Way of the Five Pecks of Rice or the Way of the Celestial Master, commonly abbreviated to simply The Celestial Masters, is a Chinese Taoist movement that is founded by the first Celestial Master Zhang Daoling in 142 CE.

At its height, the movement controls a theocratic state in the Hanzhong valley, north of Sichuan.

In 215 CE, the state is incorporated into Cao Cao's Kingdom of Wei, and followers of the Celestial Master are dispersed all over China.The Celestial Masters believe that qi pervades everything, and in order to achieve immortality, the correct balance of qi has to be present within the body.

Having a poor quantity of qi in the body will result in illness, and eventually death.

Meditation can be used to restore qi to the body, but sex is to be avoided, as it can result in the loss of qi.

If there is the correct balance of qi within the body upon death, an adherent can 'feign death' and be reborn.

If not, an adherent will be transported to an earthly prison where he will face eternal torment.The Hanzhong state is divided into 24 regions which are led by an official.

Each district has a civil register which recorded people's names and ranks.

Three times a year, the registers are updated at the same time as an important feast.

While a child's rank rises automatically, adults have to raise their own rank through religious achievement or marriage.

Higher ranked people have more divine generals at their command, which can be used to fight demons that cause bad luck or disease.

The state has a system of law that encourages confession and benevolence rather than strict punishment.

Criminals are asked to confess their crimes and meditate, and are given public work to do as a sentence.

Few texts written by the Hanzhong Celestial Masters survive, with the most important being the Xiang'er commentary to the Tao Te Jing.

While the Hanzhong state lasts for only twenty-five years, their beliefs influence all subsequent Taoist movements.