Who Founded Fung Loy Kok Institute of Taoism and What Is Its Taoist Background?

Fung Loy Kok Institute of Taoism was founded on the teachings of Master Moy Lin Shin, who, according to the organization's website, "descended from a long lineage of teachers" and "distilled the essence of the Taoist tradition into a practical method of training." That distilled method is what the institute calls Taoist Tai Chi® arts, and it is the organization's central practice. The site frames the practice as "cultivating harmony and balance in body, mind and spirit," summarized in the three words Strength, Flexibility, Stillness.

The founder: Master Moy Lin Shin

The homepage identifies Master Moy as "Our Founder" and describes his background in two connected points:

• Lineage. He came from a long line of teachers within the Taoist tradition.
• Distillation. Rather than presenting Taoism only as doctrine or ritual, he translated its essence into a practical training method that ordinary people could take up.

The site also includes a video in which Master Moy demonstrates Taoist Tai Chi® arts, so the founder's own movement is used as a reference point for what the practice looks like.

What the Taoist background means in practice

The organization's Taoist identity shows up in several concrete ways on the site, not just in the name:

This combination—movement practice, chanting, temples, and festivals—is the clearest signal of how the institute presents its Taoist heritage: as a living tradition expressed through practice and community activity, not only through text.

Where to read more

The site keeps the founder and organizational history on separate pages rather than in one long account:

• More About Master Moy — for the founder's lineage and role.
• More History — for how the organization developed.
• Frequently Asked Questions — for common questions about the practice and the institute.
• Who We Are — for the organization's self-description.

If your interest is specifically in the founder's lineage and teaching method, start with More About Master Moy; if you want to understand how the institute grew around that method, the History page is the better entry point.

A note on what the site does and does not say

The homepage excerpt describes the founder's lineage and the distillation of Taoist tradition, but it does not give dates, a full biography, or a detailed doctrinal statement. Those details would need to come from the dedicated About Master Moy and History pages. The site also lists many health-related topic pages (for example arthritis, Parkinson's disease, and stress), but the homepage excerpt does not present these as medical claims or treatment promises—they are framed as areas where people practice the arts. Anyone considering the practice for a health condition should treat those pages as descriptions of the organization's programs, not as clinical guidance.

Practical next step

The site states that you "can start anytime in one of 400 sessions across Canada" and that it is "accessible to all." To act on that, use the red "Start Now" button at the top right, or go to Find a Location to search for a session near you. The site is available in English, French, and Chinese (FR / EN / 中文), so you can read the founder and history pages in your preferred language before deciding whether to attend.