I-Kuan Tao, also
Yīguàn Dào, or usually initialized as
IKT (一貫道, translated as "the pervasive truth" or "the consistent path") is a
new religious movementA new religious movement is a religious community or ethical, spiritual, or philosophical group of modern origin, which has a peripheral place within the dominant religious culture. NRMs may be novel in origin or they may be part of a wider religion, such as Christianity, Hinduism or Buddhism, in...
that originated in twentieth-century
ChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. It incorporates elements from
ConfucianismConfucianism is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system developed from the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius . Confucianism originated as an "ethical-sociopolitical teaching" during the Spring and Autumn Period, but later developed metaphysical and cosmological elements in the Han...
,
TaoismTaoism refers to a philosophical or religious tradition in which the basic concept is to establish harmony with the Tao , which is the mechanism of everything that exists...
, and Chinese Buddhism, and recognizes the validity of non-Chinese religious traditions such as
ChristianityChristianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
and
IslamIslam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
as well. For this reason it is often classified as a syncretistic sect, along with other similar religions in the
Way of Former HeavenThe Way of Former Heaven encompasses five religious groups of Chinese origin. They claim to strive for the unification of Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism and other religions. They were violently suppressed at one point in history...
(Xian Tian Dao) family.
Originating from
mainland ChinaMainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
, I-Kuan Tao flourished in Taiwan starting in the 1970s. Currently, it is the third most popular faith in Taiwan (after Buddhism and Taoism). It claims approximately two million members, and in overseas Chinese communities around the world. A survey in 2002 showed that there were 845,000 followers with over 3,100 temples. In the People's Republic of China, I-Kuan Tao and the other four Way of Former Heaven religious groups remain banned as illegal secret societies, as was the case in
TaiwanTaiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
until 1987.
The World I-Kuan Tao Headquarters was established in 1996, and is situated in the United States.
Nomenclature
- I-kuan (Yiguan, 一貫 ) means something like "penetrating with one", "consistency" or "one unity." This term is derived from a passage of Analects (4.15) where Confucius
Confucius , literally "Master Kong", was a Chinese thinker and social philosopher of the Spring and Autumn Period....
said that his way is that of "an all-pervading truth" (吾道一以貫之 wu dao yi yi guan zhi).
- Tao (Dao, 道 ) has many meanings, including "way", "path" and "truth". When used next to the name of some Chinese religions, it means "religion." For example, Tai Ping Tao (太平道), a renegade religious group in ancient China which had directly led to the decline of the Eastern Han Dynasty. The same word Tao has been used by the Taoist and Confucian traditions to describe the broad patterns of the universe, life, and humanity as well as ritual or religious manifestation.
Because of the name, I-Kuan Tao is often assumed to be Taoist, and Taoism does indeed form part of its heritage. However its history, teachings, practices, and leadership are different from those of either the "elite" forms of Taoist religion (the Celestial Masters or Complete Purity schools) or
Chinese folk religionChinese folk religion or Shenism , which is a term of considerable debate, are labels used to describe the collection of ethnic religious traditions which have been a main belief system in China and among Han Chinese ethnic groups for most of the civilization's history until today...
of the masses. In the same way, I-Kuan Tao differs from, and yet also resembles, Confucianism and Chinese Buddhism.
Because the group was banned in Taiwan in the 70s and 80s, it manifested in different names such as The Confucius-Mencius Society, The Morality Society, etc. They also called themselves
Zhenli Tiandao (真理天道 The True Celestial Tao).
Deities
- Ming Ming Shang Ti (明明上帝), "Clear (Luminous) Emperor on High" — analogous to the Judeo-Christian God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
. Also referred to as Wuji Laomu (無極老母), the "Ancient Mother of Limitless Heaven". She (or he) is the high being who transcends all the lesser gods of the Chinese pantheon. The roughly translated full name of this deity is The Bright Illustrious Almighty Eternal Pure Tranquil Void Utmost Sacred and Revered, The Lord of all beings in the entire Universe.
- Maitreya
Maitreya , Metteyya , or Jampa , is foretold as a future Buddha of this world in Buddhist eschatology. In some Buddhist literature, such as the Amitabha Sutra and the Lotus Sutra, he or she is referred to as Ajita Bodhisattva.Maitreya is a bodhisattva who in the Buddhist tradition is to appear on...
