Kou Chien-chih

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K'ou Chien-chih (c.365–c.448 CE). Taoist successor of Ko Hung who did much to organize that tradition in Taoism and to make it the official religion of the Northern Way dynasty. He became celestial master (t'ien-shih) of the northern Wei court from 425–8. He introduced extravagant Taoist ritual to affirm the emperor as Perfect Ruler; but he was murdered by a palace eunuch, and his successor re-established Buddhism as the state religion.