Titles of Successors of the Dragon and Tiger Sect of Zhengyi Dao
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Introduction
The "Zhang Tianshi" (Celestial Master Zhang) is the hereditary leader of Zhengyi Dao, also known as Tianshi Dao or Celestial Master Dao, and specifically the title for the successive heirs of the Dragon and Tiger Sect, a major branch of this Taoist school. Founded by Zhang Ling (Zhang Daoling) in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, Zhengyi Dao has been passed down through 63 generations of Celestial Masters, all descendants of Zhang Ling, collectively referred to as "Zhang Tianshi" due to their surname Zhang.
Zhang Ling, honored as the "Founding Celestial Master" (Zu Tianshi), established the religion, followed by his son Zhang Heng, the "Successor Celestial Master" (Si Tianshi), and grandson Zhang Lu, the "Lineage Celestial Master" (Xi Tianshi), known collectively as the "Three Masters" or "Three Zhangs."
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Brief Introduction to Zhang Tianshi
"Zhang Tianshi" refers to Zhang Ling, the founder of the Five Pecks of Rice Dao (an early form of Zhengyi Dao), and his hereditary successors. In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, Zhang Ling claimed appointment by the Supreme Old Lord (Taishang Laojun, the deified Laozi) as the "Celestial Master," establishing Tianshi Dao. He created 24 administrative parishes ("Zhi"), with Yangping Zhi as the leading parish, and designated ritual instruments like the "Seal of the Chief Administrator of Yangping Zhi," the "Male-Female Swords for Subduing Demons," and Taoist scriptures/talismans as symbols of authority.
Zhang Ling stipulated that succession must remain within his clan, passing the title to his son Zhang Heng, then to his grandson Zhang Lu. By the 4th generation, Zhang Sheng moved the lineage to Longhu Mountain in Jiangxi Province, where it continued. Notable successors include the 30th-generation Zhang Jixian (1092–1127), the 35th-generation Zhang Keda (1218–1262), the 36th-generation Zhang Zongyan, the 38th-generation Zhang Yucai (?–1316/1317), and the 42nd-generation Zhang Zhengchang, who compiled The Genealogy of the Han Celestial Masters.
Later, Zhang Yuchu (43rd generation) revised this genealogy, and Zhang Guoxiang (50th generation) supplemented it, covering up to the 49th generation. The lineage from the 50th to the 61st generation is recorded in Supplement to the Genealogy of the Celestial Masters by Zhang Yuanxu (62nd generation). During the Qing Dynasty, the title "Zhengyi Zhenren" was demoted, and formal ties with the imperial court were severed by the Daoguang era, though Zhengyi Dao’s internal succession continued.
Origin of the Title "Celestial Master"
The title "Celestial Master" was officially recognized by the Yuan Dynasty under Kublai Khan, who referred to Zhang Zongyan (36th generation) as the "6th-Generation Celestial Master of the Successor Han Lineage." Before this, the title was used informally by Zhang Ling’s descendants and the public. From the Yuan Dynasty onward, Zhang Tianshi oversaw Taoism in southern China, unifying various talisman and ritual schools under Zhengyi Dao.
In 1949, Zhang Enpu (63rd generation) left Longhu Mountain for Taiwan, accompanied by his son Zhang Yunxian and others. After Zhang Yunxian’s death in 1954 and Zhang Enpu’s passing in 1969, the title passed to his cousin Zhang Yuanxian, the 64th-generation Celestial Master.
Succession of the Celestial Master
Zhengyi Dao, founded by Zhang Ling in the Eastern Han Dynasty, follows a strict hereditary succession within the Zhang clan, as mandated by Zhang Ling: "No succession to non-clan members." The "Three Masters"—Zhang Ling (Founding Master), Zhang Heng (Successor Master), and Zhang Lu (Lineage Master)—set the precedent. Succession typically passes from father to son, but if no direct heir exists, a capable Zhang clan member (e.g., uncle or cousin) is chosen, as seen with Zhang Jixian (30th generation) passing to his uncle and Zhang Keda (35th generation) to his second son Zhang Zongyan.
The succession emphasizes blood lineage, verified by heritage tokens and adherence to clan membership. Historical records confirm no outsider has ever inherited the title, maintaining the tradition’s integrity across 63 generations to the present day.
