The Chen Guayan 陈寡言

Chen Guayan, styled Dachu, was a native of Jiyang in Yuezhou during the Tang Dynasty (now part of Zhejiang Province).

As recorded in A Brief Record of Mount Heng (Nanyue Xiaolu), he lived in seclusion at the Taoist abbey in Hualin Valley on Yuxiao Peak. He studied under Tian Xuying and was fully taught the esoteric doctrines of the Supreme Pure (Shangqing) tradition (note: "上清三润" likely refers to core esoteric teachings of the Shangqing sect; the term "三润" is a specific Taoist concept, here generalized to "esoteric doctrines of the Supreme Pure tradition" for clarity as its exact textual reference requires further contextual verification).

He was particularly proficient in Taoist ritual protocols and codes. Whenever there were omissions or gaps in these rituals, he would collect relevant materials and supplement them.

In his daily life, he found joy in playing the qin (a traditional Chinese zither) and drinking wine. He indulged himself in composing poems, and his works were never over-embellished.

Ten of his poems have been passed down to later generations. Among his disciples who received the formal transmission of Taoist teachings was Liu Jie.