Taoist Sects, Schools & History: From Ancient Origins to Today

Taoist Sects, Schools & History: From Ancient Origins to Today | Longhu Mountain
Taoism Series · P3
Taoist Sects, Schools & History

A complete history of Taoism: all major schools and sects explained, from Huang-Lao and Taiping Dao to Quanzhen and Zhengyi.

94 Articles
3 Topics
11 Pillar Series

What Are the Major Taoist Schools and Sects?

Taoism has never been a single, unified religion. Over more than two millennia it branched into dozens of distinct schools and sects, each with its own lineage, scripture, ritual, and understanding of the Way.

From the Celestial Masters and Taiping Dao of the Han Dynasty to the great medieval schools of Shangqing, Lingbao, Quanzhen, and Zhengyi — this collection of 94 authoritative articles traces the full sweep of Taoist history and institutional development.

What You'll Learn

📜

Historical Development

11 articles

Trace Taoism's evolution from pre-Qin origins through the Han, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties.

Sun Bu'er (???):A notable female Taoist during the Jin Dynasty
Ancestral Celestial Master Zhang Daoling ???
Taoist Patronage under the Jin Dynasty
The Development of Daoism in the Tang Dynasty
Daoism in the Sui Dynasty
The Enrichment and Development of Taoist Scriptures in the Southern Dynasties
Religious Thought in Pre-Qin China
The Maintenance and Development of Daoism during the Five Dynasties Period
The arts of immortals and alchemists in the early Han Dynasty
The Esoteric and Alchemical Thought in the Qin Dynasty
Daoism in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States
🏛

Major Schools & Sects

67 articles

Explore Quanzhen, Zhengyi, Longmen, Maoshan, Shangqing, and all major Taoist schools and lineages.

Gezao Mountain ???
Maoshan Mountain ??
Schools of Female Alchemy (N?dan)
Main schools of Inner Alchemy
Main Schools of External Alchemy
Fu Jinquan(???): Representative of Yin-Yang Dual Cultivation School
Li Xiyue(???): Founder of Western School of Internal Alchemy
Min Yide(???): Qing Dynasty Taoist & Longmen Sect Master
Wu Shouyang (???): Ming-Qing Dynasty Alchemist & Longmen Master
Lu Xixing(???): Founder of Eastern School of Taoism
Wu Quanjie (???): Famous Xuanjiao Taoist of the Yuan Dynasty
Yin Zhiping ??? Leader of the Quanzhen Sect
Qiu Chuji(???): Founder of the Longmen School in Daoism
Wang Chuyi (???): Founder of the Yushan School in Daoism
Hao Datong (???):Founder of the Huashan School in Daoism
Tan Chuduan (???):: A Leading Figure in the Quanzhen Sect
Ma Danyang(???): A Key Figure in the Quanzhen Sect
Liu Deren (???):The founder of the Dadao School of Taoism
Mo Yueding (???):The major representative of the Taoist Shenxiao School
Huang Shunshen (???) - The major successor of the Qingwei School
Xue Daoguang (???): Master of the Southern School of Complete Reality
Liu Hunkang(???): A renowned Taoist priest of the Shangqing School
Zhang Boduan - The Founder of the Southern School of Neidan ???
Li Hanguang (???): The Thirteenth Patriarch of Maoshan Daoism
The Zhang Jiao ?? A Daoist Master's Testament on the Path of Taiping Dao
Lie Yuzi ???, the founder of the School of Valuing Emptiness
The Nine-section Staff ??
The Zhengyi Xinfa The True Meaning of the I Ching by Daoist Ma Yi
The Shangqing Dadong Zhenjing The True Scripture of the Great Cavern of the Highest Clarity
What is The Yujun Dao
What is Xuanjiao Sect ??
What is The Wudang School
What is the Wuliu Sect
What is Tianxin Sect
What is Shenxiao School
What is Shangqing School
The Seven Lineages of Quanzhen Dao
What is Quanzhen School
What is Qingwei School
What is Louguan Sect
What is Longmen School
What is Dragon-Tiger School
What is Lingbao School
What is Pure Brightness Daoism
What is Southern Lineage of Golden Elixir
What is Three Sovereigns Tradition
What is Shangqing School
What is Maoshan Sect
What is Celestial Masters Taoism
What is Southern Celestial Masters' Sect
What is Qingshui Dao
What is Taiping Dao
What is Li Family Taoism
What is Gezao Sect
What is Huang-Lao Taoism ???
What are the Taoist sects?
The Development of Taoism in the Qing Dynasty
Quanzhen Dao and Zhengyi Dao in the Yuan Dynasty
Taoism in the Late Han-Three Kingdoms Period
The Eastern Florescence School ???
The Eastern Han Dynasty laid the foundation for Taoism
Western Alchemy School
What is Eastern Alchemy School
What is The Bojia Dao
Taoism in the Northern Wei Dynasty
The Northern Celestial Master Daoism
The Northern Song Dynasty's Reverence for Taoism
👤

Founders & Key Figures

16 articles

Meet the masters who shaped Taoist history — Zhang Daoling, Qiu Chuji, Zhang Boduan, and more.

Liu Yiming(???)-a renowned Taoist priest and medical scientist in the Qing Dynasty
Lou Jinyuan(???): Qing Dynasty Taoist & Author of Longhu Mountain Annals
Zhang Qingye ??? Qing Dynasty Taoist & Temple Leader
Shi Daoyuan: Ming-Qing Dynasty Taoist & Builder
Zhang Yuchu - 43rd Celestial Master & Literary Talent
Zhang Yu?? Yuan Dynasty Taoist Poet & Calligrapher
Huang Gongwang(???): Yuan Dynasty Taoist & Artist
Liu Yu (??):Famous Taoist of the Yuan Dynasty
Zhang Liusun ??? Famous Taoist of the Yuan Dynasty
Li Zhichang(???):A prominent Yuan Dynasty Taoist
Song Defang(???):A renowned Taoist priest of the Yuan Dynasty
Wang Zhijin (???):The Prominent Daoist of the Yuan Dynasty
Xie Ziran(???): The Celestial Maiden of Tang Dynasty Daoism
Li Quan (??): The Daoist Strategist of Tang Dynasty Wisdom
Sima Chengzhen (): A Daoist Sage of the Tang Dynasty
Wang Xuanlan(???):A famous Taoist priest in the Tang Dynasty

☯ All 94 Articles in This Series

About Longhu Mountain

Longhu Mountain (龙虎山) is one of the most sacred sites in Taoism, known as the ancestral home of the Celestial Masters tradition. For over 1,900 years, it has been a center of Taoist practice, learning, and spiritual transmission. Our mission is to share authentic Taoist wisdom with the world, making this ancient tradition accessible to modern seekers while preserving its depth and integrity.

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Explore Other Topics in This Series

Dive deeper into the 11 pillars of Taoist knowledge

P1 Taoist Philosophy & Core Concepts 74 articles P2 Taoist Deities & Pantheon 76 articles P4 Taoist Alchemy: Neidan & Waidan 49 articles P5 Taoist Rituals, Practices & Arts 83 articles P6 Taoist Scriptures & Sacred Texts 45 articles P7 Taoist Masters & Historical Figures 49 articles P8 Taoist Sacred Mountains & Temples 27 articles P9 Taoist Legends & Stories 9 articles P10 Taoism & Health Preservation 11 articles P11 Taoist Priests: Life, Garments & Instruments 108 articles
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