The Bi Zhichang 毕知常
Paul PengShare
Bi Zhichang (?-1231)
Bi Zhichang was a native of Liquan County in Qianzhou (now part of Shaanxi Province) during the Jin Dynasty.
His family had been a prominent clan for generations. He had four brothers, and all of them were fond of the philosophical school of "qingxu wuwei" (a core concept of Taoism, emphasizing purity, emptiness, and non-action in accordance with nature).
- In the 12th year of the Dading era (1172), Bi went to the ancestral court of Taoism in Zhongnan Mountain, where he studied under Ma Danyang and mastered the essential principles of cultivating one's moral character and nurturing one's life essence (a key practice in Taoism focusing on physical and spiritual refinement).
- In the 22nd year of the Dading era (1182), he accompanied Ma Danyang on his eastward journey back home. Later, he traveled to Longxi and became a disciple of Qiu Changchun (another leading Taoist master of the time) to further his studies.
- In the 2nd year of the Mingchang era (1191), when Qiu Changchun returned eastward, Bi Zhichang and Lü Dao'an jointly took charge of the affairs of the Zhongnan Mountain ancestral court.
- In the 6th year of the Mingchang era (1195), due to the lack of an official imperial decree granting a formal name plaque to the Taoist temple (a necessary official recognition), the temple was confiscated by the government.
- In the 2nd year of the Cheng'an era (1197), Bi Zhichang went eastward to seek refuge with Qiu Changchun.
- In the 3rd year of the Cheng'an era (1198), he arrived in Yandu (the capital of the Jin Dynasty, located in present-day Beijing). There, he obtained an official name plaque for the ancestral court, naming the temple "Lingxu Guan" (Lingxu Taoist Temple). The imperial court appointed him as "Fu Zhiguan" (Deputy Administrator of the Temple) and conferred upon him the Taoist title "Tongzhen Dashi" (Great Master of Penetrating Truth).
From this point onward, the Taoist tradition and influence of the Zhongnan Mountain ancestral court flourished significantly.
Bi Zhichang was particularly skilled in medicine. Whenever he heard that someone was ill, he would go to treat them without distinguishing between the rich and the poor.
Later, he resigned from his position managing the temple and lived in seclusion at Dongzhen Guan (Dongzhen Taoist Temple) in Qishan County. He passed away in the 8th year of the Zhengda era (1231). In the 2nd year of the Yuan Xianzong era (1252), under the imperial order of the Yuan Dynasty, Li Zhenren (a Taoist leader holding the title "Perfected One") posthumously awarded Bi Zhichang the honorific title "Guangrong Zhenren" (Perfected One of Broad Tolerance).
Detailed accounts of his life story can be found in the middle volume of Zhongnan Shan Zuting Xianzhen Neichuan (Inner Biographies of the Immortal Sages from the Ancestral Court of Zhongnan Mountain).
About the Author
Paul Peng
Paul Peng is a Zhengyi Taoist priest from Longhu Mountain, Jiangxi — the ancestral home of the Celestial Masters' tradition. Ordained at 25 after a dream from the Celestial Master, he has practiced for 25 years under Master Zeng Guangliang. He is one of the curators of this store, which is officially authorized by Tianshi Fu. All items are consecrated at the temple by the resident priest team.
Read his full story →
