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Taoist

道士 · Taoist — An Eastern sorcerer who commands the world through the principles of the Tao

The Taoist (道士) is a religious practitioner of Taoism, originating from Laozi's Tao Te Ching and Zhuangzi's Zhuangzi. The ultimate goal is realizing the Tao (Way) and the principle of wu wei (non-action, naturalness) to become an immortal (xian). To achieve this they cultivate meditation, breathing techniques (qigong), inner alchemy (neidan), outer alchemy (waidan — alchemical elixir making), herbalism, feng shui, and divination. Merging with Korean shamanism, it became established in forms of geomancy, yin-yang and five elements theory, and astrology. A staple character in East Asian wuxia novels. Ge Hong's Baopuzi and Tao Hongjing's Zhengao are representative Taoist texts; Wudang, Qingcheng, and Longhu mountains are Taoist holy sites. Not merely religious figures but comprehensive scholars of medicine, pharmacology, astronomy, and alchemy, with Taoist alchemy contributing to the invention of gunpowder and firearms.

Origin

Derived from Chinese Taoism. The philosophies of Zhuangzi and Laozi combined with the Immortal (神仙) faith to form the concept of the Taoist sorcerer who wields Taoist arts. Developed fantastically in classical novels such as Investiture of the Gods and Journey to the West.

Features

Talismans (符籍): writing patterns on paper, stone, and other materials to contain magical effects
Taoist arts: nature magic utilizing the Five Elements (五行)
Celestial arts (仙術): gaining abilities approaching an immortal through long-term training
Specialist in exorcising and sealing ghosts and demons

Usage

The absolute specialist in ghost and demon exorcism and sealing. The core magical specialist class of Eastern fantasy.