The word "Tao" appeared in China ancient books very early. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, philosophers called their thoughts and theories "Tao", such as "the way of governing the country" and "the way of self-cultivation". If we use these theories to educate others, it is called "Tao". For example, in the book Mozi, there is a saying that "the former king" and "Confucianism thought the Tao". But the "Tao" here is completely different from the "Tao" that was later used as a religious name. Taoism, as a religious name, was first seen in Laozi's notes on Xianger. Three books, Taiping Jing, Zhouyi Shentongqi and Lao Zi Xiang Er Zhu, are the symbols of the formation of Taoist beliefs and theories. It not only occupies an extremely important position in China's traditional culture, but also has a noticeable influence on the modern world.
After investigating the process of Taoism, Xu Dishan pointed out: "Witchcraft and alchemy prepared the realization of Taoism, while Laozi and Zhuangzi's philosophy prepared the ideological roots of Taoism. Taoism was established as a specific religion when the Three Temples were born. " It is clearly pointed out that the emergence of Taoism is closely related to primitive witchcraft, immortal magic and Taoist philosophy. In fact, the establishment of Taoism is also closely related to the theology of God and Huang Lao's thought. In a word, the emergence of Taoism and Taoists is a very complicated result of the interaction of various cultural factors, social factors and corresponding socio-psychological factors. In ancient times, people revered the sun, moon, stars, rivers, mountains and ancestors, regarded them as gods and prayed for them, forming primitive religion and witchcraft. Witch is a religious profession that specializes in communicating with ghosts and gods, conveying God's will and praying for the people. In ancient tribal society, politics and sacrifice were integrated, and national affairs were predicted in advance by the great wizard, so the Emperor of Heaven was asked to answer questions. (The wizard is a person who acts as an intermediary between God and the lower emperor and is in charge of national sacrifices. Witchcraft was a noble profession in ancient times and even in Shang Dynasty. When Xuanyuan Huangdi went to war, Wu Xian was invited to bow. All state affairs, big or small, must be approved by them. If they don't agree, even if other rulers agree, things won't work. Typical theocratic era. Until the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, witches still played a key role in political life and people's lives. The belief in ghosts and gods in ancient primitive religions and folk witchcraft and a series of corresponding ceremonies, such as "fasting" and "sacrifice" ceremonies in ancient sacrifices, have basically been absorbed and inherited by Taoism and Taoist priests. The construction of Taoist immortal system in later generations, the practice of prayers such as fasting and blessing in Taoist sacrificial activities, and the cultivation methods of Taoism have all accepted many ready-made things from witchcraft history and culture, belief in ghosts and gods, folk traditions, technical figures, and the theories of Huang Lao's learning, Yi ology, Confucianism, Mohism, Taoism, Qi Huang, Yin Yang and Immortality. Therefore, the emergence of Taoism has a very close cultural affinity with various ancient cultures and academic schools in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period.
The origin of the concept of immortals is also very long, which existed in the era of floods and droughts. Until the Warring States period, it has been widely circulated and deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. Immortality and ascension became the same goal pursued by emperors and nobles at that time. The so-called immortal alchemist is a warlock who advocates and teaches the art of immortality under such circumstances. These alchemists tried their best to seek and exert strange magic to satisfy some people's desire for immortality, thus gaining the favor of nobles, governors and emperors. Both Qin Shihuang and Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty liked magic very much, and many alchemists gathered around them. Help them realize their dream of eternal life; The alchemists practiced many magical methods, such as taking medicine from alchemy, keeping in good health, offering sacrifices to ghosts and gods, praying for blessings and forbidding spells, as well as ancestral stoves, Gu Dao, waiting for gods, observing qi, guiding, burning, changing old prescriptions and massaging prescriptions. They did everything they could. Of course, the most important thing is to take medicine through alchemy. Because these immortal alchemies are still scattered, some alchemists, in order to further expand their influence, used Zou Yan's theory of Yin and Yang and Five Elements in the Warring States Period to explain their alchemy, forming the so-called Fang Xiandao, and these alchemists were called immortals. Fang had the greatest influence on the establishment of Taoism, and the alchemist's immortal belief and skills were gradually absorbed by Taoism. Therefore, the cultivation of alchemy pursued by Taoist priests is actually influenced by immortal alchemy, and Taoist priests are the final evolution of complex alchemists. Although the names of alchemists and Taoists in Han Dynasty were common, it showed a kind of confusion, but it also showed a very close absorption and assimilation relationship among Taoism, Taoists, immortal magic and immortals.
In the formation of Taoism, Huang in Han Dynasty also played a great role. The theory of Huang Lao originated from Taoist scholars in Xia Ji during the Warring States Period. It is characterized by advocating quietism,
Respect Xuanyuan Huangdi and Laozi as founders. In the early Han Dynasty, Huang Lao and Jing Jing School ruled the world with their skills. At that time, Huang Lao's thought prevailed, and scholars mushroomed, among them there were many fairy alchemists. Because Huang Lao's thought itself has a certain mysticism color, and these immortal alchemists of Huang Lao's study explained Huang Lao's theory with immortal thought and the theory of yin and yang and five elements, which made Huang Lao's study integrate with immortal magic and fairy Taoism, and gradually formed Huang Lao Dao, who regarded Lao Zi as a god, and became the predecessor of Taoism.
In addition, the thoughts of Confucianism, Mohism and Buddhism have also been greatly influenced by Taoism. Taoism also absorbed some thoughts of Confucianism in the process of its establishment, and Confucianism absorbed Confucian classics reformed by Taoism in Han Dynasty with divination view and Yin-Yang and Five Elements theory. For example, the early Taoist classics "Taiping Jing" and "Old Xiangzi Jules" emphasized loyalty, filial piety, benevolence and righteousness, and emphasized the difference between yin and yang. In addition, Mohism's thought of knowing ghosts and Taoism has also opened up a new way for the establishment of Taoism, and Mohism's chivalrous spirit has also been integrated into the psychological structure of those pioneers who founded Taoism and some noble Taoists, and has also been influenced by Taoism in terms of discipline and etiquette during the changes of the times, which is helpful for the establishment.