(彌勒佛), the next BuddhaIn Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
to succeed the historical Sakyamuni Buddha and who has come already according to I-Kuan Tao; Maitreya was reincarnated as Lu Zhong YiLu Zhongyi was the 17th Patriarch of I-Kuan Tao, a Chinese religious sect. He was believed to be the incarnation of Maitreya. His religious titles were Tung Li Zu and Jin Gong Zu Shi 金公祖師...
.
- Ji Gong, (濟公活佛), known as Living Buddha Ji Gong (Huofo Shizun) a Zen
Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism founded by the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma. The word Zen is from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word Chán , which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which can be approximately translated as "meditation" or "meditative state."Zen...
Buddhist monk revered as a reincarnation of an Arhat. Zhang Tian RanZhang Tianran is the founder of I-Kuan Tao, a modern religious movement. He is usually referred to as the Father of I-Kuan Tao, or as Shi Zun , meaning the Honored Teacher.-Early life:...
, the founder of I-Kuan Tao, is believed to be the reincarnation.
- Yue Hui, (月慧菩薩) is the Moon Wisdom Bodhisattva who was reincarnated as Sun Su Zhen
Sun Suzhen was the Matriarch of I-Kuan Tao . She was the successor of Zhang Tianran, the last patriarch of I-Kuan Tao, a new religious movement. She was also known as Ming Shan or Hui Ming , her religious name....
, the matriarch of I-Kuan Tao. Often confused with Guan Yin, who shares exactly the same image.
- Guan Yu
Guan Yu was a general serving under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han Dynasty of China. He played a significant role in the civil war that led to the collapse of the Han Dynasty and the establishment of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period, of which Liu Bei was the...
(關聖帝君) (also called Guan Gong or Guan Ti), an apotheosized Chinese general from the Romance of the Three KingdomsRomance of the Three Kingdoms, written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, is a Chinese historical novel based on the events in the turbulent years near the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history, starting in 169 and ending with the reunification of the land in...
who is commonly worshipped in Chinese temples, both Buddhist and Taoist. He is a Heavenly Guardian against evil. I-Kuan Tao honors him as the commander of the precepts together with Lü DongbinLǚ Dòngbīn is a historical figure and also a deity/Immortal revered by many in the Chinese culture sphere, especially by Daoists/Taoists. Lǚ Dòngbīn is one of the most widely known of the group of deities known as the Eight Immortals and considered by some to be the de facto leader...
, Zhang Fei (Three Kingdoms)Zhang Fei was a military general of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history.-Early career:Zhang Fei was originally a wealthy butcher from Zhuo Commandery...
and Yue FeiYue Fei , style name Pengju, was a military general of the Southern Song Dynasty. His ancestral home was in Xiaoti, Yonghe Village, Tangyin, Xiangzhou, Henan...
.
- Lu Dongbin
Lǚ Dòngbīn is a historical figure and also a deity/Immortal revered by many in the Chinese culture sphere, especially by Daoists/Taoists. Lǚ Dòngbīn is one of the most widely known of the group of deities known as the Eight Immortals and considered by some to be the de facto leader...
(呂洞賓) is a Chinese deity/Immortal. Lǚ Dòngbīn is the most widely known of the group of deities known as the Eight ImmortalsThe Eight Immortals are a group of legendary xian in Chinese mythology. Each Immortal's power can be transferred to a power tool that can give life or destroy evil. Together, these eight tools are called "Covert Eight Immortals" . Most of them are said to have been born in the Tang Dynasty or...
.
Teachers
- Lu Zhong Yi
Lu Zhongyi was the 17th Patriarch of I-Kuan Tao, a Chinese religious sect. He was believed to be the incarnation of Maitreya. His religious titles were Tung Li Zu and Jin Gong Zu Shi 金公祖師...
(路中一), the 17th Patriarch of I-Kuan Tao. He was believed to be the incarnation of Maitreya. He attained the title in 1905 when God mandated him to continue the Tao lineage.
- Zhang Tianran (張天然), made the name I-Kuan Tao official, was the 18th patriarch. He was believed to be the incarnation of Ji Gong, and became Tianran Ancient Buddha after his passing.
