Wang Jueyi


Wang Jueyi was the founder of the Yiguan Dao "Unity Sect" of Daoism and claimed the 15th Daoist patriarchate

Life

Wang Jueyi was born Wang Ximeng in 1821 in Qingzhou under the Qing Dynasty. On account of his orphanhood in very young age, Wang was brought up in his uncle’s family. He had studied Daoism, Confucianism and Buddhism. Subsequently, he entered the Xiantiandao sect under the training of Yao Hetian.
After training, Wang returned to Qingzhou and founded his own temple, named Dongzhen Hall. In 1877, he claimed that God the Mother passed him the Mandate of Heaven, appointing him 15th patriarch of Daoism.
The Xiantian Dao sect under Wang's leadership was significantly confucianized; practitioners needed to mainly follow the scripture of the Great Learning whereas Daoist practice such as asceticism and alchemy were cancelled. The sect had been rapidly spread throughout the country until the Qing governmental crackdown against it in 1883. Many followers of Wang, including his son, were killed during this situation.
After the persecution, Wang Jueyi lived secretly until he died in 1884.