the West" have abandoned this "simplistic dichotomy". Similarly, Louis Komjathy writes that this is an untenable misconception because "the association of daojia with "thought" (sixiang) and of daojiao with "religion) (zongjiao) is a modern Chinese construction largely rooted in earlier Chinese literati, European colonialist, and Protestant missionary interpretations." Komjathy argues that none of these terms were understood in this bifurcated "philosophy/religion" manner in the pre-modern era. Daojia was a taxonomical category for Daoist texts which was eventually applied in the early medieval period for Daoist movements and priests. Meanwhile, Daojiao was originally used to distinguish Daoist tradition from Buddhism (fojiao). Thus, Daojiao included daojia. Furthermore, Komjathy notes that the earliest Daoist texts also "reveal a religious community composed of master-disciple lineages". Thus, according to Komjathy, "Daoism was a religious tradition from the beginning." The Chinese-American philosopher Chung-ying Cheng also views Daoism as a religion, one that has been embedded into Chinese history and tradition, while also assuming many different forms, including "forms of philosophy and practical wisdom". Chung-ying Cheng also noted that the Daoist view of heaven flows mainly from "observation and meditation, [though] the teaching of the way (Dao) can also include the way of heaven independently of human nature". Daoism can also not be classified as a mere variant of Chinese folk religion. This is because while the two share some similar concepts, much of Chinese folk religion is quite different from the tenets and core teachings of Taoism. Scholars continue to disagree on the nature of Daoist religion. For example, sinologists like Isabelle Robinet and Livia Kohn agree that "Taoism has never been a unified religion, and has constantly consisted of a combination of teachings based on a variety of original revelations." Meanwhile, Komjathy sees Daoism as "a unified religious tradition characterized by complexity and diversity." "Daoists" Traditionally, the Chinese language does not have terms defining lay people adhering to the doctrines or the practices of Daoism, who fall instead within the field of folk religion. Daoist, in Western sinology, is traditionally used to translate daoshi (, "master of the Dao"), thus strictly defining the priests of Daoism, ordained clergymen of a Daoist institution who "represent Taoist culture on a professional basis", are experts of Daoist liturgy, and therefore can employ this knowledge and ritual skills for the benefit of a community. This role of Daoist priests reflects the definition of Daoism as a "liturgical framework for