Zhengyi religious Taoism founded
• THE THREE KINGDOMS PERIOD, 221-265: Taoist religion
approved by the Wei State
• THE PERIOD OF DIVISION, 265-589: the growth of
Buddhism and Taoism; Taoist ritual and Lady Wei
Huacun's meditation system developed
the Western Jin dynasty, 265-316
the North, West, and East Wei dynasties. 386-550: Buddhism favored
the North Ch'i dynasty, 550-557
the North Zhou dynasty, 557-589: Taoist scripture Wushang Biyao12 catalogues various kinds of Taoist ritual meditation.
the Liu-Sung dynasty, 420-502: Taoist canonical scriptures catalogued
the Liang dynasty, 502-557: Buddhism and Taoism favored
• THE SUI DYNASTY, 589-618: China reunified
• THE TANG DYNASTY, 619-906: height of medieval
Chinese civilization; Taoist texts are included in civil
service examinations; Tantric Buddhism in China and Tibet
• THE PERIOD OF FIVE KINGDOMS: LATE LIANG, 907; LATE TANG, 923; LATE JIN, 936; LATE HAN, 947; LATE CHOU, 951
• THE SUNG (SONG) DYNASTY: religious reformation in China
the Northern Song, 960-1126: Taoism favored at court
the Southern Song, 1127-1281: Dragon-Tiger Taoism favored
• THE YUAN (MONGOL) DYNASTY, 1281-1368: Quanzhen
Taoism flourishes. Tantric Buddhism flourishes in Tibet.
• THE MING (CHINESE) DYNASTY, 1368-1644: Taoism less
favored at court; Mongolia accepts Tibetan Tantric
Buddhism.
• THE CH'ING (MANCHU) DYNASTY, 1644-1912: Taoism out
of favor; foreign colonial interests in China support
Christian missions
• REPUBLIC OF CHINA, 1912-1949: devastating war with
Japan, without reparation
• THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, 1949-PRESENT: Marxist-socialism in China
1949-1967: collectives, communes, suppression of religion
1967-1978: the Great Cultural Revolution, social and economic ruin
1979-present: economic reform, market economy, state capitalism, "socialism with Chinese characteristics," controlled practice of religion
The above outline does not indicate the development of Taoist meditation or the liturgical system that accompanied its growth as a popular movement. The following outline indicates the development of Taoist contemplative prayer.
Taoist Meditation
The history of Taoist meditation in China can be summarized as follows:
• The two great Taoist thinkers Lao-tzu and Chuang-tzu lived between the sixth and fourth centuries B.C.E. Their works, based on the principle of emptying and nonjudgmental thinking, are the philosophical roots of all subsequent Taoist practices.
• Religious Taoism combined Lao-tzu and Chuang-tzu's thinking with yin-yang philosophy,ritual,healing, and meditation at the end of the Han dynasty between 140 and 220 C.E. During the next four centuries Taoism developed monasteries, an extended canonical scripture, and magnificent festivals for community renewal. The coming of Buddhism to China profoundly influenced Taoism and all of Chinese society.
• Religious Taoism developed various systems for peaceful living, long life, and healing between the second and seventh centuries C.E. The most important of these is the Gold Pavilion classic.
• Taoism was made equal with Confucianism only during the Tang dynasty (619-906). The emperors made Taoist texts a part of the official civil service examination. Princesses of the royal family became ordained practicing Taoists.
• Taoism experienced a religious reformation during the Song dynasty (960-1281), some four centuries before Europe did. As a part of this reformation, laypeople began to meditate and took a greater role in Taoist arts and festivals. China's religious reformation was far more positive and sweeping than Europe's some 400 years later.
• Martial arts and other popular forms of Taoism evolved throughout the provinces of south and central China during the Yuan (Mongol) and Ming dynasties 1281-1368 and 1368-1644, respectively. Wood-block printing, which developed well before the first press in Europe, made Taoist meditation, healing, and martial arts manuals widely available.
• During the Ch'ing (Qing) dynasty (1644-1912) and the modern period, secret societies, business associations, and Tong special Interest groups used Taoist arts, qi meditation, and healing methods for social unity and cohesion. Healing by the use of qi (ch'i breath), qigong meditation, kung fu martial arts, tai chi exercises, and many other popular arts from the Taoist tradition continue to develop in the modern world.
• Today Taoism is one of the five officially sanctioned religious movements in the People's Republic of China. It is controlled by a special section of the State Religious Affairs Bureau, with a Taoist Association watching over its development. With Buddhism, Islam, and Protestant and Catholic Christianity, it is considered to be important enough in modern Chinese socialist society to have its shrines and holy places rebuilt and young Taoists trained at state expense, a part of the new "socialism with a special Chinese flavor."
The special status given to Taoism is due to its immense popularity with ordinary people everywhere in China. The early morning streets and parks of Beijing and other large and small cities are filled with young and old devotees, practicing tai chi and other exercises (including disco and ballroom dancing) before going to work. Taoist shrines and temples, like Buddhist, Islamic, and Christian shrines, are filled with pilgrims and tourists. On special festival days visitors must take turns entering the Taoist shrines because so many are attempting to crowd in and watch the Taoist festivities.
Centers for studying Chinese medicine and various healing methods that are associated with Taoism are also to be found throughout China. Acupuncturists and massage experts who use qi (ch'i, breath-energy), traditional herbal remedies, and visualization methods to heal are given far more scientific status than in the West Controlled experiments are used to measure the effects of these various techniques in healing Illness. Homeopathic, natural healing techniques, are studied as a complement to Western medicine.
Following are some other sources for understanding more about Taoism from its prehistoric beginning until the present:
ORACLE BONES AND ANCIENT WRITING
The written history of China begins with oracle bone Inscriptions
