Who were the founders of the major sects of Taoism?

Taoism, the only native religion of China, was formally established in the late Eastern Han Dynasty. Now let's take a look at who the founders of the major sects of Taoism were.

Classified into Zhengyi Taoism and Quanzhen Taoism, the Tianshi Mansion of Longhu Mountain in Zhengyi Taoism was established in the late Eastern Han Dynasty by the Ancestral Tianshi Zhang Daoling. The Lingbao Sect of Gezao Mountain was founded by Ge Chaofu, the founding patriarch at the end of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. He was the great-grandson of Ge Xuan, one of the Four Tianshi. Ge Xuan also had a grand-nephew named Ge Hong. The popular incantation "When facing the soldiers and battles, all stand in formation and march forward" came from Ge Hong's "Baopuzi". The Maoshan Sect of Shangqing was founded by Tao Hongjing, the governor of the mountain during the Southern Dynasties. The Qingshui Sect was said to be founded by the domestic slave of the Tianshi. The Qingwei Sect revered Zu Shu, a Taoist priest in the late Tang Dynasty, as its first-generation patriarch. The Beidi Sect was founded by Taoist Priest Deng Siguan in the Tang Dynasty. The Jingming Sect was actually founded by Taoist Priest He Zhenggong of Xishan in the Southern Song Dynasty. The Shenxiao Sect was founded by Lin Lingsu and Wang Wenqing. The Xihe Sect, a branch of the Shenxiao Sect, was founded by Sa Shoujian, one of the Four Tianshi. The Yuzhi Sect was founded by Taoist Priest Zhang Daoqing in the early Southern Song Dynasty. The Zhengyi Sect was founded by Lou Jinhuan. He was also the only Taoist priest renowned for his Talismans in the Qing Dynasty and the Taoist priest with the highest rank during the Qianlong reign.

The founder of Quanzhen Taoism was Wang Chongyang, a Taoist priest in the Jin Dynasty. Master Wang Chongyang had seven disciples known as the Seven Immortals of Quanzhen. Dan Yangzi founded the Yuxian Sect of Quanzhen. Qingjing Sanren founded the Qingjing Sect of Quanzhen. She and Dan Yangzi were husband and wife. Chang Zhenzi founded the Nanwu Sect of Quanzhen. Guang Ningzi founded the Huashan Sect of Quanzhen. Yu Yangzi founded the Yushan Sect of Quanzhen. Chang Shengzi founded the Suishan Sect of Quanzhen. Chang Chunzi founded the Longmen Sect of Quanzhen. Besides, there are also many other sects in Quanzhen Taoism, such as the Laoshan Sect, founded by Sun Xuanqing, the fourth-generation successor of the Longmen Sect. The Yunchao Sect was founded by Tao Shouzhen, the eighth-generation disciple of the Longmen Sect. The Tianzhu Sect was founded by the Jinzhu Old Man, the eighth-generation disciple of the Longmen Sect. The Tongbai Palace was founded by Zhou Tailang, the ninth-generation disciple of the Longmen Sect. The Xian Tian Sect of Quanzhen was founded by Taoist Priest Li Qing'an in the Yuan Dynasty.

In Zhengyi Taoism, "Zheng" means not evil and "Yi" means not defiled, which is Zhengyi. The characteristics of Zhengyi Taoists are that they can get married and eat meat. They mainly focus on Talismans and Rituals, and some live in temples while some do not. Those who do not live in temples are commonly known as "Huoju Taoist Priests". The differences between Quanzhen and Zhengyi are that most of them need to shave their heads and become monks, refrain from eating meat and cannot marry or have children. Besides the classification of Zhengyi and Quanzhen, there are many special sects, such as the Shaoyang Sect, the Zhen Da Dao Taiyi Sect, the Chunyang Sect, etc.