142

142. The legendary founder of Daoism, Laozi, appears in a vision to the Sichuan hermit Zhang Daoling. Laozi confers the mandate of heaven (Tian Ming) on Zhang, who founds the Wudoumi ([[five

pecks of rice]]) sect. Zhang’s movement becomes a well-organized political institution, which briefly sets up its own state.

Zhang is today recognized as the founder of religious Daoism.