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Spring and Autumn period 770-476 BCE
The first three core texts of so called philosophical Daoism is Laozi's Daode Jing, which is believed to be a product of the spring and autumn period. -
Warring States 475-221 BCE
The Zhuang-zi and Lieh-zi the second and third of these core texts were products of the political chaos and civil war of the Warring states period. -
Eastern Han Dynasy 25-220 CE
The foundations for the success of an organized religious form of Daoism lay, for one in the unification of China in the Chin and through the Han Dynasties. The mercenary statesmen and traveling political advisors whose craft was in high demand during the Warring States period, were within a unified China no longer needed. -
Chin Dynasty 221-207 CE
The foundations for the success of an organized religious form of Daoism lay in bed he unification of China in the Chin and through Han Dynasties. During the early part of the Chin Dynasty a form of mystical Daoism called Shangqing Daoism which is the way of clarity was founded by Lady Wei Hua-tsun. This practice included "Keeping the One" which is relating to the guardian spirits of the body organs. -
CE 748
Marked the first attempt to bring together Daoist texts into an official Daoist canon. -
Tang Dynasty 618-906 CE
The Tang Dynasty was a high point for Chinese arts and culture. It also was a time when Daoism was integrated into the imperial court system as the official religion. -
CE 748
Emperor Tang Xuan-Zong sent monks out to collect additional scriptures and teachings, which resulted in the second daozang. -
Five Dynastics & Ten Kingdoms 906-960 CE
The political chaos of the Five Dynastics & Ten Kingdoms period led many scholars to choose the path of th Daoist hermit. This integration of Daoism, Buddhism would find its most biggest expression in a the complete reality school of wang Chung yang. -
Song Dynasty 960-1279 CE
The Song Dynasty is known as the golden era of internal alchemy. Lu Tung pin who is one of the eight immortals is considered the patriarch of Inner Alchemy, and Chuang Po- tuan who advocated a dual cultivation of the body and mind. -
CE 1060
Marked yet another revision of Daoist canon which resulted in the so called third Daozang if some 4500 scroll. -
CE 1445
Marked the compilation of the fourth daozang which comprised of 5300 texts. -
Ching Dynasty 1644-1911 CE
The Ching dynasty was a era of critical reflection which took the form, in large part of a critique of the Ming Dynasty.