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35-802: One of its founders was master Wang Chongyang (1113–1170). When the Mongols invaded China the Quanzhen Taoists exerted great effort in keeping the peace, thus saving most Han Chinese lives. Qiu Chuji , a major disciple of Wang, founded the Dragon Gate lineage (龍門派 Lóngmén pài ), along with the White Cloud Monastery in Beijing . This tradition remains one of the largest Taoist sects in China today. According to Louis Komjathy,

70-430: A Tang dynasty text for its precepts without any substantial changes. Quanzhen does however place particular emphasis on celibacy, which its adepts are expected to adhere to, and self-cultivation. Quanzhen disciple are expected to meditate on alchemical ( Neidan ) poems until reaching enlightenment. They do this in a cell to help sever ties to the mundane world. The seven disciples of Wang Chongyang continue expounding

105-523: A Taoist monk of Quanzhen Order, novices first had to spend three years living in a temple. After accomplishing this, they were eligible to be ordained. The ordination was extremely harsh. Each novice had to undergo 100 days of brutal training that sometimes resulted in death. In modern times, this has been reduced to 53 days and is no longer as dangerous. After this training period, novices had exams on Taoist classics, poetry, and precepts. Afterwards, successful novices were fully ordained as Taoist monks . During

140-415: A hut on top of it and called it "Complete Perfection Hut". He spent the next four years in the hut studying Taoism and imparting his knowledge to others. During that time, he met Tan Chuduan, who became his disciple after he cured Tan from illness. Qiu Chuji and Tan traveled around the local towns and villages with Wang and founded five Taoist congregations. Wang's teachings were referred to the "Teachings of

175-565: A rebellion against the Jurchen -led Jin dynasty , which conquered northern China in the Jin–Song Wars . According to tradition, in the summer of 1159 when he was 48, he met three Taoist immortals in a tavern, Zhongli Quan , Lü Dongbin , and Liu Haichan . They trained him in secret forms of Taoism. He changed his name to "Zhe" and adopted the Taoist name "Chongyang". In 1160, Wang met one of

210-490: A year. Shizong's grandson Wanyan Shou later wrote a biography for Wang Chongyang. He was immortalized in the Longmen Grottoes . Wang was the author of many poems of Taoist instruction. According to legend, Liu Chuxuan became a follower of Wang after reading one of Wang's poems. Wang's writings include: The most notable ones among Wang's seven disciples were Sun Bu'er and Qiu Chuji . Sun's husband, Ma Yu,

245-538: Is mentioned by name in the wuxia novels The Legend of the Condor Heroes and The Return of the Condor Heroes by Jin Yong . He is already dead when the events in the first novel take place and the details of his life are revealed by other characters, such as his junior Zhou Botong . Wang Chongyang, who was nicknamed "Central Divine" ( 中神通 ; zhōng shéntōng ), emerged as one of the top five martial artists in

280-516: Is the birthplace of Quan Zhen Taoism. With strong Taoist roots, the Quanzhen School specializes in the process of " alchemy within the body" or Neidan (internal alchemy), as opposed to Waidan (external alchemy which experiments with the ingestion of herbs and minerals, etc.). The Waidan tradition has been largely replaced by Neidan , as Waidan was a sometimes dangerous and lethal pursuit. Quanzhen focuses on internal cultivation of

315-474: The jianghu (martial artists' community) in his time after a martial arts contest on Mount Hua . He also founded the martial arts school Quanzhen School, which is based on the real-life Quanzhen School . After his death, his seven apprentices succeed him and lead Quanzhen to become one of the major orthodox martial arts schools in the jianghu . In the second novel, the protagonists Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü discover more details about Wang Chongyang's life in

350-656: The Jade Emperor "), Laolü Hall ( 老律堂 ), Qiuzu Hall ( 丘祖殿 , "Hall of the Venerable Qiu"), and finally the Sanqing Hall ( 三清殿 , "Hall of the Three Pure Ones "). On either side of the main axis are two smaller axes, each containing halls dedicated to a variety of deities. In the rear of the complex is a garden which hosts the abbey’s ordination platform. This hall was first built in 1661 and

385-626: The Quanzhen School of Taoism and is titled "The First Temple under Heaven". The White Cloud Temple was first founded in the mid-8th century during the Tang dynasty and was initially called the Temple of Heavenly Perpetuity ( Tianchang Guan ). During this period, the abbey was state-sponsored and staffed by an elite clergy. From 1125 to 1215 when what is now Beijing was controlled by the Jin dynasty ,

