Chronicles of Imperial Taoist Patronage 历代帝王崇道记

Compiled by Du Guangting, a Taoist priest of the late Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties period. The work was completed in the fourth year of the Zhonghe era of Emperor Xizong of the Tang Dynasty (884).

It is recorded as one volume in the Bibliography of General Records. The version in The Daozang is included in the Biographical Category of The Dongxuan Section, titled Records of Veneration of Taoism through Successive Dynasties.

Chronicles of Imperial Taoist Patronage

The book compiles records of emperors from King Mu of Zhou onward who revered Celestial Master Daoism, built temples and monasteries, and ordained Taoist priests. Accounts of Taoist veneration during the Zhou, Qin, Han, and Wei dynasties were fabricated by Taoist priests and not historical facts. Descriptions of Tang imperial patronage of Taoism are relatively credible, though still somewhat exaggerated.

It is claimed that over 1,900 Taoist temples were built and more than 15,000 priests ordained in the Tang Dynasty, excluding structures constructed by nobles, ministers, and royal relatives, demonstrating the prevalence of Taoism at that time. The work promotes Lord Laozi as the ancestor of the Tang imperial house, proclaiming that “the Great Dao bestows blessings, the sacred ancestor protects, the great plan endures, and the Tang reign shall be boundless.” It was clearly written by Du Guangting to curry favor with Emperor Xizong.