The Wudang Sect emerged in the Ming Dynasty. It was founded by Zhang Sanfeng at Wudang Mountain in Jun County, Hubei, hence it is also called "Wudang Sect" or "Wudang Dao". It mainly worships the True Martial Emperor as its primary deity.
Wudang Taoism has a long history. As early as the Wei and Jin dynasties, it was a place for Taoists to cultivate immortality, and was known as a "fairy chamber". In the Jin Dynasty, "hundreds of people studied Taoism at Wudang Mountain, with an unbroken succession". During the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1395), Zhang Sanfeng entered Wudang Mountain for cultivation and later left to travel far away. Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty sent people to search for the "true immortal" Zhang Sanfeng many times but failed, which further expanded the influence of Wudang Taoism.
When Zhang Sanfeng resided at Wudang Mountain for Taoism practice, his direct disciples Qiu Xuanqing lived at Wulong Palace, Lu Qiuyun at Nanyan Palace, and Liu Guquan and Yang Shancheng at Zixiao Palace. Thus, a Taoist sect with Zhang Sanfeng as the master was formed, which was known in the world as the "Wudang Taoist Sect".
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The main characteristics of Wudang Taoism are as follows:
- It mainly worships the "True Martial Emperor" as the primary deity.
- It attaches great importance to practicing Zhang Sanfeng's Wudang internal martial arts. Zhang Sanfeng's internal martial arts adopt the Taoist concept of overcoming motion with stillness, integrating Taoist inner alchemy cultivation, inaction, emptiness and tranquility, softness, and nature into martial arts, forming a unique style that values softness and emphasizes intention. It is actually a fusion of inner alchemy qigong and martial arts.
- It advocates the unity of the three teachings (Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism), regarding "Dao" as the common origin of the three teachings. It holds that Dao is the origin of heaven, earth, and all things, contains the mechanism of yin-yang movement and stillness, embodies the wonderfulness of creation and mystery, governs the boundless, generates the Tai Chi, and is the root, origin, and ruler of all things.
- It emphasizes inner alchemy methods and advocates the cultivation of both nature and life. It stresses the need to cultivate the immortal Dao, believing that "one should cultivate nature before refining the elixir, and cultivate the mind before preparing the great medicine. When the mind is cultivated, the sign of the elixir will naturally come; when nature is pure, the materials for the medicine will naturally grow".