- Sun Su Zhen
Sun Suzhen was the Matriarch of I-Kuan Tao . She was the successor of Zhang Tianran, the last patriarch of I-Kuan Tao, a new religious movement. She was also known as Ming Shan or Hui Ming , her religious name....
(孫素真), the I-Kuan Tao 18th matriarch and the wife in name to Zhang Tianran. She was believed to be the incarnation of Yue Hui Bodhisattva and became the Holy Mother of the Chinese after her passing.
History
Within the broad category of
Chinese religionReligion in China has been characterized by pluralism since the beginning of Chinese history. The Chinese religions are family-oriented and do not demand the exclusive adherence of members. Some scholars doubt the use of the term "religion" in reference to Buddhism and Taoism, and suggest "cultural...
we may distinguish between folk practices that neither expect clear membership commitments nor make clear demands and, on the other hand, various sectarian movements that enjoy a clearer identity and, at the same time, a weaker influence over the wider society. The folk religious practices are absorbed almost unconsciously, from childhood. Sectarian religious identity must be voluntarily chosen. Such sectarian identity might be Buddhist, Christian, or any of the religious movements that originated within the Chinese cultural sphere.
Some sectarian religious movements, such as
ChanZen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism founded by the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma. The word Zen is from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word Chán , which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which can be approximately translated as "meditation" or "meditative state."Zen...
Buddhism (Japanese
ZenZen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism founded by the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma. The word Zen is from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word Chán , which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which can be approximately translated as "meditation" or "meditative state."Zen...
) may endure for centuries and become regulated by the state. Others are more ephemeral, such as the family of Buddhist movements lumped together under the name of
White LotusWhite Lotus was a type of Buddhist sectarianism that appealed to many Han Chinese, who found solace in worship of the "Unborn or Eternal Venerable Mother" , who was to gather all her children at the millennium into one family....
. These were loosely inspired by the vegetarian, millennarian, syncretistic religion of
ManichaeismManichaeism in Modern Persian Āyin e Māni; ) was one of the major Iranian Gnostic religions, originating in Sassanid Persia.Although most of the original writings of the founding prophet Mani have been lost, numerous translations and fragmentary texts have survived...
, which survived in China — and assimilated to Chinese culture — a full thousand years after it had disappeared in the West. The White Lotus sects tended to be suppressed by the state, but passed on certain influences to later groups such as the Hsien Tien sects.
Philip Clart (link below) gave this following summary of I-Kuan Tao's history:
- "Also called T'ien-tao ("Way of Heaven"). Founded in 1930 by the "eighteenth patriarch" Chang T'ien-jan (1889-1947) in the city of Chi-nan, the capital of Shantung province, the sect in 1934 moved its centre of activity to T'ien-chin and from there spread rapidly all over mainland China. After Chang T'ien-jan's death in 1947, the sect's nominal leadership passed into the hands of the Matriarch Madame Sun Hui-ming. Effectively, however, the sect split up into a number of separate branches (usually said to be eighteen) that continued to develop more or less independently. There thus exists today no independent leadership for the sect, which has become a family of closely related yet autonomous branch associations."
Official history
The official history from I-Kuan Tao stated that I-Kuan Tao or Tao can be divided into three periods. The first is the early 18 Eastern line, originated from the mythical figure Fu Xi, the creator of the
BaguaThe bagua are eight diagrams used in Taoist cosmology to represent the fundamental principles of reality, seen as a range of eight interrelated concepts. Each consists of three lines, each line either "broken" or "unbroken," representing yin or yang, respectively...
. This is followed by other mythical and historical figures such as
ShennongShennong , which names mean "Divine Farmer", but also known as the Emperor of the Five Grains , was a legendary ruler of China and culture hero reputed to have lived some 5,000 years ago...
, Huangdi (Yellow Emperor),
LaoziLaozi was a mystic philosopher of ancient China, best known as the author of the Tao Te Ching . His association with the Tao Te Ching has led him to be traditionally considered the founder of Taoism...
the author of the
Tao Te ChingThe Tao Te Ching, Dao De Jing, or Daodejing , also simply referred to as the Laozi, whose authorship has been attributed to Laozi, is a Chinese classic text...
