Kou Qian Of Taoism Reform Its Historical Status

Kou Qianzhi(365—448A.D.), a very important person in the Taoism history in China, was the reformer of the Northern TIANSHIDAO in the Northern and Southern Dynasties. This thesis elaborates his revolutionary background and contents and evaluates his status in the Taoism history. There are three parts in the thesis. The first part narrates his resume and the revolutionary background. The second part describes the revolutionary reason and the revolutionary contents which includes: (1)rectifying the system of the old TIANSHIDAO and setting up a new managerial regulation of Taoism; (2)absorbing the Buddhism essence and establishing a more complete ritual system;(3)enriching and constructing a new doctrine system which combines the Buddhism, the Confucianism with the Taoism. The third part evaluates his historical influence: First, his revolution transformed the folk TIANSHIDAO into the official one and made Taoism into a state religion of the Northern Wei. Second, his revolution promoted the connection of Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism and accelerated the Northern Wei uniting with the Han nationality. In a word, his revolution promoted Taoism development and deeply affected Taoism of later ages.