Nomenclature
- I-kuan (Yiguan, 一貫 ) means something like "penetrating with one", "consistency" or "one unity." This term is derived from a passage of Analects (4.15) where Confucius said that his way is that of "an all-pervading truth" (吾道一以貫之 wu dao yi yi guan zhi).
- Tao (Dao, 道 ) has many meanings, including "way", "path" and "truth". When used next to the name of some Chinese religions, it means "religion." For example, Tai Ping Tao (太平道), a renegade religious group in ancient China which had directly led to the decline of the Eastern Han Dynasty. The same word Tao has been used by the Taoist and Confucian traditions to describe the broad patterns of the universe, life, and humanity as well as ritual or religious manifestation.
Because of the name, I-Kuan Tao is often assumed to be Taoist, and Taoism does indeed form part of its heritage. However its history, teachings, practices, and leadership are different from those of either the "elite" forms of Taoist religion (the Celestial Masters or Complete Purity schools) or Chinese folk religion of the masses. In the same way, I-Kuan Tao differs from, and yet also resembles, Confucianism and Chinese Buddhism.
Because the group was banned in Taiwan in the 70s and 80s, it manifested in different names such as The Confucius-Mencius Society, The Morality Society, etc. They also called themselves Zhenli Tiandao (真理天道 The True Celestial Tao).
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