Quanzhen School

The Quanzhen Daoism (Chinese全真道, Pinyin Quanzhen dào, also全真教Chinese, Pinyin Quanzhen jiao ) is a school of Daoism. Quanzhen is translated as perfect reality or perfect integrity. Quanzhen is also called the School of the Golden Flower. The founder of this school was Wang Zhe (1112-1170), who was also called Wang Chongyang. Seven students Wang Zhe acquired later a great importance in Quanzhen Daoism.

The school was founded in the 12th century and still exists today in China as a monastic order. The teachings of this school belong to Neidan, the inner alchemy.

Quanzhen Daoism is a school of Taoism, which represents a syncretism of Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism. Confucian classics and Buddhist sutras were read and the lines of the Chan emphasis was placed on Daoist meditation and Buddhist virtues.

Unlike other Taoist schools, such as the Lingbao school, it goes in the Quanzhen not the unveiling of new writings or the threading of liturgical rituals, but it is a way of life that is focused on freedom, purity and tranquility of mind and body. The attainment of immortality no longer plays a role, as in other Daoist schools, but it comes to internalization and spirituality. The Quanzhen School was the first school of Taoism, celibate monks living in the monasteries in. The poverty and asceticism of the monks stood in stark contrast to wealth and corruption of the former Taoists.

Bookish knowledge is considered for this path as insignificant, and the ultimate goal of this school is to be the view of their being Buddha. This can happen as in Chan Buddhism by a sudden realization ( satori see).

Quanzhen Taoists often possessed a high literary education and came from upper social positions. They practiced from various professions and was partially as a specialist ( Daoshi ) for Daoist rituals. The rituals were also performed at the imperial court, came from the Zhengyi and celestial Master Daoism.