The four great masters of Taoism are Zhang Daoling, Ge Xuan, Sa Shoujian, and Xu Jingyang.
Zhengyi real person Zhang Daoling
Zhang Daoling, a real person in Zhengyi, is an important figure in Taoism and is known as the founder of the Heavenly Master Tao. He was born in 34 A.D., the word Fu Han, formerly known as Ling, was a native of Pei County Feng of the Han Kingdom (now Feng County, Xuzhou, Jiangsu). Zhang Daoling is known as the "Old Ancestor Heavenly Master", also known as "Zhengyi Zhenren" and "Three-day Teaching ** Teacher" and so on. His book Lao Tzu Xiang'er Notes had a profound impact on the development of Taoism.
Zhang Daoling founded the Tao of the Heavenly Master, that is, the Zhengyi League, with the "Zhengyi League" as the classic, with Lao Tzu as the leader, respecting the "Lao Tzu Five Thousand Texts" as the main classic, and absorbing part of the Confucianism and Yin and Yang Five Elements thought. Zhang Daoling and his followers carried out a wide range of religious activities in the Bashu region, and won not only the widespread support of the believers, but also the recognition and support of the rulers.
The background of Zhang Daoling's founding of the Heavenly Master Dao was the original witchcraft belief in the Bashu region. These primitive witch cults believe in ghosts and demons, gather people to collect money, and do all kinds of evil, causing great harm to the people. Zhang Daoling came to Beibi Mountain to practice, pacified these lich religions, and eliminated harm for the people. Therefore, he has a high reputation and influence among the people.
Zhang Daoling's ** is numerous, and it is said that there are more than 3,000 people. He established the 24 Zhi and laid the organizational foundation of the Heavenly Master Dao. In addition, Zhang Daoling is also known as the four heavenly masters of Taoism together with Ge Xuan, Xu Xun, and Sa Shoujian.
In short, Zhang Daoling, as the founder of the Heavenly Master Tao, had a profound impact on the development of Taoism. His ideas and teachings not only laid the foundation for the later development of Taoism, but also injected new vitality into China's religious culture.
Ge Xuan
Ge Xuan (164 244), the word filial piety, was a native of Jurong (now Jiangsu) in Danyang, Wu State during the Three Kingdoms period, and was the ancestor of the Taoist Lingbao School.
Ge Xuan took Zuo Ci as his teacher, practiced Taoism, and was taught alchemy scriptures such as "Taiqing Dan Sutra", "Jiuding Dan Sutra", and "Golden Liquid Dan Sutra". Later generations of Taoism honored him as "Ge Xian Gong", also known as "Tai Chi Zuo Xian Gong", the Northern Song Dynasty Huizong was named "Chong Ying Zhenren", and the Southern Song Dynasty Li Zong was named "Chong Ying Fuyou Zhenjun".
Ge Xuan is good at spells, and according to legend, he once cultivated in Jiangxi Pavilion Soap Mountain, and often took food in the valley. His deeds are recorded in "The Legend of the Immortals: Ge Xuan", describing that he studied under Zuo Ci, practiced the "Nine Dan Golden Liquid Immortal Sutra", often took bait, was good at curing diseases, practiced talismans and ghosts, was good at divine transformation, and finally dissected into immortals.
Ge Xuan has an important position in Taoism and is considered the ancestor of the Lingbao sect of Taoism, which has had a profound impact on the development of Taoism. At the same time, he is also one of the famous monks in history, and his deeds are widely spread among the people and have become a part of traditional Chinese culture.
Chong'en Zhenjun Sa Shoujian
Sa Shoujian, known as Quan Yangzi, also known as Chong'en Zhenjun, was a famous Taoist priest in the Song Dynasty and one of the four heavenly masters recognized by Taoism.
Sa Shoujian used to practice medicine when he was young, but because of his poor medical skills, he turned to medicine and followed the Tao. He visited famous teachers all over the world, and finally met Wang Wenqing, the founder of the Shenxiao Sect, Lin Lingsu, and Zhang Jixian, the thirtieth generation Heavenly Master of Longhu Mountain, and obtained a spell from them. Since then, Sa Shoujian has been famous for his Taoism, using curses to help the poor and pull out suffering, using thunder to eradicate rape and eliminate harm, and using treasure fans to avenge the people.
Sa Shoujian has a very high status in Taoism, known as one of the four heavenly masters, its influence is far-reaching, later generations have the so-called "Sazu School", "Xihe School", "Tianshan School", etc., all respect Sa Shoujian as the ancestor. In addition, in folk beliefs, Sa Shoujian also has a high reputation, especially in the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty, the palace incense dedicated to Sa Shoujian was prosperous.
Sa Shoujian's life deeds are recorded in Taoist classics such as "The True Immortal Body of the Past Generations" and "The Continuation of the True Immortal Body of the Past Generations". Among them, some documents mention that Sa Shoujian once called himself "Fenyang Sake" and took the name "Quan Yangzi". In addition, there are different theories about Sa Shoujian's origin, one says that he was from Shuxihe (now Tangchang Town, Pixian County, Sichuan), and the other is that he was from Nanhua (now Dongming, Shandong).
In short, Sa Shoujian is an important and influential figure in the history of Taoism, and his life deeds and Taoist achievements have had a profound impact on the development and inheritance of Taoism.
Xu Jingyang
Xu Jingyang, also known as Xu Xun and Xu Jingzhi, is a famous Taoist priest during the Jin Dynasty and is known as the ancestor of the Taoist Jingming School. He was born in Yitangpo Cimu Village, Changding Township, Nanchang County, Yuzhang County (near Maqiu Town, High-tech Zone, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province).
Xu Jingyang was born in filial piety in the first year of Taikang (280), and later served as the commander of Jingyang County. However, he did not seek fame and fortune, and finally abandoned the official position and returned to the east, cultivated and refined the pill in Xishan, and wrote a book to establish the "Taishang Lingbao Pure Ming Law". According to legend, he is the author of Taoist classics such as "Lingjianzi" and "The Story of the Jade Box". Xu Jingyang showed extremely high magical powers in the process of cultivation, and legend has it that he cut down Jiao to eliminate harm and remove many evil spirits for the people.
Xu Jingyang was feathered in Ningkang in the second year and died at the age of 136. In the second year of Zongzheng and 1112 of Song Hui, he was posthumously awarded the title of "Shengong Miaoji Zhenjun". In the Yuan Dynasty, he was also canonized as the "Jiuzhou Immortal Ambassador Master Master", and was named the "God of Inspiration". In Taoism, Xu Jingyang is listed as one of the four great heavenly masters along with Zhang Daoling, Ge Xuan, and Sa Shoujian.
In Jiangxi and other places, there are many temples dedicated to Xu Jingyang, and the incense is very vigorous. For example, there is Xu Jingyang Temple in Yiren Township, Anyi County, Jiangxi Province, there is a big stone several zhang high in front of the temple, and there is a clump of evergreen thatch on the stone, which is said to have been planted by Xu Xun.