List of Taoists is a list of some historical figures in

Taoism Taoism (, ) or Daoism () refers to either a school of philosophical thought (道家; ''daojia'') or to a religion (道教; ''daojiao''), both of which share ideas and concepts of Chinese origin and emphasize living in harmony with the '' Ta ...

Classical

Laozi Laozi (), also known by numerous other names, was a semilegendary ancient Chinese Taoist philosopher. Laozi ( zh, ) is a Chinese honorific, generally translated as "the Old Master". Traditional accounts say he was born as in the state ...

(601 BCE–531 BCE) (Founder of Philosophical Taoism) *

Wenzi The ''Wenzi'' () is a Taoist classic allegedly written by a disciple of Laozi. The text was widely read and highly revered in the centuries following its creation, and even canonized as ''Tongxuan zhenjing'' () in the year 742 CE. However, soon aft ...

(c. 5th century BCE) * Lie Yukou (Liezi) (c. 400 BCE) * Zhuang Zi (Chuang Tzu) (c. 4th century BCE) *

Guiguzi Guiguzi () is a collection of ancient Chinese texts compiled between the late Warring States period and the end of the Han Dynasty. The work, between 6,000–7,000 Chinese characters, discusses techniques of rhetoric. Although originally associa ...

(c. 2nd century BCE) * Yang Xiong (53 BCE–18) *

Maming Sheng Maming Sheng (馬鳴生, "Master Horse-neigh", fl. c. 100 CE) was a legendary Han dynasty Taoist alchemist and '' Xian'' ("transcendent; immortal"). He was a disciple of the transcendent and ''fangshi'' ("master of methods") Anqi Sheng, who transm ...

(c. 100) *

Yin Changsheng Yin Changsheng (陰長生, "Long-life Yin", fl. 120-210) was a famous Taoist ''Xian'' ("transcendent; immortal") from Xinye who lived during the Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 CE). After serving more than ten years as a disciple of the transcendent M ...

(120–210) *

Wei Boyang Wei Boyang () was a notable Chinese writer and Taoist alchemist of the Eastern Han Dynasty. He is the author of '' The Kinship of the Three'', and is noted as the first person to have documented the chemical composition of gunpowder in 142 AD.Peng ...

(151–221) *

Ge Xuan Ge Xuan (164–244), courtesy name Xiaoxian, was a Chinese Taoist practitioner who lived in the Eastern Han dynasty (25–220) and Three Kingdoms period (220–280) of China. He was the ancestor of Ge Hong and a resident of Danyang Commander ...

(164–244) *

Zhang Jiao Zhang Jue (; died October 184) was a Chinese military general and rebel. He was the leader of the Yellow Turban Rebellion during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. He was said to be a follower of Taoism and a sorcerer. His name is sometimes ...

(d. 184) * Gan Ji (d. 200) *

He Yan He Yan ( 195 – 9 February 249), courtesy name Pingshu, was a Chinese philosopher and politician of the state of Cao Wei in the Three Kingdoms period of China. He was a grandson of He Jin, a general and regent of the Eastern Han dynasty. Hi ...

(195–249) *

Ji Kang Ji Kang (, 223–262), sometimes referred to as Xi Kang, courtesy name Shuye (, "shu" means the 3rd son of the family, "ye" means night), was a Chinese writer, poet, Taoist philosopher, musician and alchemist of the Three Kingdoms period. He w ...

(223–262) *

Zhang Daoling Zhang Ling (; traditionally 34–156), courtesy name Fuhan (), was a Chinese religious leader who lived during the Eastern Han Dynasty credited with founding the Way of the Celestial Masters sect of Taoism, which is also known as the Way of the ...

(Zhang Ling) (c. 2nd century) *

Zhongli Quan Zhongli Quan, courtesy name Jidao, is a Chinese mythological figure and one of the Eight Immortals in the Taoist pantheon. He is also known as Han Zhongli because he was said to have been born in the Han dynasty. In legend, he wields a large ...

(c. 2nd century) (Legendary figure) * Zhang Lu (d. 216) *

Wang Bi Wang Bi (226–249), courtesy name Fusi, was a Chinese philosopher and politician, expertise in Yijing and Xuanxue Life Wang Bi served as a minor bureaucrat in the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period. He was married with a dau ...

(226–249) *

Guo Xiang Guo Xiang (; born 252 AD – died 312 AD) is credited with the first and most important revision of the text known as the ''Zhuangzi'' which, along with the ''Tao Te Ching'', forms the textual and philosophical basis of the Taoist school of ...

(Kuo Hsiang) (252–312) *

Fan Changsheng Fan Changsheng (范長生 fàn chángshēng) (died 318) was a Taoist priest and leader who was instrumental in the establishment of the Cheng Han state during the Sixteen Kingdoms era in China. He led a Taoist community of over one thousand families ...

(d. 318) *

Bao Jing Bao Jing (鮑靚, 260?–330 CE) was a Daoist ''xian'' ("transcendent; 'immortal'") best known for having been a disciple of the transcendent master Yin Changsheng from whom he received the ''Taixuan Yin Shengfu'' (太玄陰生符, Yin Sheng's Ta ...

(d. 330) *

Wei Huacun Wei Huacun (252–334), courtesy name Xianan (賢安), was a founder of the Shangqing School of Taoism. Overview Wei was born in 252 in Jining, Shandong in the former county of Rencheng (任城). Her father, Wei Shu (魏舒), was a governmen ...

(252–334) *

Ge Hong Ge Hong (; b. 283 – d. 343 or 364), courtesy name Zhichuan (稚川), was a Chinese linguist, Taoist practitioner, philosopher, physician, politician, and writer during the Eastern Jin dynasty. He was the author of '' Essays on Chinese Charact ...

