spiritual centre.{{sfnp|Yao|2010|p=178}} The ''jiao'' ritual usually starts with ''zhai'', "fasting and purification", that is meant as an atonement for evil-doing, then followed by sacrificial offerings.{{sfnp|Yao|2010|p=178}}

This rite, of great political importance, can be intended for the whole nation.{{sfnp|Yao|2010|p=178}} In fact, as early as the [[Song dynasty]], emperors asked renowned Taoists to perform such rituals on their behalf or for the entire nation.{{sfnp|Yao|2010|p=178}} The modern Chinese republic has given approval for Taoists to conduct such rituals since the 1990s, with the aim of protecting the country and the nation.{{sfnp|Yao|2010|p=178}}