Inscriptions of Louguan Temple Immortals 终南山说经台历代真仙碑记

Compiled by Zhu Xiangxian, a Taoist priest of the Maoshan Sect, in the Yuan Dynasty. It is one volume and included in the Biographical Category of the Dongshen Section of the Daozang.

Inscriptions of Louguan Temple Immortals

This text is also included in A Comprehensive Collection of Taoist Stone Inscriptions under the title Stele Biography of the Former Masters of Louguan. The inscription records the life deeds of Taoist patriarchs of all dynasties at Louguan Terrace in Shaanxi Province. According to the author's postscript, Louguan is the cradle of Taoist circles under heaven. Since Guan Yin, the Pass Commandant of the Zhou Dynasty, attained immortality, numerous people have practiced the Dao and achieved transcendence here in all subsequent dynasties. The three volumes of Biography of the Former Masters of Louguan, compiled by Yin Gui of the Jin Dynasty, Wei Jie of the Northern Zhou Dynasty and Yin Wencao of the Tang Dynasty, document the deeds of thirty patriarchs of Louguan and have been handed down for a long time.

Zhu Xiangxian, the author of this book, came to Louguan in the 30th year of the Zhiyuan reign (1279) and chanced upon Biography of Louguan. He then abridged the book and had it carved on a stone stele. In addition to the thirty figures recorded in the original work—including Yin Gui, Du Chong, Liang Kan, Wang Zinian, Wei Jie, Wang Yan and Qi Hui—the inscription supplements five more: Yin Xi, Yin Wencao, Liang Quan, Yin Zhiping and Li Zhirou, making a total of thirty-five people. A brief biography is written for each person, followed by a eulogy. This work is an important source for the study of the history of Taoism at Louguan.