(284–364) *

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(c. 3rd century) *

Bao Gu Bao Gu ( Chinese: 鮑姑, 4th-century), was a Chinese Taoist physician. She is the daughter of accomplished Taoist practitioner and governor Bao Jing and the wife of Ge Hong who is the author of ''Baopuzi''. She is also known as one of the famo ...

(c. 4th century) *

Kou Qianzhi Kou Qianzhi () (365–448) was a Taoist reformer who reenvisioned many of the ceremonies and rites of the Way of the Celestial Master form of Taoism and reformulated its theology into a new movement known as The Northern Celestial Masters. His in ...

(365–448) *

Lu Xiujing Lu Xiujing (; 406–477), known by the courtesy name Yuande (元德) and the posthumous name Jianji (簡寂), was a Taoist compiler and ritualist who lived under the Liu Song dynasty. His education was of Confucianist leaning. Nevertheless, he ch ...

(406–477) *

Ge Chaofu Ge Chaofu () is a member of the Chinese Ge family who lived during the 4th and 5th centuries CE. He is best known for writing the Taoist scripture known as ''The Five Talismans'' (''Wufujing'') which forms the basis of the beliefs of the Lingbao Sc ...

(c. 4th or 5th century) * Tao Hongjing (456–536) * Sun Simiao (d. 682) *

Li Bi Li Bi or Li Mi (; 722 – April 1, 789), courtesy name Changyuan (), formally the Marquess of Ye County (), was a Chinese political and military strategist during the Tang dynasty. Li was a trusted advisor and close friend to Emperor Suzong of Ta ...

(722–789) *

Lü Dongbin Lü Dongbin (796 CE – 1016 CE) is a legendary Chinese scholar and poet said to have lived during the Tang Dynasty. Whether he actually lived the two hundred and twenty years cannot be determined. Elevated to the status of an immortal in the ...

(c. 750–) *

Du Guangting Du Guangting (杜光庭; 850–933) was a Taoist priest and fiction writer in imperial China's Tang dynasty and the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. His most famous work was a short novel entitled "The Man with the Curly Beard" (虯髯客� ...

(850–933) *

Chen Tuan Chen Tuan 陳摶 (allegedly October 10, 871 – July 22, 989) was a Chinese Taoist credited with creation of the kung fu system Liuhebafa ("Six Harmonies and Eight Methods"). Along with this internal art, he is also said to be associated with a ...

(871–989) *

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) wa ...

(1113–1170) *

Sun Bu'er Sun Bu'er (Sun Pu-erh, ), one of the Taoist Seven Masters of Quanzhen, lived c. 1119–1182 C.E. in the Shandong province of China. She was a beautiful, intelligent, wealthy woman, married with three children. Her family name was Sun and her f ...

(1119–1182) *

Wang Chuyi Wang Chuyi (1142–1217) was a Taoist master and philosopher. He was one of "The Seven Perfect Ones of the North" or "The Seven Real Taoists", terms used for disciples of Wang Chongyang. He resided in a cave in Mount Kunyu as a Taoist hermit ...

(1142–1217) *

Qiu Chuji Qiu Chuji (10 February 1148– 21 August 1227), courtesy name Tongmi (通密), also known by his Taoist name Master Changchun, was the disciple of Wang Chongyang and a renowned Taoist master. He is known for meeting Genghis Khan near the Hindu ...

(1148–1227) *

Zhang Sanfeng Zhang Sanfeng (also spelled Zhang San Feng, Chang San-Feng) refers to a legendary Chinese Taoist who many believe invented T'ai chi ch'üan. However, other sources point to early versions of Tai Chi predating Sanfeng. He was purported to hav ...

(b. 12th century) (Legendary figure) *

Zhang Sicheng Zhang Sicheng (died ) was the thirty-ninth Taoist Celestial Master of Zhengyi Dao, known for his calligraphy. He presumably flourished during the Yuan Dynasty. Zhang assumed the title of Celestial Master after the death of his father, Zhang Yucai ...

(d. 1344) *

Zhang Guoxiang Zhang Guoxiang () was the fiftieth Celestial Master, who was the head of the Daoist Zhengyi School based at Longhu Shan in China's Jiangxi province. Life Zhang Yongxu, the fiftieth Celestial Master, designated Zhang Guoxiang, his nephew, as suc ...

(d. 1611) *

Liu Yiming Liu Yiming (1734–1821) was a Chinese ophthalmologist, philosopher, and writer. He was one of the main representatives of Taoist Internal Alchemy, or Neidan. He was an 11th-generation master of one of the northern branches of the Longmen 龍� ...

(1734–1821)

Modern

Moy Lin-shin Moy Lin-shin (梅連羨 méi lián xiàn) (1931 in Taishan county, Guangdong – June 6, 1998, Toronto, Ontario, Canada) was a Taoist monk, teacher and T'ai chi instructor who founded The Taoist Tai Chi Society (道教太極拳社), the Fung ...

(1931–1998) * Shi Zhouren (1934–2021) * Wang Liping (born 1949) *

Wu Chengzhen Wu Chengzhen (; born 14 January 1957) is the first Chinese woman to be ordained as a '' fangzhang'' (abbess) in the history of Taoism. Early life Wu Yuanzhen () was born on 14 January 1957, in Xinzhou District, Wuhan, Hubei province, China as th ...

(born 1957)

References

{{Taoism footer

Taoists Taoism (, ) or Daoism () refers to either a school of philosophical thought (道家; ''daojia'') or to a religion (道教; ''daojiao''), both of which share ideas and concepts of Chinese origin and emphasize living in harmony with the ''Tao ...

Classical

Modern

See also

References