Hongyang Sect was first popular in Jifu and Zhili, and then gradually expanded to some areas in North China and Northeast China. According to Hongyang Sect's "Hongyang Miao Dao Yu Hua Zhen Sutra Suitang Baojuan" and "Hong Yang Kung Fu Enlightenment Sutra" and other records, Han Taihu was born in the fourth year of Longqing (1570). When he was a boy, he visited Henan, Hubei and other places. The road has been prepared through hardships, but it has not yet been accomplished.
In the 16th year of Wanli (1588), he went to Caoqi Cave in Taihu Mountain, Lincheng, Zhili Province to practice Buddhism. Three years later, he attained Taoism and founded the Hongyang Sect. He regarded Luo Qing, the ancestor of Wuwei teaching, as his ancestor, and claimed to be the reincarnation of Luo Zu, also known as Piao Gaozu. He also imitated "The Five Classics of Luozu" and created the "Hongyang Sigh of the World" and so on as the "Hongyang Five Classics", which is called the "Big Five". Later, many sutras, mantras, Buddha's names, etc. were compiled into five parts including "The Mysterious Sutra of the Supreme Way of Hunyuan", which were called the "Small Five Parts". In the 23rd year of Wanli, he went to Beijing to preach. At that time, everyone in the court believed in Buddhism and Taoism, and at the same time, the practice of practicing witchcraft and sorcerers was very popular. He made friends with the chief eunuchs, respected him as a "protector", and was able to win favor with the middle and lower classes of the court. Among the people and even some dignitaries, their teachings flourished. In the twenty-sixth year of his life, Han Taihu died at the age of 29. The church used this to make up many stories to deify him, and the church prospered.
Han Taihu and his successors wrote many treasure volumes, most of which were published by the Neijing Factory. They were the sect with the most published scriptures at that time. The highest deity worshiped by this sect is Hunyuan Ancestor (and Wusheng Laomu), and the treasure scrolls written by them are generally titled "Hunyuan", "Hongyang" or "Hongyang".
The contents taught by Hongyang Sect are mostly general White Lotus teachings. Taoist disciples do not have many activities on weekdays. They only gather on the birthdays of Tathagata Buddha Ksitigarbha, Avalokitesvara, the birthday and death of Piao Gaozu, or when doing funerals for others. Some Taoist disciples held Buddhist services and recited sutras such as "The Sutra of Hongyang's Hard Work to Enlighten the Tao", "The Sutra of Hunyuan Hongyang's Coming to the World and Flying High", "The Treasure Scroll of Protecting the Country and Blessing the People and Subduing Demons", "The Treasure Scroll of the Ten Kings of Mount Taishan" etc. roll. In addition, some social welfare undertakings such as treating diseases, administering medicine, and giving porridge are also carried out. After entering the Qing Dynasty, Hongyang Sect returned to the people from the court. Although it was included in the laws and regulations prohibiting cults, it still practiced the religion as before; it never analyzed the sect branches or changed its name.