,
ConfuciusConfucius , literally "Master Kong", was a Chinese thinker and social philosopher of the Spring and Autumn Period....
, and the last is
MenciusMencius was a Chinese philosopher who was arguably the most famous Confucian after Confucius himself.-Life:Mencius, also known by his birth name Meng Ke or Ko, was born in the State of Zou, now forming the territory of the county-level city of Zoucheng , Shandong province, only thirty kilometres ...
. Then it is said, because of the turmoil in China, Laozi brought Tao to India and initiated Sakyamuni Buddha.
The second lineage, called the 28th western lineage (implying the lineage beginning in India), begins. This followed the Buddhist
Chan or
ZenZen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism founded by the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma. The word Zen is from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word Chán , which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which can be approximately translated as "meditation" or "meditative state."Zen...
lineage from Shakyamuni to
MahakasyapaMahākāśyapa or Kāśyapa was a brahman of Magadha, who became one of the principal disciples of Śākyamuni Buddha and who convened and directed the first council. Mahākāśyapa is one of the most revered of the Buddha's early disciples, foremost in ascetic practices...
, and finally to
BodhidharmaBodhidharma was a Buddhist monk who lived during the 5th/6th century AD. He is traditionally credited as the transmitter of Ch'an to China, and regarded as the first Chinese patriarch...
. It is said that
BodhidharmaBodhidharma was a Buddhist monk who lived during the 5th/6th century AD. He is traditionally credited as the transmitter of Ch'an to China, and regarded as the first Chinese patriarch...
brought the Tao back to China to begin the Later 18 Eastern Lineages, following the
ZenZen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism founded by the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma. The word Zen is from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word Chán , which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which can be approximately translated as "meditation" or "meditative state."Zen...
lineage from Bodhidharma to the sixth and last Chan Patriarch
HuinengDajian Huineng was a Chinese Chán monastic who is one of the most important figures in the entire tradition, according to standard Zen hagiographies...
. The lineage then continues with other sectarian figures.
Research pointed that it stemmed from
Xiantiandao (先天道) or the
Way of Former HeavenThe Way of Former Heaven encompasses five religious groups of Chinese origin. They claim to strive for the unification of Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism and other religions. They were violently suppressed at one point in history...
. The founder of Xiantiandao is Huang Dehui (黃德輝, 1624–1690). The I-Kuan Tao and the Xiantiandao considered him as the ninth patriarch. Findings from the Ching dynasty documents mentioned that Wang Jueyi (王覺一, 1821–1884), the fifteenth patriarch, propagated another religious teaching;
Sanjiao Yiguan Zhizhi (Unity of Three Religions) in the 1850s.
However, I-Kuan Tao started to flourish in China during the leadership of Zhang Tianran. During Zhang's tenure as leader, the I-Kuan Tao faith spread from
Shandong' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
to many cities in North, Central and Southern China. Zhang died shortly during the Civil War in 1947. After Zhang's death, Madame Sun Suzhen (孫素真) succeeded him as matriarch of I-Kuan Tao.
According to I-Kuan Tao believers, Madame Sun was not really Zhang's wife. At a chaotic time in China, coupled with the traditional thinking common among Chinese communities at that period, it was inappropriate for a man and a woman who had no family connection to travel together. To silence the critics and misconceptions of the public, they declared that they were married to each another. They were married in name but were never a real husband and wife.
When communism took over in China, many I-Kuan Tao followers and leaders departed to Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the United States. In 1951, I-Kuan Tao was banned in the PRC and many of the followers and leaders were persecuted. Sun Suzhen and other I-Kuan Tao leaders left China, and arrived in Hong Kong. Sun then moved to Taiwan in 1954, where she lived as a virtual recluse under the care of followers such as
Wang Hao DeWang Hao-te is the founder of the Maitreya Great Tao religion , which is based in Hsin Chu, Taiwan. This sect according to Taiwan's survey in 2004 has 100,000 members and 2000 temples. Wang was born in 1921, the 28th day of the 7th lunar month in a small village called Zhang Gu in Shandong...
until her death in 1975.
