The differentiation of the Xiantiandao subtradition out of the general field of Chinese popular sects is commonly attributed to the so-called ninth patriarch
Huang Dehui. The
Yiguandao and the
Tongshanshe sects legitimize themselves by tracing their patriarchal lines through Huang Dehui to the mythical patriarchs of early Chinese history. Huang Dehui was the successor of Luo Weiqun () or sometime known as Luo Weixing (), one of the descendants of Luo Qing of the Eastern Great Vehicle sect () who spread the teachings in
Jiangxi. One of the sect led by Huang Dehui was later known as Xiantiandao (). Official documents of the
Qing dynasty () refer to this sect as the Green/Blue Lotus sect () or by another name the Golden Herb Road/Jindandao (). This sect unites the three religions by practicing
Confucian manners,
Daoist practices, and
Buddhist precepts. It was named Green Lotus to compete with the then-popular White Lotus sect. It was very popular in
Sichuan,
Yunnan-
Guizhou and
Hubei, and staged many rebellions to overthrow the Qing dynasty and restore the
Ming dynasty, but was successfully suppressed by the Qing Dynasty government. The leadership of the sect was continued several decades later by Wu Zixiang (). Wu changed the name of his group to Wupanjiao (). He was also arrested and sentenced to death. In 1823 he founded Xigang Tang () in Chengdu and worked actively to spread the teachings in the
Yangtze River valley. In 1826, the leadership was continued by Xu Ji'nan () and Yang Shouyi () who became the 13th patriarchs. Shortly after, patriarchs Xu and Yang were arrested and executed by the Qing government in 1828. History shows that several new sub-sects were born after this era including Yuanming Dao (), Guiyi Dao (), Tongshan She () and the most important for Taiwan's religious history is Yiguandao (). The patriarchal lines of these sects are largely identical down to the thirteenth patriarch Yang Shouyi and Xu Ji'nan, after whom the lines split and ultimately lead to the development of some group as separate sects. The other groups maintain a different model of linear patriarchal succession. In 1834, Xiantiandao elected five preaching leaders, known as the 'Five Elders' (). At colloquy of seven deities () held in 1843 in
Yuncheng (), it was decided that the sect would henceforth be divided into five branches headed by patriarchs named after the
Five Elements (water, fire, wood, metal and earth). Xiantiandao texts often refer to the "Precious register of Cloud City", according to the Yuncheng Precious Mantra (), the Seven Saints are "the patriarchs in charge of universal salvation in the three world ages" (). In that period, the Green Lotus sect later united with parties and armed groups to fight the officers and soldiers, and became a secret religious group, causing much unrest." In 1845, the Green Lotus sect staged a rebellion in Wuchang but failed. Later, An Tianjue () of the Wood, Chen Yijing () of the Fire, Song Chaozhen ) of the Earth were arrested by the Qing government and put to death. Pang Chaofan () / Peng Yifa () of the Water, and Lin Zhuguan () / Lin Yimi () of the Metal escaped and evaded being arrested. These Peng Chaofan and Lin Zhuguan were later regarded as the 14th patriarch and 15th patriarch by many Xiantiandao groups. At the end of the
Daoguang period, Peng Chaofan continued to preach in Sichuan under the banner of Xiantiandao. In the first half of the 20th century, there was tremendous growth in one of the Xiantiandao-rooted groups, Yiguandao. However, most of the other Xiantiandao groups did not develop into large organizations. Although some Xiantiandao groups joined forces to register Zhongguo Sanjiao Shengdao Zonghui () with the Beiyang regime in 1923, in reality Xiantiandao seems to have remained just a collection of independent temples and networks running on their own.",
New Taipei City,
Taiwan. ==Belief==