The Chen Yangfu 陈阳复

Chen Yangfu (1730–1785) was a native of Zhou'an, Zhejiang Province, during the Qianlong and Jiaqing reigns of the Qing Dynasty. His original name was Qufei; his courtesy name was Yiting, and his literary name was Qiaoyun.

His family had lived in Digang for generations. In his early years, he was fond of Chan (Zen) Buddhist doctrines and practiced the Sixteen Contemplations Sutra, from which he gained profound insights. Later, he declined a marriage proposal and remained unmarried.

According to Jingai Xindeng (The Golden Cover and the Lamp of the Heart), in the 10th year of the Qianlong reign (1745), he went to Mount Jingai to pay his respects to Master Longyan (the "Successor Master"). Master Longyan gave him a copy of Dao Yuan (Origin of Dao), a text compiled by the former patriarch, Taoist Master Tao Jing'an. At the age of 17, Chen traveled to visit famous mountains across the country.

In the 19th year of the Qianlong reign (1754), he returned to Mount Jingai from western Guangdong. At that time, Master Longyan resided at Yunchao (Cloud Nest); he taught Chen the Esoteric Dharma of the Purple Light and Brahma Dipper, after which Chen stayed on the mountain to assist Patriarch Jiang Yucang.

In the 40th year of the Qianlong reign (1775) [Note: The 40th year of Qianlong corresponds to 1775, not 1773 as mentioned in the original text; the correction is made based on the Qianlong reign timeline (1736–1795)], Taoist Master Qingyun (the "Precept Master") came to live on Mount Jingai from Tongbai Mountain. Chen Yangfu then became a disciple of Master Qingyun, and only then was he initiated into the "Three Great Precepts" (core Taoist commandments). He changed his name to Yangfu, inherited the legacy of the four patriarchs (including Tao and Xu), and took charge of the lecture seat at Yunchao (lecturing on Taoist doctrines).

In the 45th year of the Qianlong reign (1780), some villagers stole and cut down trees at the ancestral tomb. Qiaoyun (Chen Yangfu) took pity on the thief, who had an elderly mother and young children and lived in extreme poverty, so he took the blame on the thief’s behalf. For a time, everyone thought Chen himself was the thief, but he never shirked responsibility. However, there were many who slandered him. As a result, he entrusted the affairs of Mount Jingai to Taoist Master Lanyun and set off to travel between Hubei and Henan provinces. During his journey, he formed a close bond with Taoist monks such as Li Chijiao (Barefoot Li), Zhang Pengtou (Tousled-hair Zhang), and Jin Huailong, and they maintained a close friendship.

In the 50th year of the Qianlong reign (1785), Chen went to Yuhang and served as the principal lecturer at Sanyuan Palace on the East Embankment of South Lake. He passed away due to illness in the ninth lunar month of the same year at the age of 56. Chen Yangfu was the 12th-generation "Precept Master" of the Longmen School (a major branch of Quanzhen Taoism) and the "Successor Master" of Mount Jingai.