Taoism: ranks and lineage

IColours

Colour used for this page of the library: Zangqing (deep blue) #2E4E7E. Every colour code is approximate, since most paths name their colours without publishing codes.

Principal colour the colour of the path

Place of worship real sanctuaries

Ritual colours by occasion and season

Mourning and avoided colours

IIRanks

Taoism has no single worldwide central church. The two major surviving schools are Quanzhen and Zhengyi. Quanzhen is monastic. Its clergy live in public monasteries, its center is the White Cloud Temple (Baiyun Guan) in Beijing, and it transmits the Threefold Great Precepts. Zhengyi clergy mostly practice as householders. The school is rooted in Mount Longhu and the line of the Celestial Masters, and entry is by conferral of a register (shoulu). In mainland China, precept transmission and register conferral are organized and certified by the Chinese Taoist Association. In Vietnam, Taoism has no church. Only a few temples remain, such as Quán Thánh and Bích Câu, and some elements have merged into folk belief.

1. 1
   Abbot (Quanzhen) 方丈 · Abbot

   Head of a public monastery, also called the resident head. Must have received the Threefold Great Precepts, keep the precepts strictly and enjoy high virtue and respect.

2. 2
   Prior, popularly called Dangjia (Quanzhen) 監院 · Prior, temple manager

   Manages all the daily affairs of the monastery and is elected by the community. Below the prior are the Three Supervisors, the Five Heads and the Eighteen Chiefs.

3. 3
   Officers (Quanzhen): High Ritual Master, Liturgical Director, Memorial Reader, Guest Master, Inspector, Scripture Master and others 執事 高功 知客 · Temple officers

   The twenty four great officers comprise the Three Supervisors (general manager, lecturer, kitchen master), the Five Heads (meditation, refectory, hall, scripture, alms), the Eighteen Chiefs, together with the High Ritual Master, the Liturgical Director and the Memorial Reader. The High Ritual Master presides over offering and fasting rites.

4. 4
   Ordained priest (Quanzhen) 受戒道士 · Ordained Quanzhen priest

   Has received the Threefold Great Precepts, namely the Initial Perfection, Middle Ultimate and Celestial Immortal precepts, and holds a precept certificate sealed by the Chinese Taoist Association.

5. 5
   Newly capped priest (Quanzhen) 冠巾道士 · Novice priest

   Capping (guanjin) is the rite of entering monastic life. After it the person is a priest and receives a Taoist name. One must be capped for at least two years before applying for the precepts.

6. 1
   Celestial Master (Zhengyi) 天師 · Celestial Master

   Spiritual leader of Zhengyi, descended from the line of Zhang Daoling, with the ancestral seat at Mount Longhu since the Tang dynasty.

7. 2
   Promotion to the highest grade: Shangqing Three Caverns scripture register (Zhengyi) 上清三洞經籙 · Highest register

   The highest register grade under the current regulations on register conferral.

8. 3
   Further promotion: Shangqing Great Cavern scripture register (Zhengyi) 上清大洞經籙 · Great Cavern register

   May be requested after twelve full years at the previous grade.

9. 4
   Additional conferral: Shangqing Three Caverns Five Thunders scripture register (Zhengyi) 上清三洞五雷經籙 · Five Thunders register

   May be requested after eight full years at the previous grade and mastery of the Shangqing scriptures.

10. 5
    Promotion: Taishang Zhengyi Covenant with the Powers scripture register (Zhengyi) 太上正一盟威經籙 · Covenant register

    May be requested after three full years at the initial grade, keeping the precepts, with upright conduct.

11. 6
    Initial conferral: Taishang Three and Five Duke Merit scripture register (Zhengyi) 太上三五都功經籙 · Initial register

    The grade of entry. Only after receiving a register is one a full priest whose ritual documents are valid.

12. 7
    Acolyte who has been initiated (Zhengyi) 道童 · Acolyte

    Initiated but not yet holding a register, and without a Taoist name. One must be initiated for at least two years before applying for a register.

Followers: Believers are called xinshi (faithful), shanxin (good believers) or daoyou (fellow followers of the Way). Monastics are called Taoist priests. Women are called kundao or nüguan (female names not verified against sources in this round).. Zhengyi has register grades for lay people according to their level of knowledge. Lay believers in Vietnam usually have no formal rank.

