Wang Che

Chinese religious leader
External Websites
Also known as: Wang Ch’ung-yang, Wang Chongyang, Wang Zhe
Quick Facts
Pinyin:
Wang Zhe
Also called:
Wang Ch’ung-yang
Born:
1112
Died:
1170 (aged 58)

Wang Che (born 1112—died 1170) was the founder of the Ch’üan-chen (Perfect Realization) sect of Taoism, in 1163. After receiving secret teachings, Wang established a monastery in Shantung to propagate the Way of Perfect Realization as a synthesis of Confucianism, Taoism, and Ch’an (Zen) Buddhism. Wang’s new sect flourished with the imperial patronage.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.