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Primary sourceBookBegun 1406, completed 1445

Zhengtong Canon

Begun 1406, completed 1445

A compiled canon of Taoist texts begun under the Yongle Emperor in 1406 and completed in 1445 under his great-grandson, reflecting his patronage of Daoism.

He began this Daoist canon project in 1406, reflecting his patronage of Daoism, though it was finished under a later emperor.

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About this source

What it is

The Zhengtong Canon is a canon of Taoist texts compiled during the Ming dynasty. The project was begun under the Yongle Emperor and completed in 1445, during the reign of his great-grandson.

Why it matters

Compiling a full Daoist canon was a massive undertaking that required the resources and authority of the imperial court. That the Yongle Emperor began the project shows his interest in supporting and organizing Daoist religious tradition, continuing a long tradition of Chinese emperors patronizing religion as part of their rule. The fact that it took decades to complete, spanning several reigns, shows how such large cultural projects outlived their initial sponsors.

Look closer

  • Why might an emperor want to sponsor the compilation of religious texts?
  • What does it mean that this project took nearly forty years and outlasted the emperor who started it?
  • What might be lost or changed in a text project that passes through several rulers' hands?

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