A living reference atlas

Atlas of Religious and Esoteric Lineages

Five thousand religious, mystical, Indigenous and esoteric lineages from around the world — what they are, where they came from, and where to read more.

Source-linked and transparently qualified. Editorial standards and correction criteria are public.

Created and maintained by Ayara and Kyle Jonathan B@KJB_and_AYARA

Entries: 5,000
Candidate geography relations: 7,326
Candidate country vocabulary: 162

Explore the index

Search five thousand distinct lineages

Entry data: effective Atlas view
Geography: candidate layer pending adjudication

111 lineages in the selected candidate country

Page 2 of 5

Atlas 0896Varies by lineage

Wu–Liu school of internal alchemy

East Asian Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: China
Period / origin: Ming–Qing periods–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesChina

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Atlas 0897Varies by lineage

Kanyu / fengshui tradition

East Asian Traditions Practice / discipline

Public geography: China
Period / origin: ancient period–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesChina

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Atlas 0898Initiatory

Daoist jiao offering liturgy

East Asian Traditions Rite / ceremony

Public geography: China
Period / origin: medieval period–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesChina

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Atlas 0899Initiatory

Daoist zhai retreat liturgy

East Asian Traditions Rite / ceremony

Public geography: China
Period / origin: early imperial period–present in transformed lineages
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesChina

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Atlas 1265Initiatory

Chinese Lü Vinaya school

Buddhist Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: China
Period / origin: Developed c. 7th century–present in revived forms
Evidence status: Related-entry source

Candidate countriesChina

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Atlas 1301Scholarly / historical only

Sanhuang Daoist textual and ritual tradition

East Asian Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: China
Period / origin: 3rd–7th centuries CE; later textual traces
Evidence status: Cluster-level source

Candidate countriesChina

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Atlas 1302Scholarly / historical only

Louguan Daoist tradition

East Asian Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: China
Period / origin: 5th–7th centuries CE; later influence
Evidence status: Cluster-level source

Candidate countriesChina

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Atlas 1303Scholarly / historical only

Northern Celestial Masters tradition

East Asian Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: China
Period / origin: 5th–6th centuries CE; later legacy
Evidence status: Related-entry source

Candidate countriesChina

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Atlas 1304Scholarly / historical only

Southern Celestial Masters tradition

East Asian Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: China
Period / origin: 4th–6th centuries CE; later legacy
Evidence status: Related-entry source

Candidate countriesChina

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Atlas 1305Varies by lineage

Daoist zuòwàng meditation

East Asian Traditions Practice / discipline

Public geography: China
Period / origin: Early textual attestations–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesChina

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Atlas 1306Varies by lineage

Daoist shǒuyī meditation

East Asian Traditions Practice / discipline

Public geography: China
Period / origin: Early imperial period–present in varied receptions
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesChina

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Atlas 1307Initiatory

Daoist cúnsiǎng visualization

East Asian Traditions Practice / discipline

Public geography: China
Period / origin: Early medieval period–present
Evidence status: Cluster-level source

Candidate countriesChina

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Atlas 1308Varies by lineage

Daoist dǎoyǐn movement traditions

East Asian Traditions Practice / discipline

Public geography: China
Period / origin: Warring States and Han attestations–present
Evidence status: Related-entry source

Candidate countriesChina

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Atlas 1309Initiatory

Daoist embryonic-breathing traditions

East Asian Traditions Practice / discipline

Public geography: China
Period / origin: Han and medieval textual attestations–present in lineage-specific forms
Evidence status: Cluster-level source

Candidate countriesChina

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Atlas 1310Initiatory

Daoist bìgǔ abstention traditions

East Asian Traditions Practice / discipline

Public geography: China
Period / origin: Early imperial attestations–present in limited forms
Evidence status: Cluster-level source

Candidate countriesChina

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Atlas 1311Initiatory

Daoist ritual-register traditions

East Asian Traditions Practice / discipline

Public geography: China
Period / origin: Late Han period–present
Evidence status: Related-entry source

Candidate countriesChina

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Atlas 1312Initiatory

Daoist register-transmission ordination

East Asian Traditions Rite / ceremony

Public geography: China
Period / origin: Late Han period–present
Evidence status: Related-entry source

Candidate countriesChina

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Atlas 1313Varies by lineage

Chinese bǎojuàn precious-scroll tradition

East Asian Traditions Umbrella tradition

Public geography: China
Period / origin: Ming period–present in regional performance and textual circulation
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesChina

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Atlas 1314Open / public