Taoism, as China's native religion, has a long history and is broad and profound. In the course of its development, many schools of thought were formed, the most well-known of which are the Zhengyi School and the Quanzhen School. Both have their own unique features, but there are also significant differences.
Zhengyi, as an important school of Taoism in the early days, has a history dating back to the Eastern Han Dynasty. The Zhengyi school focuses on Fu Zhai Jiao, praying for blessings and disasters, and emphasizing personal practice and Taoist practice. The Taoist priests of the Zhengyi faction were usually allowed to live in the palace, and the rules and precepts of the Qing Dynasty were relatively relaxed, which made the Zhengyi faction have a wide base of believers among the people. In addition, the Zhengyi faction also pays attention to inheriting and promoting Taoist culture, and passes on the concept and spirit of Taoism to more people by holding various festivals, temple fairs and other activities.
In contrast, Quanzhen is more rigorous and mysterious. The Quanzhen School emphasizes inner cultivation of the mind and the cultivation of the spirit, and advocates achieving the goal of longevity through cultivation. Taoist priests of the Quanzhen sect were usually required to live in the palace, strictly abide by the rules and precepts, and were not allowed to marry wives and have children, which largely reflected the importance that the Quanzhen sect attached to the spiritual life. In addition, the Quanzhen sect also pays attention to the cultivation of the Dan Dao, and pursues the effect of immortality through alchemy and medicine.
In terms of the way of practice, there are also obvious differences between the Zhengyi school and the Quanzhen school. The Zhengyi school focuses on external forms such as Fu Zheng Zhai Jiao, while the Quanzhen school emphasizes inner cultivation and spiritual improvement. This difference also reflects the doctrinal differences between the two. The Zhengyi school is more focused on practice and application, while the Quanzhen school is more focused on theoretical exploration and philosophical thinking.
In general, the Zhengyi School and the Quanzhen School, as the two major sects of Taoism, each have their own unique ways of practice and doctrinal systems. While the two differ in some ways, together they form a rich and colorful cultural landscape of Taoism. For Taoist believers, no matter which school of practice they choose, they should follow the basic principles and spirit of Taoism and strive to improve their spiritual realm.