Quanzhen clerics are strict, celibate ascetics living in remote temples, dedicating their lives to Neidan (internal alchemy) to optimize their biological and spiritual limits.
Zhengyi clerics are more like "magical network admins." They live secular lives among the masses. They can marry, have kids, and eat meat. Instead of isolating themselves, they use complex rituals, talismans, and spells to "hack" the external world, solving real-life problems for their local communities.
So Mount Wudang mostly belongs to the Quanzhen school. Today, it is dominated by the Longmen lineage, a major sect affiliated with Quanzhen. However, due to its history as a royally patronized site for emperors, it also retains strong traces of Zhengyi practices. Ultimately, there isn't a rigid conflict between Daoist sects; the traditions are highly fluid and complementary, making Wudang a unique blend of both.
Got it. I wondered, because now there's that American Wudang Jake and various others combined into what's turned into an almost Disneyland-esque tourist operation. It's still very cool, but strict, celibate ascetics doesn't describe it.
People like Wudang Jake and the practitioners running the tourist operations are rarely formal, ordained monks. They are ‘Lay/Secular Disciples’ (俗家弟子). Daoism is a highly inclusive, almost 'open-source' religion.No need to take strict vows of celibacy to access its. People can just learn its physical applications, like Tai Chi, while living a normal, secular life, getting married, and running a business.
Yeah, describing it that way isn't fair. I was being rude. There are several folks there that seem to be formally ordained, but one has to hang around a bit to see them. I actually met and had tea with Jake. Nice guy.
The degree to which the entire mountain has been tourist-icized is remarkable. OTOH, it's revenue for the locals, who didn't have any prior to development. Everyone's gotta make bank somehow.
Great article JingYu, explaining the differences between Quanzhen and Zhengyi.
What an interesting man!
Where does Wudangshan plug into the overview of Daoism in China?
Quanzhen clerics are strict, celibate ascetics living in remote temples, dedicating their lives to Neidan (internal alchemy) to optimize their biological and spiritual limits.
Zhengyi clerics are more like "magical network admins." They live secular lives among the masses. They can marry, have kids, and eat meat. Instead of isolating themselves, they use complex rituals, talismans, and spells to "hack" the external world, solving real-life problems for their local communities.
So Mount Wudang mostly belongs to the Quanzhen school. Today, it is dominated by the Longmen lineage, a major sect affiliated with Quanzhen. However, due to its history as a royally patronized site for emperors, it also retains strong traces of Zhengyi practices. Ultimately, there isn't a rigid conflict between Daoist sects; the traditions are highly fluid and complementary, making Wudang a unique blend of both.
Got it. I wondered, because now there's that American Wudang Jake and various others combined into what's turned into an almost Disneyland-esque tourist operation. It's still very cool, but strict, celibate ascetics doesn't describe it.
Haha, 'Disneyland-esque'
People like Wudang Jake and the practitioners running the tourist operations are rarely formal, ordained monks. They are ‘Lay/Secular Disciples’ (俗家弟子). Daoism is a highly inclusive, almost 'open-source' religion.No need to take strict vows of celibacy to access its. People can just learn its physical applications, like Tai Chi, while living a normal, secular life, getting married, and running a business.
Yeah, describing it that way isn't fair. I was being rude. There are several folks there that seem to be formally ordained, but one has to hang around a bit to see them. I actually met and had tea with Jake. Nice guy.
The degree to which the entire mountain has been tourist-icized is remarkable. OTOH, it's revenue for the locals, who didn't have any prior to development. Everyone's gotta make bank somehow.
This is a great article! Thank you