IIIForms of address

IVVestments by rank

Flat drawings made from the descriptions in the sources, with no people shown. Colours are approximate.

VLine of succession

Taoism has no single head for all schools. Zhengyi passes by blood within the Zhang family of Mount Longhu, from father to son or within the clan, and the holder is called the Celestial Master. Quanzhen passes from master to disciple and through ordination platforms, and each public monastery has its own abbot. In China today the Chinese Taoist Association is the common body for both schools.

Zhengyi: the Zhang Celestial Masters of Mount Longhu

1. 6th century BCE by traditionLaozi (Taishang Laojun, the Supreme Lord Lao) 老子 (太上老君)

   Revered as the founder of the Dao. Zhengyi tradition holds that the deified Laozi revealed the teaching to Zhang Daoling in 142.

2. #1 · 34 to 156Zhang Daoling (Founding Celestial Master) 張道陵

   Founded the Way of the Celestial Masters in Sichuan, first Celestial Master.

3. #2 · 2nd centuryZhang Heng 張衡

   Son of Zhang Daoling, second Celestial Master.

4. #3 · ? to 216Zhang Lu 張魯

   Third Celestial Master, ran a theocratic state in Hanzhong for about thirty years before submitting to Cao Cao in 215.

5. #4 · Three Kingdoms periodZhang Sheng 張盛

   Fourth Celestial Master, by tradition the one who moved the line to Mount Longhu in Jiangxi.

6. #30 · 1092 to 1127Zhang Jixian 張繼先

   Thirtieth Celestial Master, favoured by Emperor Huizong of Song, known for thunder rites.

7. #36 · 1244 to 1291Zhang Zongyan 張宗演

   Thirty sixth Celestial Master, put in charge of Daoism south of the Yangtze by Khubilai Khan in 1276.

8. #42 · 1335 to 1377Zhang Zhengchang 張正常

   Forty second Celestial Master. The Hongwu Emperor replaced the title Celestial Master with Perfected, though Daoists kept the old name.

9. #43 · 1361 to 1410Zhang Yuchu 張宇初

   Forty third Celestial Master, charged with editing the Ming Daoist Canon.

10. #50 · ? to 1611Zhang Guoxiang 張國祥

    Fiftieth Celestial Master, compiled the Wanli supplement to the Daoist Canon in 1607.

11. #62 · 1862 to 1924Zhang Yuanxu 張元旭

    Sixty second Celestial Master, active in organising Daoists in the Republican era.

12. #63 · 1904 to 1969Zhang Enpu 張恩溥

    Sixty third Celestial Master, moved to Taiwan in 1949. The last Celestial Master whose succession is not disputed.

13. #64 · 1930 to 2008, succeeded 1971Zhang Yuanxian 張源先

    Nephew of Zhang Enpu, recognised in Taiwan as sixty fourth Celestial Master in 1971. His death in 2008 opened a succession dispute.

14. #65 · heads the Celestial Master Mansion at Mount Longhu, still active in 2024Zhang Jintao (mainland side) 張金濤

    Zhang descendant heading the Celestial Master Mansion at Mount Longhu, former vice president of the China Taoist Association. Often called the 65th Celestial Master on the mainland, though no state title is conferred.

15. #65 · since 2008Zhang Yijiang and other claimants in Taiwan 張意將

    In Taiwan several Zhang relatives claim to be the 65th Celestial Master, among them Zhang Yijiang and Zhang Jiexiang. None is recognised by all parties.

Quanzhen: the founder, the Seven Perfected and the Longmen line at the White Cloud Temple

1. 1113 to 1170Wang Chongyang 王重陽 (王嚞)

   Founded Quanzhen Daoism in Shandong in 1167, venerated as its patriarch.

2. 1123 to 1184Ma Yu (Danyangzi) 馬鈺

   First disciple, second head of Quanzhen, founder of the Yuxian branch. One of the Seven Perfected.

3. 1123 to 1185Tan Chuduan 譚處端

   Third head, founder of the Nanwu branch. One of the Seven Perfected.

4. 1147 to 1203Liu Chuxuan 劉處玄

   Fourth head, founder of the Suishan branch. One of the Seven Perfected.

