The Northern Song Dynasty's Reverence for Taoism

The Northern Song Dynasty's reverence for Taoism marked the end of the chaos in the Five Dynasties period and the reunification of the country. Emperors of the Northern Song Dynasty inherited the Tang Dynasty's policy of integrating Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism while supporting Taoism. Among them, Emperors Zhenzong and Huizong were particularly renowned for their advocacy of Taoism.  

Emperor Zhenzong emulated Taizu and Taizong in concrete ways to venerate Taoism. For instance, he established several festivals: March 3rd as the Tianqing Festival (the day when the "Heavenly Scriptures" first descended), June 6th as the Tiankuàng Festival (when the "Heavenly Scriptures" descended on Mount Tai), April 1st as the Tianzhen Festival (when the "Heavenly Scriptures" descended in the imperial palace), July 1st as the Xiāntiān Festival (the first descent of the Holy Ancestor), and October 20th as the Jiàngshèng Festival (when the Holy Ancestor descended to the Yan'en Hall). During his reign, Zhenzong also extensively built Taoist temples, summoned famous Taoist priests, and ordered Wang Qinruo and Zhang Junfang to compile the *Taoist Canon* (Daozang), which profoundly influenced the development of Taoist theory.  

Compared with Emperor Zhenzong, Emperor Huizong's devotion to Taoism was even more intense. In February of the 7th year of the Zhenghe era (1117), it was said that the Celestial Deity Qinghua Dijun descended to the Xuanhe Hall, and Huizong dreamed at night that Laozi (the founder of Taoism) told him: "By your destiny, you should revive my teachings." In April, Huizong instructed the Taoist Record Office to confer upon him the title of "Emperor and Lord of Taoist Doctrine," thus elevating Taoism to the status of state religion.  

During the Northern Song Dynasty, the Maoshan Sect (Miaoshan Pai) was the most active. Liu Hunkang, its 25th patriarch, was favored by rulers starting from Emperor Shenzong. Huizong later built the Tianning Wanshou Temple for him and bestowed the title "Master Baozhen Guanmiao" (Bǎozhēn Guānmiào Xiānshēng) upon him. Additionally, after nearly a century of obscurity, the Tianshi Dao (Celestial Master Taoism) was revived during this period.