Shangqing School

The Shangqing School, or Highest Clarity, is a Chinese Taoist tradition that emerged during the 4th and 5th centuries CE. It emphasizes spiritual practices aimed at attaining personal enlightenment and harmony with the Dao through meditation, visualization, ritual alchemy, and scripture study. Its teachings include cosmological insights, immortality, and spiritual purification, often conveyed through complex texts and rituals. The tradition influenced Chinese religious culture and arts, fostering a focus on inner spiritual development alongside ritual practices, and has historically played a significant role in the development of Taoist thought and practice.