The Sui, Tang, Five Dynasties and the Northern Song Dynasty were the prosperous periods of Taoism. Emperor Wendi of Sui Dynasty carried out the policy of paying equal attention to Buddhism and Taoism, used the Taoist term "Kaihuang" as the year of founding the country, reused Taoists and built temples. Emperor Wendi of the Sui Dynasty believed in Fu's divination, and Taoist Zhang Bin, Jiao Zishun, etc. gave him a secret message to win public opinion for Emperor Wen of Sui to proclaim himself emperor. Emperor Yangdi Yang Guang followed this policy, respected Taoist priests such as Wang Yuanzhi and Daomao Kong, fantasized about immortality, and was infatuated with elixir.
With the reunification of the country, Shangqing Maoshan Sect spread to the north and combined with Louguan Road; In the belief of immortals, Taoism in Sui Dynasty regarded the deity as the highest god. In Taoist magic, Fu-fu was the main one, and then alchemy was refined. Su Yuanlang wrote Zhi Dao Pian, and explored and explained the theory of Inner alchemy from Shentongqi.
The Sui Dynasty was a turning point in the development of Taoism, and the rulers of the Sui Dynasty used Taoism to serve it, setting an example for the rulers of the Tang Dynasty to worship Taoism. Su Xuanlang initiated Inner alchemy, which was the beginning of the rapid development of Inner alchemy in Tang Dynasty. Taoism in Sui Dynasty was dominated by Maoshan Sect and merged with the North and South Taoism, which laid the foundation for the mainstream pattern of Taoism in Tang Dynasty. At the end of Sui Dynasty, many Taoist priests took refuge under the command of Li Yuan and his son, and fabricated the myth that Li was king, such as Qi Hui, a Taoist priest of Louguan School, and Wang Yuanzhi, the leader of Maoshan Sect. After Tang Gaozu Li Yuan proclaimed himself emperor, he formulated a policy of worshipping Taoism as the royal religion: he respected Laozi as his ancestor, declared himself a "descendant of the immortals", indicating that "Taoism is big and Buddhism is small", and promulgated the Imperial edict, which stipulated that "the old should be the first, the second hole should be the second, and the last religion should be interpreted".
Li Shimin, Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty, reiterated that "my lineage begins at the foot of the column" and once again decreed that Taoist priests and women should be crowned above monks and nuns. Li Shimin adopted the policy of governing the country by quietism of Taoism and governing by hanging over the arch, which achieved the prosperity of "the rule of Zhenguan"; In his later years, Li Shimin was also keen on the recipe of longevity, and took a large number of pills.
Li Zhi, Tang Gaozong, continued to pursue the policy of worshipping Taoism: honoring Laozi as "Emperor Taishang Xuanyuan", which was the first to confer titles on Laozi; Respecting Laozi as the classic for princes and bureaucrats to learn, it is stipulated as the content of the imperial examination; Improve the status of Taoist priests and build Taoist temples in various places. Wu Zetian relied on Buddhists to create public opinion for the "Wu Zhou Revolution", thus weakening Taoism. Tang Zhongzong and Tang Ruizong resumed the policy of worshipping Taoism.
Li Longji, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, initiated the "Kaiyuan Shengshi", and Taoism reached its peak under its impetus, and the wind of worshipping Taoism in society developed to the extreme. Xuanzong's policy of worshiping Taoism in Tang Dynasty includes: the mythical ancestor "Emperor Xuanyuan" set off a cult; Improve the status of Taoist priests and make them enjoy royal privileges; To stipulate the system of Tao Ju, and take the "Four-Zi True Classics" as the starting point; It is stipulated that the Tao Te Ching is the first of all classics, and it is personally annotated and promulgated. Actively collecting and sorting out Taoist scriptures and compiling the first Taoist collection in history, Kaiyuan Taoist Collection; Vigorously advocate fasting, make Taoist music and make Taoist festivals.
In the prosperous Tang Dynasty, a great number of Taoists came forth, who greatly promoted the construction of Taoism from the aspects of philosophy, alchemy and fasting.
Metaphysics, which annotated Tao Te Ching with the idea of emphasizing metaphysics, was greatly developed in the Tang Dynasty, with Cheng Xuanying, Li Rong and Wang Xuan Lan as the representatives. Cheng Xuanying's "emphasizing metaphysics" includes many contents such as cosmology, politics and life theory, and it is a combination of Taoism, Laozi and Zhuangzi philosophy, Buddhism and Confucianism, which has a strong speculative color. Li Rong's heavy metaphysics is full of the spirit of the middle way, and he thinks that "Tao" is both physical and practical. Under the guidance of "Tao Style Theory", Wang Xuan expounded the issues of "Tao and things", "being or not" and "mind", and put forward the theory of cultivating immortals.
