The Chen Yanjian 陈彦俭

Chen Yanjian (1288-1342) was a figure of the Yuan Dynasty.

His family had long been a prominent clan in Poyang. At the age of fifteen, he went to Longhu Mountain. He Enrong noticed him and held him in high regard, so he arranged for Chen to study under Mr. Xue Xi, who was styled Xian Su Wen Zhen Yuan Fan. Xue Xi was well-versed in metaphysics (a core area of Taoist thought) and particularly skilled in expounding ideas of the Confucian school. Chen Yanjian consulted and questioned Xue day and night, striving to thoroughly understand the essence of his teachings, and thus made remarkable progress in his Taoist practice.

In the past, He Enrong had built a Taoist temple, and Emperor Chengzong of the Yuan Dynasty conferred on it the title "Wanshou Deyuan Guan" (Wanshou Deyuan Taoist Temple), while ordering Chen Yanjian to reside there and manage its affairs. In the third year of the Taiding era (1326), Chen Yanjian’s reputation reached the imperial court. He was officially appointed as "Xuanhe Mingsu Baozhen Dharma Master" and took up the post of "Tidian" (Administrator) in charge of the temple’s affairs.

In the first year of the Zhiyuan era (1335), he was transferred to the position of "Tidian" of the Yulong Wanshou Palace in Longxing, but he declined the appointment and did not take up the post.

In the second year of the Zhizheng era (1342), Chen Yanjian passed away due to illness at the age of fifty-four.

(From The Stele Inscription of Master Chen, Xuanhe Mingsu Baozhen Dharma Master / Xuanhe Mingsu Baozhen Fashi Chen Jun Beijie)