Taoism is a traditional religion in China, which was founded by the founder of Sanqing. Its history can be traced back to ancient times and gradually formed in the Zhou, Qin and Han Dynasties.
Taoism was not created by one person at one time and one place, but a religion that blended different cultures and ideas from all over China.
Laozi, the founder of Taoism, regards "Tao" as the noumenon of the universe and the law of all things, which is a mysterious existence beyond time and space, and established a theoretical system of Taoist theology based on "Tao"; The mysticism of Laozi and Zhuangzi and the thought of keeping in good health constitute the core belief of Taoism.
Paying attention to the cultivation of health preservation, the methods put forward by Laozi and Zhuangzi, such as quietism, simplifying complexity and forgetfulness, were inherited and carried forward by believers.
During the Warring States Period, the Huang-Lao School, represented by Yuan Huan, Tian Pian and Shen Dao, was formed in the State of Qi. They respected the Yellow Emperor and Lao Zi, took the Taoist thought of health preservation and inaction as the main body, and absorbed some contents of hundred schools of thought.
In the early years of the Western Han Dynasty, the rulers praised the quiet theory of Huang Lao, but ignored the thin fu, which created the first prosperous period of feudal society-the rule of Wenjing.
After Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty "ousted a hundred schools of thought and respected Confucianism alone", Huang Lao's theory went to the people, merged with Fang Xiandao to form Huang Lao Dao, and turned from political thought to religious theory. Huang, the predecessor of Taoism, is active among the people.
Extended data:
Taoism reached its peak in the prosperous Tang Dynasty;
At the end of Sui Dynasty, many Taoist priests took refuge in Li Yuan and his son and fabricated the myth that Li was king, such as Qi Hui, a Taoist priest of Louguan School, and Wang, the founder of Maoshan School.
After Tang Gaozu Li Yuan proclaimed himself emperor, he formulated a policy of worshipping Taoism as the imperial religion: respecting Laozi as the ancestor, calling himself "the descendant of the immortal", indicating that "Taoism is big and Buddhism is small", and issued an imperial decree stipulating that "the old should be the first, the Confucius should be the second, and the last religion should be released".
Li Shimin, Emperor Taizong, reiterated that "the ID starts under the column" and once again ordered Taoist priests and female crowns to be above monks and nuns; Li Shimin adopted the policy of governing the country by doing nothing and hanging the beam, and realized the prosperity of "the rule of Zhenguan"; In his later years, Li Shimin was also keen on longevity recipes and took a lot of pills.
Tang Gaozong and Li Zhi continued to pursue the policy of worshipping Taoism: respecting Laozi as the "Emperor Xuanyuan" and conferring the title for Laozi at the earliest; Respecting Laozi is a classic for princes and bureaucrats to learn, and it is stipulated as the content of imperial examinations; Improve the status of Taoist priests and build Taoist temples in various places.
Wu Zetian relied on Buddhists to create public opinion for the "Wu Zhou Revolution", thus weakening Taoism.
Tang Zhongzong and Tang Ruizong resumed the policy of worshipping Taoism.
Li Longji, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, initiated the "Kaiyuan Shi Sheng", under which Taoism reached its peak, and the wind of worshipping Taoism in society developed to the extreme.
Tang Xuanzong's policy of worshipping Taoism includes: the ancestor of myth "Xuanyuan the Great" set off a cult.
Improve the status of Taoist priests and make them enjoy royal privileges; Starting from the "Four-Zi True Classics", the Taoist system is stipulated; It is stipulated that the Tao Te Ching is the first of all classics, and it is personally annotated and promulgated. Actively collecting and sorting out Taoist scriptures and compiling the first Taoist collection in history-Kaiyuan Taoist Collection; Vigorously advocate fasting, Taoist music and Taoist festivals.
During the prosperous Tang Dynasty, a large number of Taoist priests emerged, which greatly promoted the construction of Taoism from the aspects of philosophy, Taoism and fasting.