5. 1148 to 1227Qiu Chuji (Perfected Changchun) 丘處機

   Fifth head, founder of the Longmen branch. Met Chinggis Khan in 1222, then lived and died at the Changchun Palace, today the White Cloud Temple.

6. 1142 to 1217, 1140 to 1212, 1119 to 1183Wang Chuyi, Hao Datong, Sun Bu'er 王處一 郝大通 孫不二

   The other three of the Seven Perfected, founders of the Yushan, Huashan and Qingjing branches. Sun Bu'er, a woman, was Ma Yu's wife.

7. #7 · ? to 1680Wang Changyue 王常月

   Seventh generation Longmen master and abbot of the White Cloud Temple, held public ordinations from 1656 and revived Quanzhen under the Qing.

8. abbot since 11 September 2021Meng Zhiling 孟至嶺

   Current abbot of the White Cloud Temple in Beijing, installed 11 September 2021, vice president of the China Taoist Association.

Presidents of the China Taoist Association

1. #1 · 1st term, 1957 to 1958Yue Chongdai 岳崇岱

   First president when the association was founded in 1957.

2. #2 · 1880 to 1969, 2nd term from 1961Chen Yingning 陳攖寧

   Scholar of inner alchemy, second president. The association was inactive through the Cultural Revolution.

3. #3 · 3rd and 4th terms, 1980 to 1992Li Yuhang 黎遇航

   President for two terms after the association was restored.

4. #5 · 5th term, 1992 to 1998Fu Yuantian 傅圓天

   Fifth term president.

5. #6 · 6th term, 1998 to 2005Min Zhiting 閔智亭

   Sixth term president, a Quanzhen priest.

6. #7 · 7th and 8th terms, 2005 to 2015Ren Farong 任法融

   President for two terms, a Quanzhen priest of Louguantai.

7. #9 · in office since 2015, reelected December 2025Li Guangfu 李光富

   Current president, from Wudang Mountain, re-elected for the eleventh term in December 2025.

Daoism in Vietnam: milestones and temples

1. 1011Thái Thanh Palace in Thăng Long 太清宮

   Emperor Lý Thái Tổ built the Thai Thanh Daoist palace next to Vạn Tuế pagoda.

2. 1016Lý Thái Tổ ordains monks and Taoist priests 李太祖

   Ordained over a thousand monks and Daoist priests in the capital.

3. 1027Taoist priest Trần Tuệ Long 陳慧龍

   Daoist of the Nam Đế temple, among the earliest named Vietnamese Daoists.

4. 1031Taoist priest Trịnh Trí Không 鄭智空

   Petitioned for Daoist priests to receive official registers.

5. 1195Three Teachings examination 三教科

   The Lý court held an examination on Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism.

6. came to Vietnam in 1302Xu Zongdao (Hứa Tông Đạo) 許宗道

   Chinese Daoist who came to Đại Việt under the Trần and spread ritual practice.

7. built under the Lý, bronze statue cast in 1677Quán Thánh Temple (Trấn Vũ Quán), Hanoi 鎮武觀 真武觀

   Daoist temple to the Dark Warrior guarding northern Thăng Long, with a 1677 bronze statue.

8. listed as a monument in 1962Today: Quán Thánh Temple is a national monument

   Vietnam has no state recognised Daoist organisation and no public priestly lineage. Quán Thánh is a national monument since 1962. No source names its current keeper.

A venerated figure: the library shows no portrait, only the name inside a round seal.

VIOrdination and transmission

Quanzhen transmits through precepts. A person leaves home, receives the capping rite, then receives the Threefold Great Precepts at an ordination platform presided over by the Chinese Taoist Association and is given a precept certificate. Zhengyi transmits through registers. A person is initiated, then receives registers in five grades, with a set number of years between grades. Both schools require a transmitting master, taking refuge in the Three Treasures of Taoism (the Dao, the Scriptures, the Master) and passing through the corresponding rite.

