Way of Great Peace

The Way of Great Peace, sometimes called Way of Peace (particulary by Koei), was the name of Zhang Jiao's teachings. In the 170's and 180's the Three Zhangs amassed hundreds of thousands of followers through these teachings that were based upon faith-healing.

Zhang Jiao was an adept of the Huang-Lao, a popular cult concerning the Yellow Emperor (黃帝) and Laozi (老子).

Gathering Followers
Over a ten-year period, possible longer Zhang Jiao, together with his two brothers Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang, enjoyed phenomenal success in enlisting the services of an estimated 360.000 followers from eight provinces; Qing, Xu, You, Ji, Jing, Yang, Yan and Yu.

An explanation on this rapid growth is given in various works to be:
 * Economic misfortunes for peasants and former military settlers
 * The Imperial Eunuchs abusing the trust they received from Emperor Ling.
 * Floodings that occurred in 175 A.D. and 183 A.D.
 * Droughts in 176, 177, 182 and 183.
 * Epidemics in 173, 179 and 182..
 * It appears very likely a new disease, possibly a version of measles or smallpox, began affecting humans.

The droughts and floodings would destroy the peasants fields and damage their property. They would have had more difficulty to feed themselves and their families and, of course, had less income making it hard for them to repair their damaged property. Furthermore there were epidemics. Ill people need treatment, at the cost of money.

The peasants were ready to flock to the standards of anyone who offered help. This alevation of misery was offered by various faith-healers, though Zhang Jiao and his brothers seemed to have been the most rapid growing group.

The Zhang brothers, while versed in faith-healing, may also have known of efficacious herbalistic and medical remedies which would either cure or lessen the sufferings of their inoumerable patients.