Zhang Ling

That wisp of spiritual light from the Heavenly Dao's origin plunged into the Lower Realm and, during the Eastern Han period, was born crying into a family surnamed Zhang in the lands of Shu. He was named Zhang Ling.

Zhang Ling had been clever from birth. When he grew older, he read widely, especially favoring the studies of Huang-Lao, yet he always felt that the learning of the world had not reached ultimate truth.

As if guided from somewhere unseen, he declined official posts and entered the mountains to seek the Dao. After undergoing countless hardships, he finally attained some understanding.

He did not know that he was in truth transformed from the Heavenly Dao's origin. He only felt his heart grow clear, and he gained insight into a few parts of the workings of heaven, earth, and human relations.

He saw that most people in the world scrambled after fame and profit, mired in greed, anger, delusion, and arrogance, causing morals to decline day by day, the hearts of men to lose their ancient simplicity, turbid qi to rise between heaven and earth, and pure numinousness to diminish with each passing day.

Thus he made a vast vow: to establish a teaching to deliver people and cleanse the human heart.

He took Taishang Laojun as the Dao Ancestor, called himself "Celestial Master," and founded the "Way of Orthodox Unity and Covenant Authority." Since those entering the Dao had to pay five pecks of rice, the common world mostly called it the "Five Pecks of Rice Sect."

The Dao Zhang Ling taught did not place importance on such minor details as talismans, registers, fasts, and rites, but first and foremost emphasized the cultivation of personal virtue.

He taught people to "uphold the Dao's precepts and accumulate good deeds."

He advocated