The Xuanjiao Dao 玄教

Xuanjiao was originally a general term used by the imperial court to refer to Taoism. During the Yuan Dynasty, the emperor appointed Zhang Liusun to take charge of the Xuanjiao Institute, forming a religious sect where Xuanjiao Taoist officials directly preached. It can be regarded as a branch of the Taoist Longhu Sect, founded in the early Yuan Dynasty by Zhang Liusun.

Zhang Liusun (1248-1321), styled Shihan, was a native of Guixi in Xinzhou (now part of Jiangxi Province). He learned Taoism from his uncle Zhang Wenshi at Shangqing Palace on Mount Longhu. Later, he traveled around Jiangxi with his knowledge. In the 12th or 13th year of the Zhiyuan era (1276), he accompanied Zhang Zongyan, the 36th Celestial Master, to the capital and stayed to serve at the imperial court. The following year, because his prayers for the illness of Empress Zhaorui Shunsheng proved effective, he was appointed as Shangqing (a high-ranking official), awarded a precious sword, and the emperor ordered the construction of Chongzhen Palaces in both capitals for him to reside in. In the 10th year of the Zhiyuan era (1278), he was granted the title of Xuanjiao Zongshi (Patriarch of Xuanjiao), appointed as Daodao Duti (Chief Supervisor of Taoism), in charge of Taoist affairs in Jianghuai East, Jianghuai West, Jingxiang regions, and was given a silver seal. Since then, "his favor and treatment grew day by day, comparable to that of close ministers". His official positions in Taoism were continuously elevated. By the 2nd year of the Yanyou era of Emperor Renzong (1315), he was promoted to Kaifu Yitong Sansi (Grand Tutor with the same privileges as the Three Ministers), Tejin Shangqing (Special Advanced High Minister), Xuanjiao Dazongshi (Great Patriarch of Xuanjiao), Zhenren (True Man), and was in charge of Taoist affairs in the Jixian Academy. (See Yuan Jue's Biography of Zhang, the Great Patriarch of Xuanjiao, Wu Cheng's Stele of Virtuous Deeds of Zhang, the True Lord of Divine Virtue, etc.)

From the time he became Xuanjiao Zongshi, he continuously selected Taoist priests from Mount Longhu (dozens in total) to the capital, either appointing them to Taoist positions in the capital or sending them to various places to take up Taoist official posts at all levels. With these people as the backbone, a large-scale religious sect was gradually organized, namely Xuanjiao, a branch of the Longhu Sect.

During its decades of development, Xuanjiao had a large organizational scale. Except for a few temples in the north, most of its temples were scattered in the south, including Zhenjiang Road, Changzhou Road, Hangzhou Road, Yangzhou Road, Pingjiang Road, Longxing, Fuzhou Road, Linjiang Road, Yuanzhou Road, Xinzhou Road, Tianlin Road, Huizhou, etc., approximately in today's Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong and other provinces.

In the process of development, Xuanjiao gradually formed a set of organizational leadership systems: its top leader was the Xuanjiao Dazongshi, who resided in Chongzhen Wanshou Palace in Dadu (the capital) and was responsible for commanding the entire sect. Its deputy was the Xuanjiao Sishi (Successor Patriarch), who assisted the Great Patriarch in his work and was also the legal heir to the Great Patriarch in the future. Chongzhen Wanshou Palace in Dadu had a position of Tidian (Overseer) to assist the Great Patriarch in handling daily affairs. Under the Great Patriarch, there was the Jianghuai Jingxiang Duti, who was the direct assistant of the Great Patriarch in commanding Taoist affairs in various regions. The local organizations at all levels below were set up according to the administrative divisions of the Yuan Dynasty: provinces had Duti, routes had Daolu (Taoist Registrar) and Daopan (Taoist Judge), prefectures had Daozheng (Taoist Director) and Daopan, and grassroots temples had Zhuchi (Abbot), Tidian, and Tiju (Director).

From its establishment to the end of the Yuan Dynasty, Xuanjiao had five generations of leaders. The first generation was Zhang Liusun, who led the sect for 43 years (counting from the 15th year of the Zhiyuan era when he became Xuanjiao Zongshi) and passed away in the 1st year of the Zhizhi era of Emperor Yingzong of the Yuan Dynasty (1321), passing the leadership to the second generation, Wu Quanjie. Wu Quanjie led the sect for 25 years and passed away in the 6th year of the Zhizheng era (1346), passing it to the third generation, Xia Wenyong. Xia Wenyong led for 4 years and passed away in the 9th year of the Zhizheng era (1349), passing it to the fourth generation, Zhang Delong. Zhang Delong led for about 5 years and passed it to the fifth generation, Yu Youxing in the 14th year of the Zhizheng era (1354). Yu Youxing led the sect until the fall of the Yuan Dynasty.

A set of systems gradually formed for the inheritance of the Xuanjiao Dazongshi. Firstly, except for the first leader Zhang Liusun, who was appointed by Emperor Shizu of the Yuan Dynasty, the subsequent leaders were all nominated by the previous leader, first serving as Sishi, and after the death of the previous leader, they were appointed by the emperor with an "imperial edict". Secondly, each successive leader, when taking office, must inherit the Great Patriarch's seal and precious sword left by Zhang Liusun (originally granted to Zhang Liusun by the emperor) as the certificate of inheritance and the symbol of religious authority.

Although Xuanjiao was a branch derived from the Longhu Sect, it had its own independent system and considerable independence from the Celestial Master of the Longhu Sect. That is, its religious affairs were directly subject to the Xuanjiao Dazongshi, not directly to Shangqing Palace on Mount Longhu or the Celestial Master's Mansion.

The beliefs and magical arts practiced by Xuanjiao were characterized by eclecticism. In addition to mainly inheriting the talismans and incantations of the Celestial Master's Longhu Sect, it also practiced the Thunder Methods of Shenxiao, Qingwei, and Tianxin, as well as inner alchemy. It made little contribution to Taoist theory; only Wu Quanjie's Lingbao Yujian (Jade Mirror of the Numinous Treasure) still exists in the Daozang (Taoist Canon).

Although Xuanjiao existed for a relatively short time (it disintegrated with the fall of the Yuan Dynasty), it played a significant role in promoting the integration of various talismanic sects into the large sect of Zhengyi Dao. On the one hand, the Xuanjiao Dazongshi lived in Chongzhen Wanshou Palace in Dadu for a long time, like a permanent representative in the capital of the successive Celestial Masters, the leaders of Jiangnan Taoism (successive Celestial Masters lived on Mount Longhu all year round except when summoned to the capital). Many affairs of the numerous Taoist sects in Jiangnan were often handled through the Xuanjiao Dazongshi (some requiring consultation with the Celestial Master). The Xuanjiao Dazongshi played an important role in communicating the relationship between Jiangnan Taoism and the Yuan court, communicating between various Taoist sects, strengthening the unity of the sects, and promoting the formation of Zhengyi Dao. On the other hand, the development of Xuanjiao's organization greatly enhanced the strength of the Longhu Sect, making necessary organizational preparations for the formation of Zhengyi Dao.