The Seven Taoist Masters is a classic Chinese novel written by an unknown author around the 16th century. It tells about the seven disciples of the great Taoist Patriarch Wang Chongyang and the incredible difficulties that they had to overcome on the way to the Tao. All of them, like their teacher Wang Chongyang, are real historical figures who lived in China during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127–1279). The novel contains Wang Chuyang's instructions to his students on issues such as cultivating the body and mind, meditation techniques, and overcoming imperfections of one's own character. All this, along with the fascinating description of the adventures of the characters, makes for a deep and at the same time fascinating read, revealing to the reader the basics of Taoist philosophy and practical methods.