In the early Han Dynasty, Huang Lao did nothing to rule
In order to learn the lessons of the death of Qin, the early Han monarchs advocated the Huang Lao ideology of purity and inaction. Lu Jia advocated governing the country with Huang Lao's thought, and proposed in his "New Language" that sages should be combined with "Tao", which was praised by Liu Bang. Zhang Liang and Cao Shen used Huang Lao's learning as a strategy for governing the country, and "Xiao Gui Cao Sui" and "Zhang Lianggong Cheng Retired" were rumored to be beautiful talks. Emperor Wen of Han's good Laozi words ordered all the ministers to learn Lao and sent envoys to the famous Taoist figure Heshang Gong to ask for advice on the righteousness of "Dao". Empress Dowager Dou, who was obsessed with the study of Huang Lao, had an influence on Emperor Jing of Han and Emperor Wudi of Han, resulting in the future "Reign of Wenjing". Liu An, the grandson of Liu Bang and the king of Huainan, summoned his disciples to compile "Huainanzi", a collection of Huang Lao's thoughts. Huang Laozhi's study became the spiritual pillar of society and politics in the early Han Dynasty, which absorbed the Confucian concept of benevolence and righteousness, and combined with the policies of light and thin, simple thrift, and rest with the people, which met the social needs of the time.
Zhang Liang, a famous minister of the Western Han Dynasty
Cao Shen, a famous minister of the Western Han Dynasty
Wei-Jin metaphysical style
During the Wei and Jin dynasties, "Zhou Yi", "Laozi" and "Zhuangzi" were known as the "Three Xuan", and the thinker Wang Bi proposed "taking nothing as the foundation", and the rule of wuwei became the highest principle that should be followed in political life. Ji Kang proposed that "the more famous the religion is left to nature", he believed that the famous religion in society did not conform to the natural nature of man, and should go beyond the shackles of the famous religion and obey the natural nature of man, and opposed the usurpation of the Cao Wei regime by the Sima clique in the name of safeguarding the famous religion. The scholars in society concentrate on the "three mysteries" to eliminate the sense of impermanence brought about by turmoil and seek inner balance. The Cao Wei regime also needed to purify the Huang Lao ideology, and after Cao Pi retired from Guangling, he said: "The third generation is a general, and the Taoists are jealous", and prepared to practice recuperation. Emperor Wudi of Liang of the Southern Dynasty believed in Buddhism, personally lectured on "Laozi", and often consulted Tao Hongjing, a Taoist priest known as the "Prime Minister of the Mountain", on military affairs.
After Cao Pi retired from Guangling, he said: "The third generation is a general, and the Taoists are jealous", so he was ready to recuperate.
Wang Bi, a thinker during the Wei and Jin dynasties
Ji Kang, one of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Forest
Lao Tzu worshiped in the early Tang Dynasty
Emperor Gaozu of Tang posthumously recognized Laozi, also surnamed Li, as the distant ancestor of the Li and Tang dynasties, and decreed the priority of Taoism among the three religions. Emperor Taizong of Tang implemented the policy of appeasing the people with tranquility, the self-cultivation method of suppressing emotions and desires, and the art of humble and accepting people, laying the foundation for the "rule of chastity" to prosper. Emperor Xuanzong of Tang was a good Taoist and personally translated the Tao Te Ching, and established the Chongxuan School, which included Laozi, Zhuangzi, Liezi and Wenzi in the examination content, called "Daoju". The monarchs of the Tang Dynasty revered the Buddha, and Tang Wuzong once wantonly destroyed the Buddha. Tang Xianzong, Tang Muzong, Tang Jingzong, Tang Wuzong, and the famous ministers wanted to live forever, but they accidentally took Taoist pills and died early.
In the Tang Dynasty, Taoist priests were often added to the rank of Jin Jue, and Laozi's title continued to rise, and Laozi and Zhuangzi became the two major Taoist classics respectively - the Taode True Classic and the Nanhua True Classic. The "All Daojing Yinyi" and the first Daozang in history, the "Three Caves Qionggang", were also compiled during the Tang Dynasty, which enhanced the status of Taoist classics. Monarchs often had the rules of Taoist law, and there was a custom of people in the inner court as female Taoists. It can be seen that the monarchs of the Tang Dynasty used the deification of Laozi to consolidate imperial power, and also used Taoist thought to satisfy personal spiritual pursuits.
Statue of the old monarch of the Tang Dynasty
Song Yuanming royal family Chongdao
During the Song Dynasty, Emperor Taizu of Song attached great importance to the Taoist idea of purity and inaction, and was very interested in his Taoist view of imperial power and blessing and disaster elimination, and twice received the Huashan Taoist priest Chen Lu. Emperor Zhenzong of Song set up another sect god Zhao Xuanlang as the ancestor of Zhao and Song. Emperor Huizong of Song claimed to be the emperor of the Daojun, combining divine power and monarchical power, hiding in the deep palace, fasting daily affairs, refining pills and eating.
The master of the Quanzhen Dao of the Jin Dynasty, Qiu Shuji, once advised Genghis Khan to be loyal and benevolent, not to be murderous, and to be pure in heart. In the Ming Dynasty, the famous Taoist figure Zhou Ying participated in the uprising of Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty. Ming Shizong believed in the art of immortal immortality, and died because of taking pills. In the Qing Dynasty, Kangxi issued the book "Laozi" to make the ministers learn his political strategy. Yongzheng personally wrote the preface to the orthodox Taoist Zhang Ziyang's "Enlightenment".