The Chen Zhixu 陈致虚
Paul PengShare
Chen Zhixu (1290–?), a native of Luling in Jiangyou during the Yuan Dynasty, was from what is now Ji'an County, Jiangxi Province.
His courtesy name was Guanwu, and his literary name (hao) was Shangyangzi. He was a Taoist priest of the Quanzhen School.
In the second year of the Tianli era (1329), he studied the "Dan Dao" (the Taoist art of elixir refinement) under Zhao Youqin, belonging to the Yin-Yang School of Dan Methods of the Southern Sect of Taoism.
Chen Zhixu inherited the teachings of both the Northern and Southern Sects’ Dan Methods. He authored several works, including The Essential Principles of the Golden Elixir by Shangyangzi, Illustrations to the Essential Principles of the Golden Elixir by Shangyangzi, Biographies of Immortals in the Essential Principles of the Golden Elixir by Shangyangzi, Lineages of Immortals in the Essential Principles of the Golden Elixir by Shangyangzi, Annotations on the Wuzhen Pian (Awakening to Reality), and Annotations on the Supreme Cavernous Mystery Numinous Treasure Limitless Salvation for All Beings Superior Scripture.
He annotated Taoist scriptures by distinguishing between "Dao Application" (Neixiu Fa, the internal cultivation method) and "Worldly Practice" (Waixiu Fa, the external cultivation method). He proposed that "following these practices allows one to attain immortality" and "diligent recitation leads to the attainment of blessings." He argued that "a practitioner must pursue both Dao Application and Worldly Practice in parallel: using Dao Application to refine Worldly Practice, and using Worldly Practice to perfect Dao Application—this is the way to cultivate both 'Xing' (nature/spirit) and 'Ming' (life/essence) simultaneously." Only through this approach, he believed, could one achieve the goal that "those seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune will know to recite diligently and do good, while those striving to transcend the mundane realm will know to practice sincerely and attain true enlightenment."
His ideas exerted considerable influence on later generations.
(From Xu Wenxian Tongkao / Continuation of the Comprehensive Examination of Literature and History)
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.
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