The Cheng Shoudan 程守丹

Cheng Shoudan (?–1696) was a native of Jixi, Anhui Province, during the transition from the late Ming Dynasty to the early Qing Dynasty. His original name was Zhenhua; his courtesy name was Yinghe, and his literary name was Huayangzi.

As recorded in Jingai Xindeng (The Lamp in the Golden Hut): His family had been engaged in Confucian scholarship for generations. He was proficient in Qimen Dunjia (an ancient Chinese metaphysical practice for divination and strategic planning) and well-versed in the principles of the I Ching (The Book of Changes). Before taking any action, he would always perform divination first.

He went to Jinge Mountain (Golden Canopy Mountain) and studied under Chan Master Jianmi, delving deeply into Buddhist doctrines. In the 6th year of the Kangxi reign (1667), when Wang Changyue came to reside at Jinge Mountain, Cheng Shoudan paid homage to him as his teacher. Wang renamed him "Shoudan," and Cheng successively received the two major precepts of Chuzhen (Initial Perfection) and Zhongji (Middle Ultimate).

Subsequently, he followed Wang Changyue to reside at various famous Taoist mountains and grand temples in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions. Later, he accompanied Wang Changyue back to the capital (Beijing) and lived at Baiyun Guan (White Cloud Temple).

In the 19th year of the Kangxi reign (1680), he returned to Zhejiang Province. Following the teachings of Mingyangzi, he propagated Taoist doctrines at Helin Dao Courtyard in Jingu Cave, Hangzhou. He passed away in the 15th year of the Kangxi reign (Note: There is a chronological inconsistency in the original text. If he returned to Zhejiang in 1680 (the 19th year of Kangxi) and passed away in the 15th year of Kangxi (1676), the timeline conflicts. The correct year of death may require further verification against historical sources).

Cheng Shoudan was the 8th-generation Precept-Master of the Longmen Sect (Dragon Gate Sect) of Taoism.