Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou
The debate was inconclusive, so the Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou (543–578) commissioned comparative reports on the suitability of Buddhism and Daoism as state religions, resulting in the "Xiaodao Lun" by official Zhen Luan, and "Erjiao Lun" () by Dao An. Submitted in 570 as the "Xiaodao Lun", Zhen's report denied that Daoism had any value and ridiculed the religion's exorcisms, talismans, and internal inconsistencies.