Who is the Peng Zu 彭祖

Peng Zu, known for his legendary longevity, was originally an immortal in pre-Qin legends and later revered as a celestial being by Taoism.

Born on the sixth day of the sixth lunar month, Peng Zu was the great-great-grandson of Emperor Zhuanxu in ancient times and the eighth-generation descendant of Emperor Xuanyuan (Huangdi). According to legend, during the reign of Emperor Yao, Peng Zu presented a pheasant soup to Yao, who was so pleased that he granted Pengcheng to Peng Zu as a fiefdom—hence the title "Peng Zu" passed down in later generations.

In the time of Emperor Shun, Peng Zu studied under Yin Shouzi and mastered true Taoism, after which he lived in seclusion in Mount Wuyi. By the end of the Shang Dynasty, he was already over 800 years old, yet he showed no signs of aging. From a young age, he favored tranquility, shunned fame and worldly pursuits, and paid no attention to elaborate appearances, devoting his days to health preservation and self-cultivation.

When the Shang king invited him to serve as a senior official, he could not refuse but often stayed away from court on the pretext of illness. He was proficient in nourishing and guiding techniques, regularly taking cinnamon, mica powder, and deer antler powder. He was usually taciturn, never boasting about his mastery of Taoism nor performing supernatural tricks to gain fame.

Peng Zu also traveled extensively, never riding in carriages or horses. Even when journeying for dozens or a hundred days, he carried no provisions, yet upon his return, his food and clothing remained as usual. He was skilled in guiding and regulating qi: he would practice breath-holding and inner energy cultivation from morning till night, then rub his eyes, massage his body, lick his lips, swallow saliva, and only then stand up. When feeling fatigued or unwell, he would use guided breath-holding to direct qi to the affected areas, unblocking the energy flow in his nine orifices, five internal organs, limbs, and even hair, restoring his body to comfort.

When the Shang king heard of his abilities, he personally visited Peng Zu to seek the way of longevity, but Peng Zu remained silent. The king offered him tens of thousands of gold pieces, which Peng Zu accepted and distributed entirely to the common people.

Peng Zu is honored as the "patron saint of chefs" for inventing pheasant soup, which cured Emperor Yao's anorexia. He is also credited with initiating qigong practice in China for his expertise in "guiding and regulating qi" and renowned worldwide for his mastery of "prolonging life," earning eternal reverence from later generations.