ON TAOISM: LINEAGE AND THE PATH
TAOIST LINEAGE
Primordial Limitless Gate School (Xiantianwujimen)
Xiantianwujimen is a Taoist lineage founded by Chen Xiyi, the hermit of Huashan, in the 11th century. Huashan (The Grand Mountains) is a chain of rocky mountains rising up from the plains of Shaanxi province in central China, and is home to 108 Taoist shrines, temples, and monasteries.
A hermit tradition, Xiantianwujimen qigong has been transmitted uninterrupted from the 11th-century to the present day. Eva Wong is a 19th generation lineage carrier of Xiantianwujimen Taoism. It is currently in its 20th generation of transmission. The lineage is held by multiple individuals trained and appointed as the caretakers of the teachings. It is a non-family lineage. Its holders are typically selected at a young age and instituted as full carriers of the teachings when their training is complete.
Xiantianwujimen is primarily an internal alchemy lineage, specializing in the dual cultivation of body qi and limitless consciousness. The lineage specializes in using qigong techniques to build the foundation for sitting meditation. The techniques favored by this lineage include self-massage, tendon-changing, calisthenics, marrow-washing, and breath regulation. We do not have established locations of schools. Our teachings are offered independently by instructors authorized by the lineage carriers in public spaces.
In the spirit of Chen Xiyi’s legacy, the lineage also focuses on the arts of divination and strategic thinking. The qigong, divination, and strategic studies programs scheduled in this website are teachings particular to Xiantianwujimen.
THE TAOIST SEVEN STAR PATH
WHAT IS THE TAOIST SEVEN STAR PATH
The Seven Star Path is the overview of all the fields of wisdom and knowledge of Taoism.
Below a brief outline is provided plus the links to our programs.
1 - Celestial Pivot Star
The Celestial Pivot Star is associated with skills in leadership, organization, and diplomacy. It is the anchor of the sky, the origin of movement of all the stars. To hold the Celestial Pivot is to embody enlightened leadership and exercise impeccable organization in public and private life.
- Currently, training in the Celestial Pivot discipline is offered in Strategic Studies programs and Lifestyle programs.
2 - Great Gate Star
The Great Gate star is associated with the esoteric arts of Taoism. It is called the Great Gate because it leads to the plethora of the arcane arts of Taoism. Within this discipline are:
- Internal alchemy (which encompasses qigong and meditation)
- The divination arts, which are subdivided into:
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- celestial (astrology) divinations,
- terrestrial (fengshui) divinations,
- omen reading,
- hexagram-based divination,
- physiognomy,
- palmistry.
- Medicine, herbology and various healing arts
- The magic of amulets and talismans
- Ritualistic magic
- Currently, training in the Great Gate branches of Taoist knowledge is offered in Qigong related programs, Fengshui programs, and Yijing-based divination programs
3 - Prosperity Star
The Prosperity Star is associated with practical wisdom - how to move around in the physical, social, cultural, and financial world effectively and efficiently. In Taoism, prosperity is not limited to monetary wealth but also living a rich domestic, social, and personal life.
- Currently, training in the Prosperity branch of Taoist knowledge is offered in Lifestyle programs.
4 - Scholar Star
The Scholar Star is associated with scholarship, the study, interpretation, and understanding of the texts of the Taoist Canon. It consists of over three thousand text in its current compilation. The Taoist Canon is an “open” canon, with texts being added to it continuously.
- Currently, training in this branch of Taoist knowledge is offered in the Qigong Practice and Study Retreats.
5 - Virtue Star
The Virtue Star is associated with activities that Taoism believes to contribute to the cultivation of virtues. Virtue is cultivated in lifestyle, aesthetics, cultural appreciation, a sacred relationship to the natural world, and rituals and ceremonies.
- Currently, training in this branch of Taoist knowledge is offered in Lifestyle programs.
6 - Warrior Star
The Warrior Star is associated with the warriorship. In the Taoist tradition, warriorship is not only limited to training in the martial arts and fighting skills. To be a martial artist is to integrate the martial principles into practice, but to be a warrior is to embody the highest values of martial virtues such as honor, integrity, compassion, and gentleness.
- Currently, the foundation of training in this branch of Taoist knowledge is offered in the Wudangshan forms in the advanced Qigong programs.
7 - Destroyer of Armies Star
The Destroyer of Armies star is associated with the theory and practice of strategy and tactics. To embody strategy in all aspects of life and to acquire expertise in both ancient and modern strategies of war and peace form the core of this training.
- Currently, training in this branch of Taoist knowledge is offered in the Strategic Studies programs.