Two thousand and five hundred years ago, Confucius described his whole life experience in one sentence, “I follow Tao consistently”. However, he did not explain what “Dao” means. Since then, people began to explore and discuss the meaning of Dao generation after generation. Among the different disputes and conclusions, the most distinctive and original explanation is no more than the popular religion “Way of Penetrating Unitiy” (Yiguan Dao), which is named by Confucius’ remark.

    Yiguan Dao is one of the largest and most influential popular religions in modern China. In the early years of PRC, Chinese government put it as a heterodox religion. It was exterminated and disappeared in mainland China. After Taiwan’s recovery in 1945, Yiguan Dao spread to Taiwan and it was legalized in 1987. After Yiguan Dao resumed to the public, it wasn’t a secret religion anymore and adapted itself to the modernized and judicial social environment, with the aim of Chinese culture rejuvenation and moral convention. With years of efforts, Yiguan Dao has developed into the third largest religion in Taiwan, next to Buddhism and Taoism. It has more than 100 branches, 10,000rites and 2 million believers. At the same time, Yiguan Dao is spreading to thewhole world, and by now its practice rites cover over 80 countries, especially in South East Asia and North America, where most overseas Chinese live. It has become the most international religion entity with original Chinese belief. This dissertation is based on the theories of religious sociology and culture study, and applies the field research and theoretical analysis as methods to examine Yiguan Dao’s history, current status, doctrine and functions. It also maps out Yiguan Dao’s development in Taiwan and its social influence, and proposes practical suggestions.

    There are the main ideas of this dissertation. First, Yiguan Dao is the largest popular religion in Modern China, but it does not draw any attention from the relative research field in China. Because Yiguan Dao is defined as a heterodox religion in mainland China, the relative academic studies are rare in mainland. However, it is an academic loss that our research is almost empty in Yiguan Dao’s practice and influence in Taiwan. Popular religion is not a political organization. Since society has undergone great changes, Communist Party of China and Kuomintang have resumed exchanges and left civil war issues behind. It is the first time since 1949 that Leaders from both parties shake hands and promise to work together for Chinese rejuvenation. Under such a totally different social background, we could be more detached on reviewing Yiguan Dao and make progress in studying issues of a popular religion, which is significant both in social reality and theories of religion.

    Second, as the most influential popular religion in Taiwan, Yiguan Dao has experienced a complicated process of emergence, development and destruction. Yiguan Dao is a mixed product of popular religious  thoughts and organizations, reflecting characteristics of China’s society from the end of Ming Dynasty to the early Qing Dynasty. It originated from Luo Teaching in Ming Dynasty, and interwove with Mahayana and Qinglian Teaching. In the reign of Guangxu (1875-1908), Mr. Wang Jueyi, a religion reformer, introduced the philosophy of the Song and Ming dynasties and reformed the original creed. Finally, he founded a new Yiguan Dao with Confucian ideas as main doctrines and combining Confucian, Buddhism and Taoism altogether. In reviewing the history of Yiguan Dao, believers kept secret associations and practices. In the 1930s’ Mr. Zhang Tianran (1889-1947) was enthroned as the master of Yiguan Dao. Under his leadership, Yiguan Dao reached its summit. During that period, many people all over China joined this popular religion. Still, they were associated secretly. In the early years of PRC, Yiguan Dao beheld its anti-communism stand, and therefore it was exterminated in mainland China by the government.

    Third, after Taiwan’s recovery in 1945, Yiguan Dao spread to Taiwan and came through a difficult process. At the very beginning, it was defined as a heterodox religion. The media lashed it severely and the other religious groups also rejected it. However, by now Yiguan Dao has been the most influential and vigorousnewly-emerged religion, widely accepted by the whole society. This transformation partly benefits from the hard efforts of believers, and it is also caused by the fast-changing general social ecology of religion and culture in Taiwan. Therefore, Yiguan Dao has got rid of the secret association model, and achieved its legal status in public. The future of Yiguan Dao both in religion and society should not be underestimated.

    Fourth, Yiguan Dao in Taiwan follows the basic doctrine of the Unborn Venerable Mother ( Wusheng Laomu ), the Last Kalpa of the third Period, Salvation for all spirits (from heaven, earth and hell), and the unity of Three Teachings (Confucian, Buddhism and Taoism). It also encourages the morality of cultivating one’s nature and improving one’s mind. At the same time, Taiwan’s Yiguan Dao rejuvenated itself in doctrine structures and organizations, and also succeeded in localization. A great number of intellectuals are converted to Yiguan Dao, which has made Yiguan Dao more adapt to Confucianism. The reformed Yiguan Dao emphasized the pursuit for the ideal world and perfect morality, and reflected the humanism characteristics. In general, Yiguan Dao is different from the one in mainland. It takes a new look as a modern Confucianism, rooted in Taiwan and spreading to the whole world.

    Fifth, after Yiguan Dao was legalized, it has played a more important role in Taiwan’s society, fully publicizing its doctrines and holding many kinds of events, such as participating politicacampaigns, introducing Chinese classic literature, organizing culture and art exhibitions and contributing to charity and public welfare of Taiwan. Therefore, Yiguan Dao has already involved in the following fields of Taiwan’s society: politics, economy, culture, society, and people’s livelihood. Yiguan Dao’s wide participation in social activities is a full display of its religious value under current social environment, which is helpful for one’s salvation. All it has done aims at expanding its social influence, and finally lifting itself as one of the largest religion in the world, such as Buddhism, Taoism, Catholicism and Christianity. After all, Yiguan Dao will continue to carry forward its doctrines and make itself more popular in the world.

    Sixth, it is necessary to observe the facts of Yiguan Dao’s successful transformation in Taiwan, and objectively evaluate its positive functions in inheriting Chinese culture in Taiwan’s social environment. At the same time, Yiguan Dao plays a key role in enhancing the sense of identity as Chinese nation among overseas Chinese and Taiwan compatriots. For Chinese government, it is an important way to maximize the positive influence of Yiguan Dao, and guide its believers and organizations to make contributions to the peace and development of cross-strait relations, and China’s reunification in a long run.

                     KEY WORDS：  Popular Religion, Taiwan, Yiguan Dao