Taoist Sorcery

Taoism's origins may be traced to prehistoric Chinese religions in China. They are found in the composition of the Tao Te Ching (3rd or 4th century BCE), or amidst the activity of Zhang Daoling (2nd century AD). Laozi received imperial recognition as a divinity in the mid second century CE. Taoism gained official status in China during the Tang Dynasty, whose emperors claimed Laozi as their relative. Several Song emperors, most notably Huizong, were active in promoting Taoism, collecting Taoist texts and publishing editions of the Daozang. Aspects of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism were consciously synthesised in the Neo-Confucian school, which eventually became Imperial orthodoxy for state bureaucratic purposes. The Qing Dynasty, however, much favored Confucian classics and rejected Taoist works. During the eighteenth century, the imperial library was constituted, but excluded virutally all Taoist books. By the beginning of the twentieth century, Taoism had fallen so much from favor, that only one complete copy of the Daozang still remained, at the White Cloud Monastery in Beijing. Taoism is one of five religions recognised by the PRC, which insists on controlling its activities through a state bureaucracy (the China Taoist Association).

Taoism has greatly evolved over the years of its existence, expanding philosophical concepts in new directions with every century. What was accepted one generation becomes forbidden the next; what is a folk magic entirely separate from taoist practice in one century has been wholly absorbed and inseparable from it within the next century.

• The Shang-ch'ing, or "Highest Pure" school of Mao Shan Mountain, as put forth by Lady Wei Hua-ts'un contributed the Huang-tin Ching, or Scripture of the Yellow Court, which describes the connections between the five elements, the human body and Heaven. Its meditative techniques are thought to grant incredible powers to its adepts.
• Other schools, including the Ling-pao ("Spiritual Jewel") and P'ei-chi ("Pole Star") schools brought to taoism exorcistic prowess, contributing techniques for dealing with unruly spirits and the creation of talismans. These also contributed scriptures describing regimens of meditation and ascetic practice thought to increase mystical power, prolong life, engage in visionary journies, commune with the Tao and eventually ascend to Heaven as a divine immortal.
• During the 5th and 6th Centuries, Taoism resolved into a system of hierarchies to match the growing bureaucratic nature of China itself, organizing not only its own membership, but the thousand-thousand spirits it called upon into households and courts.
• The 10th through 14th centuries saw an outgrowth of Taoist factions, many of which were forthright in their practice of magic, and decried by older, more philosophical schools. The practice of "black magic" grew, describing what was believed to be a perversion of pure Taoist ritual for secular, tainted magic, which often did not hesitate to draw on the names of older, more prestigious schools in the search for legitimacy. This spread of black magic was countered with the introduction of "Thunder Magic," a new practice meant for combating black magic. By the end of this time, Taoist masters were made ministers in the Imperial government, and given the right to ordain and rank Taoist adepts.
• Most recently, Taoists were forced to flee the onset of Communism, though because many masters of its arts did not practice in monasteries or temples, they continued to simply teach under the noses of the government. Recently, however, the government has welcomed the practice of Taoism - primarily as a religion, as any sort of superstition is looked askance upon - back into China as part of its cultural heritage.

Over the years, Taoist practices and schools have occasionally run afoul of the law - whether a case of mystics taking up rebellious causes, or rebels embracing mysticism varies from instance to instance. Some examples include the White Lotus Society (from the 12th to 19th Century), the Golden Elixir Society and the Righteous Harmony Fist, or the "Boxers," for whom the Boxer Rebellion was named. These secret societies invariably absorbed secretive and sometimes even criminal practices; many of the Triads claim to trace their descent to these groups, and even today the Triads embrace taoist symbolism in their naming conventions.

Prerequisites

Language (Mandarin or Cantonese), Taoist Status 1, Academics 2, Brawl 1, Occult 2, Specialty: Taoism in Academics

Tradition Skills

• Academics: Used in the study of ancient scriptures and legal codes that formed the basis of ancient taoism.
• Brawl: Used in the practice of tai chi and other martial arts disciplines meant to help bring mind, body and spirit into tune.
• Medicine: The performance of acupuncture and the application of taoist principles to the human body.
• Occult: Understanding the various occult correspondences and courts of spirits, the flows of chi through the land as well as the basic rituals of taoist practice.
• Weaponry: Used in ritual duels, the practice of tai chi weaponry and battles with spirit beings.

Praxis

• Fu (Talismans): So-called "prayer strips," fu are essentially government documents in the Celestial Bureaucracy, meant to demonstrate the authority of the magician or priest over some aspect of the world. They are always drawn up using fine calligraphy (and indeed, many use Glyph Lore to hide Atlantean runes into their writings), affixed with the personal symbol of the magician and then wax seals that designate the schools the magician belongs to, and initiations he has undergone. Sometimes fu are burnt to sent them to Heaven, or buried so that earthly spirits may read them. Other times, they are torn in half, with one part buried and the other burnt in order to bring the powers of Heaven and Earth to bear. Other fu are simply nailed or pasted to doors or walls.
• Lu (Spirit Registers):
• Alchemy:
  • External Alchemy: X
  • Internal Alchemy: X
• Visionary Journeys:
• High Ritual Magic:

Correspondences

• Taoist Cosmology:
• The Five Elements:
• Bureaucratic Implements:
• Celestial Symbols:

Higher Mysteries

• Five-Cycle Counterspell (•••): X
• Five-Cycle Spell Augmentation (••••): X
• Five-Cycle Spell Theft (•••••): X