Sima Chengzhen, who wrote The Theory of Sitting and Forgetting, and The Hidden Son of Heaven, put forward seven levels of monasticism, namely, respecting faith, breaking the fate, accepting the heart, simplifying things, realizing the truth, and attaining the Tao, and five cultivation methods, namely, fasting, settling down, thinking, sitting and forgetting, and resolving the mind. His cultivation methods of "sitting and forgetting with peace of mind" and "calming down and getting rid of desires". In addition, Meng Arrangement, Zhang Wanfu, Li Zhi, Wu Yun and others also made contributions to Taoism, cultivation and fasting.
Taoist scholars have made great contributions to science and technology. Zhang Bin's imperial calendar, Fu Renjun's Wuyin Yuan calendar and Li Chunfeng's Kirin calendar promoted the development of astronomical calendars. Sun Simiao's Qian Jin Yao Fang has made great contributions to medicine and health preservation. Zhang Guolao's nine-turn alchemy promoted the development of alchemy and chemistry.
At this time, Maoshan Sect and Louguan Sect were the most prosperous Taoist sects, which were highly respected by the royal family in Li Tang. Tianshi Taoism also began to move in the society, and various Taoist sects showed the characteristics of mutual integration in theoretical teachings and fasting ceremonies. The Anshi Rebellion led to the decline of the Tang Dynasty, which also destroyed Taoism. However, the rulers in the middle and late Tang Dynasty continued to follow the policy of "respecting ancestors" and "respecting the original". Tang Suzong, Tang Daizong and Tang Dezong believed in the art of praying for prayer, while Tang Xianzong, Tang Muzong, Tang Jingzong, Tang Wenzong, Tang Wuzong, Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty and Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty believed in immortal prescriptions. Among them, Tang Wuzong was the most prominent emperor in the middle and late Tang Dynasty who worshiped Taoism: he took measures to worship the holy ancestor Laozi; Pro-recipient ofuda, favorite Taoist; Build a palace view, and take pills for alchemy; In addition, he wrote a letter to abolish Buddhism in Huichang (841-846) to solve the threat of financial expansion of temples.
During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, Taoism suffered even more because of repeated military disasters. However, many emperors still followed the trend of worshipping Taoism in the Tang Dynasty, such as Li Siyuan, Shi Jingtang, the great-grandfather of the late Jin Dynasty, Chai Rong, the late Zhou Shizong, Wang Lin, the king of Fujian, and Wang Jian and his son in the former Shu Dynasty. Among them, Chai Rong, the post-Zhou Shizong, worshiped Taoism most prominently. He deified his own throne and treated Gao Dao Chen Tuan with courtesy. At the same time, due to various disadvantages of Buddhism, especially financial problems, he took measures to destroy Buddha statues in Buddhist temples on a large scale and limit the development of Buddhism.
In the middle and late Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, some famous Taoist scholars devoted themselves to the research and construction of Taoist myths, theories, Daoism and fasting, and made unremitting efforts to safeguard Taoist beliefs.
Du Guangting has made great contributions to the construction of Taoism: systematizing all kinds of myths and legends of Laozi in the past, making Laozi a trinity of Taoism, God and man; This paper summarizes the study of Tao Te Ching in past dynasties. Propagandize Taoism from the aspects of the existence of immortals, the multiple ways of immortals and the worship of Taoism in previous dynasties; Compilation of "A Tale of the Famous Mountain of Yuedu in a Blessed Land in the Cave", expounding the Taoist Fairyland; Revise the ritual of fasting, and make Taoist ritual of fasting mature.
in the middle and late Tang dynasty, the alchemy reached its peak and accumulated rich chemical knowledge. alchemy spread to Europe through Arabia and became a pioneer of modern chemistry.
Inner alchemy in the Tang Dynasty rose gradually and presented a prosperous scene. The representatives who contributed to the transition from outer alchemy to inner alchemy were Cui Xifan, Peng Xiao, Zhong Liquan and Lv Dongbin. Cui Xifan's "Medicine Mirror" puts forward that only by cultivating the spirit can you get carried away and return to a long life. Peng Xiao put forward that "returning the golden liquid to Dan is the way to soar in the sky", and redefined the concept in Shentongqi with the theory of inner alchemy; Zhong Liquan's and Lv Dongbin's Inner-alchemy thoughts are embodied in Zhong Lu's Preaching Collection, which systematically and completely discusses the Inner-alchemy theory on the basis of the idea of harmony between man and nature and the theory of yin and yang and five elements as the core.
