- Kou Qianzhi
Kou Qianzhi (zh-cpw|p=Kòu Qiānzhī|c=寇謙之|w=K'ou Ch'ien-chih;
365 -448 ) was aTaoist reformer who reenvisioned many of the ceremonies and rites of theWay of the Celestial Master form of Taoism and reformulated its theology into a new movement known asThe Northern Celestial Masters . His influence was such that he hadTaoism established as the official state religion of theNorthern Wei dynasty (386 –534 ); this act, however, embroiled Taoism in long and often bloody factional political struggles.Kou apparently began his career as a Taoist physician and hygienist. But in 415 he had a vision: a spirit appeared before him and told him that since the death of
Zhang Daoling , the great founder of the Way of the Celestial Master ("Tradition of the Celestial Master of the Mighty Commonwealth of Orthodox Oneness") sect of Taoism, the sect had been corrupted by false doctrines. Kou was awarded Zhang Daoling's old title of tianshi (“celestial master”) and was charged in the vision with eliminating excesses in Taoist rituals. Accordingly, Kou began to attempt to curb the orgiastic practices and mercenary spirit that had become associated with Taoist rites and to place greater emphasis on hygienic ritual and good works.Kou gained many adherents and, by making Taoism into a more orthodox doctrine, attracted the attention of
Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei . In 423 Kou had the title of tianshi conferred upon himself by Imperial decree, thereby establishing the “Taoist papacy”: the title was passed to the church's leader from generation to generation in an unbroken line.Fact|date=February 2007 By conspiring with certain court officials, Kou's patronCui Hao was able to haveBuddhism , Taoism's chief competitor, proscribed from the realm and all its practitioners subjected to a bloody persecution. Taoism then became the official religion of the Northern Wei Dynasty.But Kou's efforts were only temporarily effective: Buddhism soon returned to north China, after the deaths of Cui Hao and Emperor Taiwu and the accession of Taiwu's devoutly Buddhist grandson Emperor Wencheng. Moreover, because orgiastic Taoist rites were still noted as late as the
Tang dynasty , many observers view his reforms as transitory.
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