Biographies of the Three Lingbao Patriarchs 洞玄灵宝三师记

Formerly attributed to "Liu Jingjing, the Guangcheng Master", textual research shows this work was actually compiled by Du Guangting, the Guangcheng Master, a Taoist priest of the late Tang and Five Dynasties periods.

It consists of one volume, included in the The Daozang under the Genealogy Category of The Dongxuan Section.

Biographies of the Three Lingbao Patriarchs

The preface by the compiler at the beginning states that Taoist disciples highly venerate the Three Masters: the Master who Ordains (the one who transmits the Dao to the disciple), the Master of Registration (the master of the ordaining master), and the Master of Scripture (the master of the registration master). It says, "The masters are as venerable as ancestors." This book was written by the compiler to recount the life stories of his three masters.

It contains three factual records, respectively describing the lives, spiritual manifestations, and ascension of Tian Xuying (Master of Scripture), Feng Weiliang (Master of Registration), and Ying Yijie (Master of Ordaining). Each record is followed by a eulogy in praise of the master.

Tian, Feng, and Ying were all prominent Taoist priests of the Tang Dynasty and successors of the Tiantai branch of the Shangqing School. In his early years, Du Guangting practiced Taoism on Mount Tiantai and was a disciple of Ying Yijie. Therefore, this book possesses important historical value for studying the transmission lineage of the Shangqing School during the Tang Dynasty.