Other famous Taoist priests are Tan Qiao, Luo Yin and Lvqiu Fangyuan. The rulers of the Northern Song Dynasty inherited the policy of worshipping Taoism in the Tang Dynasty, and Song Taizu Zhao Kuangyin and Song Taizong Zhao Guangyi were the founders of this policy. When he seized the power of the Later Zhou Dynasty, Zhao Kuangyin used Huashan Gaodao Chen Tuan and others to win over the masses for him. After he proclaimed himself, he went to the door to ask Taoist priests Liu Ruozhuo and Su Chengyin for advice on "the art of managing the world and keeping in good health". Zhao Guangyi advocated the politics of Huang Lao in quietism, and was very interested in Huangatractylodes macrocephala and health preservation, constantly building temples and giving economic preferential treatment.
During Song Zhenzong's period, the social and economic development was prosperous, and the alliance of Chanyuan stimulated him to attach importance to local religions. Song Zhenzong spent a lot of energy to foster Taoism: advocating the arrival of gods and the decline of heavenly books, respecting Zhao Xuanlang as a "holy ancestor" and worshipping Mount Tai; Building a large number of temples and setting them up; Formulate festivals and worship music, and compile "Tiangong Treasure" and "Yunqi Seven Notes"; Obsessed with immortal prescriptions, external elixir and health preservation. Since then, Song Renzong, Song Yingzong, Song Shenzong and Song Zhezong have inherited Song Zhenzong's policy of worshipping Taoism.
Zhao Ji, Song Huizong, set off the second high tide of worshipping Taoism in the Northern Song Dynasty, and implemented a series of measures to worship Taoism: spreading the myth of "the God descended" and calling himself "the founder of Taoism and the emperor"; Build Taoist temples and build Shenxiao palaces in various places; Enthusiastic about adding titles to immortal figures, such as naming the Jade Emperor as "Tai Shang Kai Tian holds the imperial calendar and contains the true body of Tao Hao Tian Yu Huang God", Guan Yu as "King Wu An" and Mazu as "Goddess of the South China Sea"; Imitate the rank of imperial management products, set up Taoist ranks and posts, and promote the Daoism of Fuofu, making friends with Taoist priests such as Zhang Jixian, Lin Lingsu and Wenqing Wang; Advocate the study of Taoist classics, set up a Taoist system and a doctor of Taoism, and list Neijing, Laozi and Zhuangzi as classics for study; Re-edit the history of Taoism and edit Zhenghe Wanshou Daozang. In addition, Huizong also implemented the policy of respecting Taoism and belittling Buddhism.
During the Northern Song Dynasty, the Daoist Fuzuo Daoism flourished, and the most influential ones were the "Three Mountain Fuzuo" in Maoshan, Longhushan and Gezaoshan. Among them, the Maoshan Sect was the strongest, well-organized, numerous and closely related to the rulers. The relationship between the Dragon and Tiger Sect of Zhang Tianshi and the rulers was gradually strengthened, which laid the foundation for the rise of Zhengyi. New schools of Taoism have emerged one after another. One is the Shenxiao School represented by Lin Lingsu, and the other is the Tianxin School represented by Rao Dongtian. The belief in Xu Zhenjun in Nanchang is also on the rise.
The external alchemy, which reached its peak in the Tang Dynasty, gradually declined, while the internal alchemy became popular through the development of Chen Tuan and Zhang Boduan, and became the mainstream of Taoist cultivation and the core of Taoist theory.
Chen Tuan's thought mainly includes three parts: Yi-ology, Lao-ology and Neidan, which integrates the Taoist thoughts of Huang and Lao, Taoist cultivation methods, Confucian cultivation and Buddhist Zen. His Yi-ology works include He Tu, Luo Shu, Wuji Tu, and Neidan's works include Zhi Xuan Pian and Poem of Returning to Dan in the Home. The main point of Chen Tuan's Dan method is that by cultivating the spirit, the day of Xiao Zhou and the day of Da Zhou can be realized, and then "refining qi", "refining qi", "refining spirit to be empty" and "returning to infinity" can be achieved in turn, and then the avenue of Jin Dan can be refined. His Yi-ology thought was absorbed by Zhou Dunyi, Shao Yong and Zhang Zai, which promoted the rise of Neo-Confucianism in Song and Ming Dynasties.
Zhang Boduan's Wu Zhen pian takes its meaning from Tao Te Ching and Can Tong Qi, sums up the alchemy before the Northern Song Dynasty in the form of poems, inherits Zhong Liquan and Lv Dongbin's theories of "harmony of Taoism and Buddhism" and "cultivation of life", and is characterized by "life first, then sex", and further develops the thought of Chen Tuan's "Infinite Map" and expounds.
In addition, Zhang Wumeng, Chen Jingyuan and Jia Shanxiang made contributions to the development of Taoism and scientific instruments.