1. Quanzhen 1: Capping (entering the Way)Requirement: Leaving home, with a transmitting masterRite: The capping rite. The hair is tied up and capped and a Taoist name is given. From this point the person is a priest.
2. Quanzhen 2: Receiving the Threefold Great PreceptsRequirement: At least two years since capping, with a certificate of religious personnel. Those capped for thirty full years and aged seventy five or over may apply for expedient precepts.Rite: The ordination platform lasts at least twenty eight days and covers the Initial Perfection, Middle Ultimate and Celestial Immortal precepts. Officers include the Precept Master, the Head Seat, the Witness, the Precept Supervisor, the Sponsor, the Ritual Instructor and others. Ordinands receive a precept certificate bearing the ordination seal.
3. Quanzhen 3: Becoming abbotRequirement: Has received the Threefold Great Precepts, high virtue, strict observance of the preceptsRite: no source found describing the installation rite of an abbot
4. Zhengyi 1: InitiationRequirement: Passing the master's examination on liturgy and scripturesRite: The initiation rite. Before receiving a register the person is only an acolyte without a Taoist name.
5. Zhengyi 2: Initial conferral of the Duke Merit registerRequirement: At least two years since initiation, proper Taoist attireRite: The register platform is presided over by the Chinese Taoist Association and organized by the conferring temple. It has three great masters (Supervisor of Ordination, Transmitting Master, Sponsor) and six great masters guarding the platform.
6. Zhengyi 3: Promotion, additional conferral, further promotion, highest promotionRequirement: Three years after the initial grade to the Covenant register, eight years after that to the Five Thunders register, twelve years after that to the Great Cavern register. Without merit at the end of the term there is no promotion. Outstanding merit allows skipping a grade.Rite: Must be reviewed by the Association and the great masters of the register platform.

VIIWhere the sources disagree

• The seven color scheme of ritual robes (yellow, purple, red, blue, green, black, white) appears only on popular websites and Chinese online media. No document from the Chinese Taoist Association prescribing colors by rank has been found. It should be treated as custom, not rule.
• Wikipedia says the red robe belongs to middle rank priests and the crimson robe to the highest rank. Chinese sources instead rank yellow first, purple second and red third. The two rankings do not match.
• Wikipedia calls the deluo indigo. The sqs373 source calls it blue. Zangqing 藏青 and indigo 靛藍 are two different color names, and the Teacher needs to choose one.
• The Quanzhen and Zhengyi hierarchies run on two different axes. Quanzhen ranks by monastic office and precepts, Zhengyi by register grade. The grade numbers in this file are given separately for each school and should not be added together.
• No source found in this round to establish a current Celestial Master recognized by all parties. The Celestial Master should be given as a title, without a personal name.
• The temple colors in mau-that.json take Wong Tai Sin Temple in Hong Kong as the model. It is managed by Sik Sik Yuen and honors Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism together, so it does not fully represent a Quanzhen or Zhengyi temple. No source found describing the colors of the White Cloud Temple or Mount Longhu.
• Quán Thánh Temple in Hanoi was Buddhicized during the Later Lê restoration and gained Buddha statues. The roof tile color of Quán Thánh is described only in text. The hex code is the nearest color name and has not been measured.
• The old color in mau-sac.json (zangqing #2e4e7e) matches the new findings. The old note saying the precept robe is yellow also matches sqs373.
• The sixty fifth Celestial Master has been disputed since 2008. On the mainland, Zhang Jintao heads the Celestial Master Mansion at Mount Longhu and is called the sixty fifth Celestial Master by the press, but the Chinese state does not confer the title. In Taiwan there are at least Zhang Yijiang, Zhang Jiexiang, Zhang Daozhen (claiming the sixty fourth generation) and Zhang Meiliang (claiming to be a child of the sixty third Celestial Master). The page lists both sides and does not choose.
• Zhang Jintao is not on the list of vice presidents of the eleventh council (December 2025) of the Chinese Taoist Association. It has not been verified whether he still heads the Celestial Master Mansion as of September 2026. The latest source is from March 2024.
• The list of sixty four Celestial Masters follows the common table (the Han Celestial Master family records, Chinese Wikipedia). Birth and death years for many generations before the Song are uncertain and left blank. Some sources give Zhang Enpu's birth year as 1904, others as 1913.
• Vietnamese sources disagree on the year Trấn Vũ Quán was renamed under the Nguyễn (1823, 1840, 1842).
• Images: the Wikimedia Commons file pages could not be opened (the domain was blocked and only the cache could be read), so licenses could not be checked. All anh fields are null. Manual checking is needed before using images of Li Guangfu, Meng Zhiling, Zhang Enpu and Zhang Yuanxian.

VIIISources

?Quick Questions

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