Tao Jia and Taoism

by Cai Wen Yu

Tao Jia was founded by Lao Tse and Zhuang Zi. Several families of Chinese tradition consider Lao Tse to be Tao
Jia himself.
One must not mistake Tao Jia with Tao Jiao. Tao Jiao is the Taoist religion and Tao Jia is the Taoist philosophy.
Today many people practice Tao Jia and Tao Jiao, but can't tell them apart. For instance, people think they are
training Tao Jia Qi Gong, but they are actually training Tao Jiao Qi Gong.
The theory of Tao Jia is the philosophy that leads the body and the mind, and that leads countries and armies.
At the beginning of the Han dynasty, the theory of the Yellow Emperor joined Lao Tse's Tao Jia, being then called
"Huang Lao Zhi Tao" (Huang = Yellow Emperor) (Lao = Lao Tse) (Zhi Tao = Do Tao).
Huang Lao Zhi Tao was the main line of thought that guided the Han dynasty, and it was also very important for
the politics of the time.
During the times of the Han dynasty, Emperor Han Wu Di used only Confucius' philosophy to rule, leaving aside
Lao Tse's concepts.
This attitude had serious consequences, for the philosophers who were aides to the rulers and were members of
Lao Tse's family were replaced by philosophers of Confucius family, and many of them had no other choice but to
become hermits.
Lao Tse's theories were used to help in politics, and when the philosophers saw themselves no longer useful for
the government and became hermits, they began using these theories to achieve longevity, practicing what is
now called Qi Gong, previously known as Tao Yin
In that time, many philosophers became hermits and moved to the mountains. They influenced many people with
their philosophies, but they did not form religious associations.
At the end of Han dynasty, Zhang Ling was the first to found Wu Dou Mi Tao. He used as sacred book of Taoism
the book Lao Tse Wu Qian Wen. He was the first to say that Lao Tse was the founder of the Taoist religion and
he called him Tai Shang Lao Jing.
At the same time, there was a philosopher called Zhang Jiao. He founded Tai Ping Tao, and he also said that Lao
Tse was the founder of his religion.
The result of that was the flourishing of Taoism throughout China. Thus the religion of Taoism came into being.
Later, during Tan Dynasty, the emperors claimed to be descendants of Lao Tse, for they had the same surname.
In human history, politics, philosophy, and religion were always interlocked, but they also always created conflict.
The Taoism we know today is that of Taoist religion, not the Taoist philosophy, just as the Lao Tse we know is the
one described by the religion, and not the philosopher.
To define in how many factions the Taoist religion is divided, one must analyze their content. Once that's done,
one can say it's divided in two factions: a symbolist one and one that seeks longevity.
The symbolist faction has six families:

A1- Zheng Yi Family: its founder was Zheng Ling great-grandson. The principle of its training was eating the air.
A2- Shang Qing Family: its founder was Wei Hua Cun. Its training was fasting and massages.
A3- Ling Pao Family: its founder was Ge Xuan. Its training was the same of Shang Qing family.
A4- Qing Wei Family: it was founded during the Tan dynasty and was very popular in China until the Yuan dynasty.
Its training consisted of developing Dan Tian in a very peculiar way that only that family knew. That was the first
Taoist family to settle at Wu Dang mountains.
A5- Shen Xiao Famly: its founder was Wang Wen Qing. Its training system was feeling the universe. This system
was largely practiced by the lower classes.
A6- Jing Ming Family: its founder was Xu Xung. They were the one who began joining Lao Tse's and Confucius'
philosophies.
The faction that seeks longevity has seven families:
B1- Southern Family: its founder was Zhang Bo Duan. They trained the art of sex to improve their energy and
prolong their life.
B2- Northern Family: its founder was Wang Chong Yang and he has seven great disciples who formed the seven
great families:
B2a. Qiu Chu Ji - Long Men family
B2b. Ma Yu -Yu Shan family
B2c. Tan Chu Duan - Nan Wu family
B2d. Liu Chu Xuan - Sui Shan family
B2e. Wang Chu Yi -Yi Shan family
B2f. Hao Da Tong - Hua Shan family
B2g. Sun Bu Ar - Qing Jing family
These seven masters were the first to join Taoism and Buddhism.
Their main training was Nei Dan, which is very important for the Taoist Qi Gong. (We will explain what is Nei Dan
in another article)
C - Center Family: its founder was Li Tao Chun. Its training also consisted in developing Nei Dan.
D - Western Family: its founder was Li Xi Yue. He was a disciple of Zhang San Feng and L Dong Bin. Its training
consisted of practicing sex to obtain energy and achieve longevity.
E - Eastern Family: its founder was Lu Xi Xing. Its training consisted in developing Nei Dan as well.
F - Lao Hua Shan Family - its founder was Chen Chuan.
G - Zhang San Feng Family - its founder was Zhang Sang Feng himself. Its main training was developing Nei Dan,
but its philosophy was more profound.

The Taoist religion is very different from other religions. Its goal is self-knowledge and the search for longevity,
and notworshiping and making offerings to the gods
Taoism is the theory and practice of many people who seek self-knowledge, and who have connected
themselves with the universe and nature. It managed to survive through oral tradition for thousands of years,
leaving us teachings and the result of enriching experiences.