The Chen Rixin 陈日新

Chen Rixin (1277-1329) was a native of Anren in Raozhou during the Yuan Dynasty, a place now part of Jiangxi Province. His courtesy name was Youxin.

After his father passed away, he entrusted all family affairs to his elder brother, bid farewell to his mother, and left home to become a Taoist monk. He resided at the Qingzheng Wanshou Palace on Longhu Mountain.

During the Yuanzhen and Dade eras (1295–1307), the Great Hierarch (Dazongshi) Wu Quanjie was commissioned to conduct sacrificial rituals for the emperor at famous Taoist mountains. Noticing Chen Rixin’s extraordinary spiritual aptitude (daogu, a Taoist term referring to the inherent quality suitable for Taoist practice), Wu recommended him to Zhang Liusun, who then summoned Chen to be his disciple.

In the 11th year of the Dade era (1307), by imperial decree, Chen was appointed as "Dongxuan Mingde Chongjiao Dharma Master" and "Tiju" (Director) of the Chongzhen Wanshou Palace in Dadu (the Yuan Dynasty’s capital, present-day Beijing).

In the 1st year of the Huangqing era (1312), he was reassigned to the position of "Tidian" (Administrator) of the Chongzhen Wanshou Palace in Dadu. He was also conferred the title "Chongxuan Chongdao Mingfu Zhenren" (Real Person of Venerating Mystery, Advancing Dao, Illuminating Restoration—"Zhenren" is a revered title for accomplished Taoists). Additionally, he took charge of the Yulong Wanshou Palace in Longxing and oversaw affairs at the Zongyang Palace in Hangzhou. He attained profound mastery in all types of Taoist texts, including books on Taoist doctrines, alchemical classics, the Great Cavern Jade Instructions (Dadong Yujue), Lingbao ritual methods, and texts on fasting ceremonies and Taoist talismans. He was fond of composing poetry and prose, and was willing to engage in worldly affairs.

In the 2nd year of the Tianli era (1329), Chen Rixin passed away due to illness in April at the age of fifty-two.

(From The Stele of Real Person Chen’s Daoist Life and Deeds / Chen Zhenren Daoxing Bei)