The present
Zhang Pei-Cheng, director of I-Kuan Tao movement until his death in 2010, was one of many who brought the faith's teachings to Taiwan in 1947. Today, the sect claims 50,000 worship groups (30,000 in Taiwan) and supports several schools including Sung Nien University (Taiwan). Its members operate many of Taiwan's vegetarian restaurants. One of its high profile members is
Chang Yung-faChang Yung-fa is the founder and Group Chairman of the Evergreen Group.- Biography :In 1927, Chang was born in Penghu, while Taiwan was under Japanese rule...
, the president and founder of the Evergreen Marine Corporation or Evergreen Group who is also the chief leader of a Xingyi sub-division. The company is a well known proponent of I-Kuan Tao.
Practices
I-Kuan Tao represents a moralistic society derived from Confucian ethics, with the main objective to deliver humanity from the last calamity. The members are encouraged to follow morality practices such as:
- The "five ethics" and "eight virtues" (from Confucianism)
- Vegetarianism, and abstinence from alcohol and tobacco (from traditional Chinese Buddhism)
- Initiation of new member into "Tao" (analogous to Buddha nature in Chan).
- Daily prayer (2~3 times)
- Attending religious classes, ceremony or Moralistic Lecture, which also include Ceremony of Offerings, Prayers, etc.
- Chanting scriptures (as in all Chinese religious movements and faiths)
Followers of I-Kuan Tao are encouraged to help bring and initiate new members, practice vegetarianism and open temples or shrines at their homes.
Initiation
Members will invite like-minded individuals who have an affinity for their beliefs to take part in an initiation ritual in which one "receives the tao." Although all members have received the Tao, only an
enlightened master may pass on the Tao to new members.
During this ritual,
three treasures are revealed to the initiate:
- The Mystic Portal
- The True Scripture or Wordless Scripture
- The Hand Seal
Initiates also vow to not discuss these three treasures with non-members. Therefore more precise details are available only to those who are initiated.
Structure and schisms
I-Kuan Tao does not have a single organization. This is because after the death of Zhang and the escape from China following the end of the Civil War and the Cultural Revolution, many of the followers found their own way to Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the United States. They established their own groups, mainly following their ancestral temples' names from China, spreading the teachings of I-Kuan Tao. There is a consensus from the followers of Zhang Tianran and Sun to form the I-Kuan Tao headquarters, recognizing the so called "eighteen groups".
Apart from these eighteen, there is an independent group started by the wife and the son of Zhang Tianran, Madame Liu and Mr. Zhang Yingyu, which does not have many followers. A large splinter group, also recognized by the government of Taiwan but not acknowledged by I-Kuan Tao, is that founded by
Wang Hao DeWang Hao-te is the founder of the Maitreya Great Tao religion , which is based in Hsin Chu, Taiwan. This sect according to Taiwan's survey in 2004 has 100,000 members and 2000 temples. Wang was born in 1921, the 28th day of the 7th lunar month in a small village called Zhang Gu in Shandong...
, former aide to Sun, who established his own sect called the "Great Tao of Maitreya".
Further reading
There are many western studies on this movement. The first comprehensive study is by David K. Jordan and described in his book
The Flying Phoenix. Recent studies include Philip Clart and a thesis by Jo Swinnen (in Dutch) from
Katholieke Universiteit LeuvenThe Katholieke Universiteit Leuven is a Dutch-speaking university in Flanders, Belgium.It is located at the centre of the historic town of Leuven, and is a prominent part of the city, home to the university since 1425...
. A book by Meir Shahar on Ji Gong titled
Crazy Ji has a section on I-Kuan Tao.
- Robin Munro
Robin Munro is a British legal scholar, author, and human rights advocate. He received his PhD from the Department of Law, School of Oriental & African Studies, University of London....
: "Syncretic Sects and Secret Societies – Revival in the 1980s." In: Chinese Sociology and Anthropology (M.E. Sharpe, Armonk, N.Y.) Summer 1989/Vol. 21, No. 4
- Song Guangyu 宋光宇: Tiandao Gouchen (天道钩沉), 2. Ed. Taipei 1983
- Thomas Weyrauch: Yiguan Dao – Chinas Volksreligion im Untergrund. Heuchelheim (Longtai) 2006. ISBN 3-938946-02-4
External links