-
200
Composing of Manuscripts
The Tao Te Ching, Chuang Tzu, Nei-yeh, Huai Nan Tzu, and Ma-wang-tui manuscripts were composed. This is known as the Classical Period.
2nd century B.C.E -
400
Founding of Taoism
According to some, Taoism formed into a religious system within China sometime around the 4th or 3rd century B.C.E. Some say Lao-tzu is the first Taoist philosopher and the author of the Taoist texts (the Tao-te Ching). He supposedly was the first ever to receive the inspiration of the Tao. -
Period: Jan 1, 1000 to Jan 1, 1300
Forming of Sects
The following Taoist sects formed: The Perfect Great Way, the Teaching of the Great Unity, the Way of Pure Brightness, the Correct Method of the Celestial Heart, the Spiritual Firmament, and the Way of Complete Perfection. (Most of these sects didn’t last much.) These sects produced new scriptures, moral lessons, ritual forms, healing arts, and monastic practices, which many have survived to this day.
11th to 14th century. -
Period: Jan 1, 1300 to
Refining Taoism into Two Sects/ Collection of Sacred Texts
Taoism was refined into the two major sects of Taoism which still are around as of today, these are the Orthodox Unity and Complete Perfection lineages. The Ming Canon, the last official collection of Taoist sacred texts was compiled. Taoist gymnastic and physical cultivation techniques like t’ai-chi ch’üan and ch’i-kung were developed.
14th to 20th century -
Period: to
Weakening of Taoism
Taoism weakened, along with China, because of the introduction of many new foreign ideas and beliefs and its lack of structured beliefs. Also, Taoist religious sects were persecuted in China during the these centuries, and their religious practices were being prevented from being practiced.
19th to 20th century. (Color: Red in the Map Key) -
Period: to
Disruption of Political Events
Taoism was disrupted by a series of political events (including the Communist Revolution in 1949 and the Great Proletariat Cultural Revolution in the 1960s and 1970s) and then reestablished in China.
20th to 21st century. -
Taoist Temples Reopening
In the 1970’s communist parties began to allow the reopening of many temples that had been forced to close.
(Color: Blue in the Map Key) -
Period: to
Taoism Growing
As of this year there were 1,500 Taoist temples in China, but as of today there are 5,000 temples as the religion continues to grow and gain more followers.
(Color: Orange in the Map Key) -
The West and the East
Taoism began its revival and is starting to be considered a universal religion due to its expansion to North America. This was mainly due to relocation diffusion by monks and people interested in the Tao Te Ching (a book by Lao-Tze).
In both the West and in the East, there is considerable interest in practices which, while not "Taoist" word for word, they are often associated with Taoism, like fengshui to taiji quan to acupuncture and herbal medicine.
21st century. (Color: Blue in the Map) -
Taoism Today.
China has about 5.5 million followers (stronger in the countryside, which is farther away from western beliefs/ideas). As of today, Malaysia has about 335,000 followers, the United States has about 21,000 followers, and Canada has about less than 2,000 followers.
(Color: Purple in the Map Key)
