Wang Chongyang
A disillusioned scholar who founded a revolutionary Taoist sect that blended martial arts, meditation, and monastic discipline.
1113–1170 (age 57)·Founder of Quanzhen Taoism·Birthday: January 11
Biography
Born into a wealthy family during the Song dynasty, Wang Chongyang was a scholar-official who grew weary of worldly affairs. After a transformative spiritual encounter, he abandoned his post and spent years in ascetic seclusion in a tomb he called the "Tomb of the Living Dead." Emerging with a new vision, he established the Quanzhen (Complete Perfection) school, a radical reform movement that demanded celibacy, vegetarianism, and monastic life from its followers, diverging sharply from older Taoist traditions. His genius lay in synthesizing core elements of Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism into a practical path for spiritual cultivation. Though he died just a few years after founding his order, his seven principal disciples, known as the Seven Perfected, spread his teachings across China, ensuring Quanzhen's enduring influence for centuries.
#1 When Wang Was Born
The biggest hits of 1113
Wang's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1113Born
1118Started school
1126Became a teenager
1129Could drive
1131Could vote
1134Turned 21
1143Turned 30
1153Turned 40
1163Turned 50
1170Died at 57
Key Achievements
- Founded the Quanzhen (Complete Perfection) school, a major reformist branch of Taoism that emphasized monasticism and asceticism.
- Personally taught and ordained the 'Seven Perfected,' who became legendary figures and key propagators of his teachings.
- Established a doctrinal and practical framework that successfully integrated the 'Three Teachings' of Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism.
- His legacy is enshrined in his recognition as one of the Five Northern Patriarchs and later as one of the Taoist Eight Immortals.
Did You Know?
He reportedly lived as a hermit for several years inside a self-dug underground chamber he referred to as his tomb.
Before his spiritual awakening, he was a trained military scholar who intended to fight against the Jin dynasty invaders.
His meeting with two mysterious men, often identified as the immortals Lü Dongbin and Zhongli Quan, is cited as the catalyst for his spiritual journey.
The Quanzhen school he founded became particularly powerful under the Mongol Yuan dynasty, with his disciple Qiu Chuji gaining great favor with Genghis Khan.
“Cultivate the three treasures: essence, energy, and spirit, to achieve the Dao.”
