The Bai Yuchan 白玉蟾

Bai Yuchan (1191-1229) was a figure of the Southern Song Dynasty. In his early years, he went to Leizhou (now Qiongshan, Hainan) and became the adopted son of the Bai family, hence the name Bai Yuchan. Later, he changed his name to Ge Changgeng. His courtesy names included Ruhui, Ziqing, and Baisou, and his literary names (hao) were Haiqiongzi, Wuyi Sanren (Wuyi Hermit), Qiongshan Daoren (Taoist of Qiongshan), Shenxiao Sanli (Unofficial Official of the Divine Firmament), and Hainan Weng (Elder of Hainan).

He was originally from Minqing, Fujian (some say from Qiongzhou, Hainan). As a child, he passed the Tongzi Ke (Children’s Examination, a special imperial examination for gifted children in ancient China). When he grew up, he killed someone out of chivalry, after which he became a Taoist monk and lived in seclusion in Mount Wuyi. He studied under Chen Nan for nine years and fully mastered Chen’s Taoist doctrines and practices.

During the Jiading era (1208-1224) of the Southern Song Dynasty, he was summoned to reside in the Taiyi Palace (a Taoist temple dedicated to the Taiyi Heavenly Deity). In the 5th year of the Jiading era, he received Chen Nan’s teachings and bequeathed instructions at Mount Luofu. In the 10th year, he accepted Peng Si and Liu Yuanzhang as his disciples. In the 11th year, Emperor Ningzong ordered him to preside over the national Taoist ritual (Guojiao, a grand ritual held for national blessings) at the Yuchan Palace in Hongzhou and the Ruiqing Palace on Mount Jiugong. In the 15th year, he went to Lin’an (the capital of the Southern Song Dynasty, now Hangzhou) and knelt down outside the imperial palace to present his views on state affairs. However, he was arrested by the capital’s governor (Jing Yin) due to drunkenness. Some court officials accused him of "misleading the people with heterodox Taoism" (Zuodao Huozhong). After this incident, he devoted himself to spreading Neidan (Inner Alchemy) teachings and established the Southern Sect of the Neidan School.

The theoretical foundation of his Taoist doctrines lay in the theory of cosmic generation and the concepts of Jing (Essence), Qi (Vital Energy), and Shen (Spirit) — core elements of Neidan theory. He integrated the Yi-ology of Confucianism, the "Zhi Zhi" (Knowing the Limit/Attaining Rest) theory of Buddhist Chan (Zen) Buddhism, and was also proficient in the Dadong Fulu (Great Cavern Talismans and Registers, a system of Taoist talismans) and Zhaijiao Keyi (Taoist ritual ceremonies). He was particularly renowned for his expertise in Lei Fa (Thunder Magic, a Taoist practice believed to control thunder and rainfall). His Neidan theories developed a distinct style different from those of Zhang Boduan and Shi Tai, and exerted a significant influence on Taoist cultivation methods after the Five Dynasties (907-979).

After his death, he was posthumously granted the title "Ziqing Mingdao Zhenren" (True Person of Purple Clarity and Bright Dao) by imperial edict, and was commonly known as "Mr. Ziqing" (Xiansheng) in later generations. His disciples included Peng Si, Liu Yuanzhang, Zhao Ruqu, Ye Guxi, Chen Shoumo, and Zhou Xiqing, among others.

His works include Daode Baozhang (Precious Chapters on the Dao and De), Haiqiong Ji (Collected Works of Haiqiong), Haiqiong Ji Ci (Ci-poems from the Collected Works of Haiqiong), Haiqiong Wendaoji (Collected Dialogues on Dao Inquiry by Haiqiong), Haiqiong Bai Zhenren Yulu (Recorded Sayings of True Person Bai of Haiqiong, compiled by Xie Xiandao), Shangqing Ji (Collected Works of the Supreme Purity), Wuyi Ji (Collected Works of Wuyi), and Haiqiong Yuchan Xiansheng Wenji (Collected Literary Works of Immortal Yuchan of Haiqiong).