About the Fangxian Dao

As early as the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, there had already emerged "immortalists" (shenxian jia). Han Shu·Yiwen zhi (Book of Han·Treatise on Arts and Literature) states: "Immortalists seek to preserve the authenticity of life and wander beyond the mundane; they aim to ease the mind, equate life and death, and free the heart from anxiety." These immortalists, who pursued eternal life, gradually merged with adherents of the Yin-Yang School, technical experts (fangji jia), and diviners (shushu jia) during the Warring States period, forming a specialized group of practitioners of various immortality arts known as "fangshi" (occult practitioners). Historians refer to this group as "Fangxian Dao."

Shiji·Fengchan shu (Records of the Grand Historian・Treatise on Fasting and Sacrifice) notes: "From the time of Qi’s rulers Wei and Xuan, Zou Yan and his disciples expounded on the cyclical succession of the Five Virtues. When the Qin Dynasty unified China, scholars from Qi presented these ideas, and Emperor Qin Shi Huang adopted them. Meanwhile, Song Wuji, Zheng Boqiao, Chong Shang, and Caimen Gao—all from Yan—practiced ‘Fangxian Dao,’ specializing in bodily dissolution and transformation, and engaging in matters related to ghosts and spirits. Zou Yan, who gained prominence among feudal lords for his theories on Yin-Yang and cosmic cycles, had his teachings passed down by fangshi along the coasts of Yan and Qi, though they could not fully comprehend them. Nevertheless, eccentric, obsequious, and opportunistic figures emerged in large numbers thereafter, too many to count." Zou Yan’s teachings, rooted in fangshi traditions, became foundational to the fangshi of Fangxian Dao. Fangxian Dao was dedicated to transmitting and practicing various immortal arts through master and apprentice lineage, representing the earliest form of Taoism.

Key events associated with Fangxian Dao include Lü Buwei’s compilation of works with his disciples, Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s mountain sacrifices, search for elixirs, and pursuit of immortality, Emperor Wu of Han’s mountain sacrifices, worship of Taiyi (the Supreme Unity), and study of immortality, and the Prince of Huainan’s quest for the Dao. These were among Fangxian Dao’s major activities. During Emperor Wu’s reign in particular, "tens of thousands of scholars from Qi submitted memorials on divine wonders and extraordinary methods," forming a massive class of fangshi in society.

Qin and Han-era Fangxian Dao engaged in three main pursuits: first, spreading and creating theories of immortality; second, conducting activities such as preaching, forming communities, and writing texts; third, developing and practicing immortal techniques. For example, Qi Shaoweng and Luan Da studied under the same master; Kuan Shu received methods from Li Shaojun; An Qisheng, Huang Shigong, and Gai Gong transmitted Huang-Lao techniques. Among the more influential methods were Miao Ji’s "Taiyi Method," Shaoweng’s "Ghost and Spirit Method," and Li Shaojun’s "Anti-Aging Method."

After Emperor Yuan of Han, Confucian officials in the court suppressed Fangxian Dao, causing it to decline from its peak. Nevertheless, Gan Zhongke from Qi, along with his disciples Xia Heliang and Ding Guangshi, created texts such as Tianguan Li (Astronomical Calendar) and Baoyuan Taiping Jing (Scripture of Embracing the Origin and Great Peace), seeking to revive Fangxian Dao.