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420-756: The three teachings , Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism were like three legs of a tripod, and promoted study of the Confucian Classic of Filial Piety and the Buddhist Heart Sutra . The new Quanzhen school was highly popular in Jin-ruled Northern China as a reaction against the privileged place of Jurchens in the civil service examinations. It did not spread to the Southern Song, however. According to traditional legend, Wang Chongyang met two Taoist immortals in

455-582: The "Seven Immortals" or "Seven Perfected Beings". In 1187, Emperor Shizong of Jin summoned Wang's disciple Wang Chuyi (and, according to some sources, also Qiu Chuji ) to preach in his inner palace. Later, he requested the presence of Wang Chuyi at his deathbed. Shizong's successor, Emperor Zhangzong , banned the teaching of Quanzhen Taoism. He considered them as causing heretical and detrimental to society; He converted to Quanzhen's teachings later and let Wang Chuyi stay in Yanjing (present-day Beijing ) for

490-594: The 17th century, when their monopoly ended and the Quanzhen master Wang Changyue ( 王常月 ; d.   1680) took over. To this day, the White Cloud Temple remains controlled by the Quanzhen school. The abbey was without an abbot for the 1940s and was closed when the communists came to power in 1949. Unlike many other historical sites which were being destroyed during the Cultural Revolution ,

525-588: The Ancient Tomb on Mount Zhongnan , where the Quanzhen School is based. It is revealed that Wang Chongyang had a romantic relationship with Lin Chaoying, the founder of the Ancient Tomb School , which Xiaolongnü and Yang Guo are members of. Wang Chongyang had lost to Lin Chaoying in a contest and had to keep his promise to hand over possession of the tomb and lead a monastic life as a Taoist for

560-471: The Complete Perfection" (after the hut) and his branch of Taoism became known as the Quanzhen School . In 1167, Wang burnt down the hut and travelled east to Shandong , where he met Ma Yu and Ma's wife, Sun Bu'er . They became his disciples as well. He accepted a total of seven disciples who later became known as "Seven Masters of Quanzhen" or "Seven Elders of Quanzhen". They are also called

595-561: The Mountain (three inside the grave and another four in a hut he later called "Complete Perfection Hut"), Wang met two of his seven future disciples, Tan Chuduan and Qiu Chuji . In 1167, Wang traveled to Shandong Province and met Ma Yu and Ma's wife Sun Bu'er who became his students. These and others would become part of the seven Quanzhen disciples, who were later known as the Seven Masters of Quanzhen. After Wang's departure, it

630-575: The Palace of Eternal Spring ( Changchun Gong ). Upon being summoned by Genghis Khan , Qiu undertook a three-year trek from Shandong to give the great khan an exposition on Taoism, which he completed in October 1222. Qiu's successor, Yin Zhiping ( 尹志平 ; 1169–1251) built a memorial shrine over Qiu's grave. This shrine became a temple in its own right and became known as the White Cloud Temple. The abbey

665-509: The Qing dynasty, an average of 200 novices were ordained every four years. Ordination ceremonies ended after 1927, but were resumed in 1989. Every year on the 19th day of the first lunar month a festival is held at the abbey in celebration of Qiu Chuji's birthday. It has been thought that Qiu would return to earth as an immortal on this day. The festival was first held during the Yuan dynasty , but

700-405: The Quanzhen beliefs. The seven Masters of Quanzhen established the following seven branches. Wang Chongyang Wang Chongyang (11 January 1113 – 22 January 1170; Chinese calendar : 22nd day, 12th month, 2nd year, Zhenghe era in the reign of Emperor Huizong of Song - 4th day, 1st month, 10th year, Dading era in the reign of Emperor Shizong of Jin ) was a Chinese philosopher and poet. He

735-594: The Teachings ). In the Longmen (Dragon Gate) sub-school of Quanzhen, the writings of Qiu Chuji are also important. The meaning of Quanzhen can be translated literally to " All True " and for this reason, it is often called the " All Truth Religion " or the " Way of Completeness and Truth. " In some texts, it is also referred to as the " Way of Complete Perfection. " Kunyu mountain in Shandong province Weihai city

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770-545: The White Cloud Temple managed to survived but was also damaged. Today, it is again a fully functioning temple and is the seat of the Chinese Taoist Association . Like most other Chinese temples, the White Cloud Temple is laid out on a north-south axis, with the entrance at the south end. There are five main halls built upon the main axis, beginning with the Main Gate, Yuhuang Hall ( 玉皇殿 , "Hall of

805-511: The abbey served as the Taoist administrative headquarters and played an important role in state ceremonies. After Beijing was taken by the Mongols in 1215, the abbey was taken over by the Quanzhen patriarch Qiu Chuji and became the headquarters of the Quanzhen movement until the establishment of the Ming dynasty . Qiu—who himself was known by the name Master of Eternal Spring —renamed the abbey

