Zhang Daoling | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Zhang Daoling, as illustrated byRen Xiong and engraved by Cai Zhaochu | |
| Born | Zhang Ling February 22, 34 (traditionally) |
| Died | October 10, 156 (traditionally, aged 121–122) |
| Other names | Fuhao (courtesy name) |
| Occupations | Religious leader Ruler of Zhang Han |
| Known for | Founder ofWay of the Five Pecks of Rice Founder of religiousTaoism |
| Zhang Daoling | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 張道陵 | ||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 张道陵 | ||||||||
| Hanyu Pinyin | Zhāng Dàolíng | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Zhang Ling (birth name) | |||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 張陵 | ||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 张陵 | ||||||||
| Hanyu Pinyin | Zhāng Líng | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Zhang Fuhan (courtesy name) | |||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 張輔漢 | ||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 张辅汉 | ||||||||
| Hanyu Pinyin | Zhāng Fǔhàn | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Celestial Master Zhang | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 張天師 | ||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 张天師 | ||||||||
| Hanyu Pinyin | Zhāng Tiānshī | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Ancestral Celestial Master | |||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 祖天師 | ||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 祖天师 | ||||||||
| Hanyu Pinyin | Zǔ Tiānshī | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| ZhengyiZhenren | |||||||||
| Chinese | 正一真人 | ||||||||
| Hanyu Pinyin | Zhèngyī Zhēnrén | ||||||||
| Literal meaning | True Man of theOrthodox Unity | ||||||||
| |||||||||
Zhang Daoling (張道陵, traditionally February 22, 34 – October 10, 156),birth nameZhang Ling (張陵),courtesy nameFuhan (輔漢), was a ChineseTaoist religious leader who lived during theEastern Han dynasty. He founded theWay of the Five Pecks of Ricemillenarian movement, and established atheocratic state. TheWay of the Celestial Masters grew out of those beginnings, and so Zhang is considered the founder of religious Taoism by scholars and is venerated as such by followers ofZhengyi Dao.
His son Zhang Heng (張衡) and grandsonZhang Lu inherited leadership of the movement and state. Also known asCelestial Master Zhang (張天師),Ancestral Celestial Master (祖天師) orZhengyiZhenren (正一真人), Zhang is sometimes pictured riding on a tiger. In some Taoist sects, Zhang, along withGe Xuan, Xu Xun (許遜) and Sa Shoujian (薩守堅), are called the "Four Celestial Masters" (四大天師).
| Part ofa series on |
| Taoism |
|---|
 |
Institutions and organizations |
The details of the life of the historical figure Zhang Daoling are obscure; most of the information about him comes from later scripture and hagiography. According to these, Zhang traced his ancestral home toFeng County, Jiangsu, and was said to be a descendant ofZhang Liang. He was born in the tenth year of theJianwu era during the reign ofEmperor Guangwu of Han.[1] He started reading theTao Te Ching at a young age and studied in theTaixue (Imperial Academy) before. He served as a magistrate in Jiangzhou, Ba Commandery (present-dayChongqing) during the reign ofEmperor Ming of Han.[2]
Zhang later retired and led a reclusive life at Mount Beimang, where he practiced taoist methods of achievinglongevity. When invited to serve as aboshi (equivalent of a present-day professor) in the Imperial Academy, he claimed that he was ill.Emperor He of Han summoned him thrice to serve as theTaifu (Imperial Tutor) but he refused again.[citation needed]
According tohagiographies compiled in approximately 400 C.E., in 142 C.E. the deity Taishang Laojun (a deifiedLaozi) revealed to Zhang on Mount Heming the "Doctrine of the Orthodox One [Resting On] the Authority of the Alliance" (pinyin:zhengyi mengwei dao), and bestowed upon him the title Celestial Master.[3][4] The deity warned that plagues, beasts, and the demons of the Three Offices and Six Heavens of the underworld were due to be released upon humankind, and that only 240,000 people would be chosen as survivors and "seed people" (pinyin:zhongmin) to populate the new age, the era of Great Peace.[5]
Zhang then endeavored to reform supposedly degenerate religious practices. After gathering numerous followers, he started a health cult that advocated certain longevity practices, recorded in books which have been lost. He founded a theocratic state in Sichuan organized into 24 parishes, later 28, which outsiders called the Way of Five Pecks of Rice, after a tax of that amount levied on followers.[3]
A major change instituted by the new Covenant was the rejection of food and animal sacrifices. According to Zhang, the updated teachings of Laozi included the first true Taoist religious pantheon as distinguished from the prior ancient religion ofChina.[citation needed] TheXiang'er, a commentary on theTao Te Ching preserved today in a sixth-century manuscript, is traditionally ascribed to Zhang Daoling's authorship and even if not his work may reflect his teachings.[6]
Zhang is said to have died onMount Qingcheng in 156 during the reign ofEmperor Huan of Han at the purported age of 123.[1] However, it is also said that Zhang did not die but ascended in broad daylight (Xiandao). Zhang reportedly disappeared on the day of his death, leaving nothing behind but his clothes.[7]
His descendants have held the title ofCelestial Masters up to the present day, with the most recent claimants of the title currently residing in Mainland China and Taiwan. They also held the title of正一嗣教眞人zhèng yī sìjiào zhēnrén.[8]
正乙派開祖。據臺灣道士所傳「道教源流」云：漢天師諱道陵，字漢輔，沛豐邑人，留侯子房八代嫡孫大順之長子。光武建武十年正月望日生，七歲讀道德經，五千言二篇，十遍而達其旨。永和四年生辰，獲丹書秘訣，遂於鶴鳴山修煉。漢安元年壬午正月望日午時，感金闕后聖玄元道君，即老君下降，以盟成法篆，三五斬邪劍，都功板卷鑲授之。遂能服丹載魁罡，立治庭。而後太上授傳「三清眾經九百三十六卷，符錄丹霞秘訣七十二卷，並製頂冠道服等物賜之，。至桓帝永壽年間，屢賜此經並五斗真經。至永泰二年丙申九月九日，居間州雲臺山，忽太上遣使授此經玉册賜之三天扶教輔元大法天師正一靜應顯祐真君之號。
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
