List of Celestial Masters

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Zhang Daoling, the first Celestial Master.

This is a list of the Celestial Masters, leaders of Zhengyi Dao, continuing Wudoumi Dao (Way of the Five Pecks of Rice).[1] After the death of the 64th Celestial Master Zhang Yuanxian in 2008, controversy arose over the legitimate succession, with different descendants claiming to be the rightful 65th Celestial Master, including Zhang Jintao and three other claimants in China mainland; and Zhang Yijiang and Zhang Meiliang in Taiwan. Another Taiwanese master, Zhang Daochen, claims to be the legitimate 64th Celestial Master, as, according to him, Zhang Yuanxian wasn't.[2] In English the Celestial Master was also known as the "Taoist pontiff".[3]

Number Name Chinese Dates
1 Zhang Daoling 张道陵 2nd century CE
2 Zhang Heng [zh] 张衡 ?-179
3 Zhang Lu 张鲁 ?-215
4 Zhang Sheng 张盛
5 Zhang Zhaocheng 张昭成
6 Zhang Jiao 张椒
7 Zhang Hui 张回
8 Zhang Jiong 张迥
9 Zhang Fu 张符
10 Zhang Zixiang 张子祥 ca. 600
11 Zhang Tongxuan 张通玄
12 Zhang Heng 张恒
13 Zhang Guang 张光
14 Zhang Cizheng 张慈正
15 Zhang Gao 张高 ca. 735
16 Zhang Yingshao 张应韶
17 Zhang Yi 张颐
18 Zhang Shiyuan 张士元
19 Zhang Xiu 张修
20 Zhang Chen 张谌
21 Zhang Bingyi 张秉一
22 Zhang Shan 张善
23 Zhang Jiwen 张季文
24 Zhang Zhengsui 张正随 fl. 1015
25 Zhang Qianyao 张干曜
26 Zhang Sizong 张嗣宗
27 Zhang Xiangzhong 张象中
28 Zhang Dunfu 张敦复 fl. 1077
29 Zhang Jingduan 张景瑞 1049?-1100?
30 Zhang Jixian 张继先 1092–1126
31 Zhang Shixiu 张时修
32 Zhang Shouzhen 张守真 ?-1176
33 Zhang Jingyuan 张景渊
34 Zhang Qingxian 张庆先
35 Zhang Keda 张可大 1218-63
36 Zhang Zongyan 张宗演 1244-91
37 Zhang Yudi 张与棣 ?-1294
38 Zhang Yucai[4] 张与材 ?-1316
39 Zhang Sicheng[5] 张嗣成 ?-1344?
40 Zhang Side 张嗣德 ?-1353
41 Zhang Zhengyan 张正言 ?-1359
42 Zhang Zhengchang (Awarded the title of 正一嗣教眞人[6][7][8]) 张正常 1335-78
43 Zhang Yuchu [de] 张宇初 1361–1410
44 Zhang Yuqing 张宇清 1364–1427
45 Zhang Maocheng 张懋丞
46 Zhang Yuanji 张元吉
47 Zhang Xuanqing 张原庆
48 Zhang Yanpian [zh] 张彦页 1480–1550
49 Zhang Yongxu 张永绪 ?-1566
50 Zhang Guoxiang 张国祥 ?-1611
51 Zhang Xianyong [zh] 张显庸
52 Zhang Yingjing 张应京
53 Zhang Hongren 张洪任
54 Zhang Jizong [zh] 张继宗 ?-1716
55 Zhang Xilin 张锡麟 ?-1727
56 Zhang Yulong 张遇隆 ?-1752
57 Zhang Cunyi 张存义 ?-1779
58 Zhang Qilong 张起隆 ?-1798
59 Zhang Yu 张钰
60 Zhang Peiyuan 张培源 ?-1859
61 Zhang Renzheng 张仁政 1841–1903
62 Zhang Yuanxu 张元旭 1862–1924
63 Zhang Enpu [zh] 张恩溥 1904–1969
64 Zhāng Yuanxian  [zh] 張源先 1971–2008
  1. ^ Kleeman, Terry. "Tianshi Dao," in Encyclopedia of Taoism, Fabrizio Pregadio, ed., (London: Routledge, 2008), 983.
  2. ^ The China Post: Who’s going to be the 65th Taoist pope?
  3. ^ Victor Purcell (3 June 2010). The Boxer Uprising: A Background Study. Cambridge University Press. pp. 139–. ISBN 978-0-521-14812-2.
  4. ^ Modern Chinese Religion I (2 vol.set): Song-Liao-Jin-Yuan (960-1368 AD). BRILL. 8 December 2014. pp. 1035–. ISBN 978-90-04-27164-7.
  5. ^ Modern Chinese Religion I (2 vol.set): Song-Liao-Jin-Yuan (960-1368 AD). BRILL. 8 December 2014. pp. 1035–. ISBN 978-90-04-27164-7.
  6. ^ H.S. Brunnert; V.V. Hagelstrom (15 April 2013). Present Day Political Organization of China. Routledge. pp. 494–. ISBN 978-1-135-79795-9.
  7. ^ "P.494-5. Present Day Political Organization of China". Archived from the original on April 25, 2016. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
  8. ^ "Present day political organization of China".