840-484: The immortals again and was provided with a set of written instructions called "Ganshui Xianyuan Lu". Those written instructions included the names of two men who would later become his disciples ( Ma Yu and Tan Chuduan ). Wang built a tomb for himself near Mount Zhongnan and called it "Tomb of the Living Dead". He lived in it for three years. At the end of the three years, Wang filled the tomb with earth and built

875-568: The person which is consistent with the pervading Taoist desire for attaining Wu Wei , which is essentially unconscious action. Like most Taoists, Quanzhen priests were particularly concerned with longevity and immortality through alchemy, harmonising oneself with the Tao , studying the Five Elements , and ideas on balance consistent with Yin and Yang theory. The school is also known for using Buddhist and Confucian ideas. Wang believed that

910-543: The rest of his life. In the manhua series Oriental Heroes by Hong Kong artist Wong Yuk-long , Wang Chongyang is noted as the creator of the 'Nine Solar Art'. White Cloud Monastery The White Cloud Temple , also known as Baiyun Temple or the Abbey or Monastery of the White Clouds , is a Taoist temple and monastery located in Beijing , China . It is one of "The Three Great Ancestral Courts" of

945-539: The summer of 1159 CE. The immortals, Zhongli Quan and Lü Dongbin taught him Taoist beliefs and trained him in secret rituals. The meeting proved deeply influential, and roughly a year later, in 1160, Wang met one of these men again. In this second encounter, he was provided with a set of five written instructions which led to his decision of living by himself in a grave he created for himself in Zhongnan Mountain for three years. After seven years of living in

980-464: The three most important scriptures in the Quanzhen school are: Komjathy writes that "these texts emphasize the central importance of Daoist self-cultivation focusing on the heart-mind, with purity of consciousness and spirit being primary." After these, the writings of Wang Chongyang are also important. One particularly influential text of his is the Lijiao shiwu lun ( Fifteen discourses to Establish

1015-535: Was a Taoist master and one of the founders of the Quanzhen School in the 12th century during the Jin dynasty (1115–1234). He was one of the Five Northern Patriarchs of Quanzhen. He also appears as a character in works of wuxia fiction. Wang was born with his birth name as "Zhongfu" in a wealthy family in 1113. He was educated in Chinese classics and martial arts. Wang intended to start

1050-581: Was damaged when the Mongols took over in the late 13th century and, during the Ming dynasty, the Palace of Eternal Spring was destroyed. However, the White Cloud Temple survived and took over the functions of its former parent. Under the Ming, clergy from the Zhengyi school took over operations of the abbey but continued Quanzhen traditions and ordination ceremonies. Zhengyi control over the temple continued until

1085-597: Was first built in 1228. It is three bays long with a front gallery. In 1428, the Sanqing hall was built. It is a two-story, five bay structure with a gabled roof that contains statues of the Three Pure Ones on the top floor and the Four Celestial Aides on the bottom floor. Out of 20 Quanzhen ordination seminaries in the Qing dynasty , the White Cloud Temple was the most important of all. In order to become

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1120-464: Was left to his disciples to continue expounding the Quanzhen beliefs. Ma Yu succeeded Wang as head of the school, while Sun Bu'er went on to establish the Purity and Tranquility School, one of the foremost branches of Quanzhen. Another notable disciple of Wang was Qiu Chuji who founded the famous White Cloud Monastery in Beijing . Qiu Chuji was the founder of the school called Dragon Gate Taoism . Qiu

1155-451: Was on good terms with the Mongol ruler Genghis Khan who put him in charge of religious affairs similar to Mongol-controlled Iran . As a result, the Quanzhen School of Taoism continued to flourish long after Wang's death, right through to the present. Quanzhen practices do not differ radically from other Taoist schools . A Quanzhen ordination certificate dated from 1244 shows that it used

1190-483: Was one of the seven, while she became an important role model for female Taoists. Ma Yu later succeeded Wang as the leader of the Quanzhen School. Qiu Chuji gained the favour of Genghis Khan and founded the White Cloud Monastery in Beijing . Genghis Khan granted tax-exempt status to all Quanzhen schools and placed Qiu in charge of all religions in China. Each of the seven disciples founded his or her own lineage of Quanzhen Taoism. They are as follows: Wang Chongyang

1225-710: Was rebuilt in 1788. It is dedicated to the Jade Emperor , who oversees the Celestial Bureaucracy in Chinese religion . It is three bays long with a gabled roof, and is flanked by drum and bell towers. This hall has the same design as the Yuhuang Hall and was first built in 1456. The monastic community holds a twice-daily office in the Laolü Hall, and it is where ordination certificates are issued. Originally built to enshrine Qiu Chuji , this hall

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