Laozi
He was the first philosopher of Chinese Taoism in the 6th century
BC. He is traditionally named as the author of the
Daodejing, though modern scholars say that the work had
more than one author. Legends about his life abound, but little or
no certain information survives. The historical Laozi, if he
existed, may have been a scholar and caretaker of sacred books at
the royal court of the Zhou Dynasty. According to legend, he was
carried 72 years in his mother's womb, and he met Confucius as a
young man. He is venerated as a philosopher by the Confucianists,
as a saint or god by the common people of China, and as a divinity
and the representative of the Tao by Taoists.
Zhuangzi
Zhuangzi (369–286 BC) was a native of the state of Meng, on the
border of present-day Shandong and Henan provinces, and is said to
have lived as a hermit. The collection of essays attributed to him,
called the Chuang-tzu, is distinguished by its brilliant and
original style, with abundant use of satire, paradox, and seemingly
nonsensical stories. Zhuangzi emphasizes the relativity of all
ideas and conventions that are the basis of judgments and
distinctions; he puts forward as the solution to the problems of
the human condition freedom in identification with the universal
Tao, or principle of Nature. He is less political in his
orientation than the earlier Taoist Laozi. He is also called Chuang
Chou.
Liezi
Lie Yukou is considered the author of the Taoist classic Liezi,
which uses his honorific name. Since there is little historical
evidence of Lie Yukou as a Hundred Schools of Thought philosopher
during the Warring States Period, some scholars believe that the
Zhuangzi invented him as a Taoist exemplar.
Zhang Daoling
Zhang Daoling, (34 - 156 AD) was the founder and first patriarch
of organized religious Taoism. Zhang composed a Taoist work that
attracted many followers among Chinese and indigenous groups in
Sichuan. Like contemporary Taoists, he promised longevity and
physical immortality, but, unlike others, he emphasized the
importance of religious organization. He founded the Five Pecks of
Rice movement. Zhang, his son, and his grandson are known as the
Three Zhangs. While the Daodejing was the basic text, Zhang's
Xiang'er commentary interpreted it to suit the organization's
needs.
Zhang Jiao
Zhang Jiao (140 - 188 AD) was the leader of the Yellow Turbans
during the period of the late Eastern Han Dynasty in China. He was
said to be a sorcerer, and was a follower of Taoism. Giving himself
the title of "Great Teacher,” he led the Yellow Turban Rebellion
with his younger brothers Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang in a campaign
called "The Way of Heaven" or "The Way of Peace." The Yellow
Turbans claimed to be Taoists, and rebelled against the Han because
of the high taxes placed against them. It is said that Zhang Jiao
is the grandson of the founder of the Tianshi (Celestial Masters)
Sect of Taoism, Zhang Daoling.
Wang Bi
Wang Bi (226 - 249 AD) was a Chinese philosopher. His
most important works are commentaries on Laozi's Daodejing and the
Yijing. The text of the Daodejing that appeared with his commentary
was widely considered as the best copy of this work until the
discovery of the Mawangdui texts in 1973.
Ge Hong
Ge Hong, (283 - 343 AD) was a Chinese alchemist and Taoist
philosopher. He received a Confucian education but later became
interested in the Taoist cult of physical immortality. His writings
blended the occult doctrines of Taoism with the ethics of
Confucius. His major work, Baopuzi, discusses alchemy, diet, sexual
hygiene, and meditation as well as the importance of ethical
principles.
Zhang Sanfeng
Zhang Sanfeng, was a semi-mythical Chinese Taoist priest who is
believed by some to have achieved immortality, said variously to
date from either the late Song Dynasty, Yuan Dynasty, or Ming
Dynasty. His name is said to have been Zhang Junbao before he
became a Taoist. As a legendary culture hero, Zhang Sanfeng is
credited by modern practitioners as having originated the concepts
of neijia; soft, internal martial arts, specifically taijiquan, as
a result of a Neo-Confucian syncretism of Chan Buddhist Shaolin
martial arts with his mastery of Taoist Tao Yin (neigong)
principles. He is also associated in legend with the Taoist
monasteries at the Wudang Mountains in Hubei Province.
Qiu Chuji
Qiu Chuji (1148 - 1227 AD) was a Taoist and alchemist. His
disciple Li Zhichang chronicled Qiu's journey to meet Genghis Khan
who wished to learn from Qiu in The Travels of an Alchemist, which
describes the land and people between the Great Wall and Kabul and
between the Yellow and Aral seas. Qiu Chuji was a member of a
Quanzhen sect known for its extreme asceticism and for the doctrine
of xingming, which held that humanity's lost natural state could be
recovered through prescribed practices.
(China.org.cn April 20, 2007)
