Taoist
Mainstream Taoism
5/40· LowConfidence: High
Mainstream Taoism — encompassing folk religion, monastic Quanzhen and Zhengyi orders, and the philosophical legacy of the Tao Te Ching — is a low-CLCI reference point.
CLCI radar
Low Control / Mainstream
BITE breakdown
Behavior Control1/10
Information Control1/10
Thought Control1/10
Emotional Control2/10
Modifiers (+0)
0 — diverse religious-philosophical tradition; voluntary practice.
Founded
Ancient
Members
Hard to count; affinity perhaps 12–170 million
Active in
China, Taiwan, global diaspora
In context
Taoism is internally diverse: folk-religious practice, monastic orders (Quanzhen celibate monks, Zhengyi married priests), philosophical Daoism, and modern qigong/internal-alchemy revivals. There is no central authority; participation is voluntary. Specific qigong sects (notably some Falun Gong / Falun Dafa adjacent currents) have separate concerns covered elsewhere.
Key control doctrines
- Wu wei (effortless action)
- Cultivation of qi
- Three Treasures (jing, qi, shen)
Timeline
- 6th c. BCETao Te Ching attributed to Laozi
- 2nd c. CECelestial Masters movement
Sources
- Livia Kohn, 'Daoism Handbook' (2000)
We cite sources by name and outlet rather than fabricating links. Search the source title plus the group name to find the original.
Disclaimer. This profile is an educational summary based on publicly available reports. Many members of this group do not experience the patterns described. Individual congregations and chapters vary widely. If you or someone you know needs support, contact a licensed therapist or the International Cultic Studies Association.