The Feng Weiliang 应夷节

Ying Yijie (810–894) was a native of Dongyang Jun (Dongyang Prefecture) in the late Tang Dynasty. His courtesy name was Shizhong, and he was bestowed the honorary titles of "Ziying" and "Mr. Daoyuan".

In the 12th year of the Yuanhe era of Emperor Xianzong of the Tang Dynasty (817), he went to Lingrui Guan (Lingrui Taoist Temple) in Lanxi, Wuzhou. He studied under Wu Xuansu, the abbot of the temple, and delved into various Taoist canonical scriptures such as The Zhuangzi (also known as Nanhua Jing), The Liezi (also known as Chongxu Jing), and Tongling Jing (Scripture of Communicating with Spirits), as well as Confucian classics including The I Ching (Book of Changes), The Classic of Filial Piety, and The Analects of Confucius.

In the 3rd year of the Changqing era of Emperor Muzong (823), he was formally ordained as a Taoist priest. In the 1st year of the Baoli era of Emperor Jingzong (825), he entered Mount Tiantai and studied under Feng Weiliang, engaging in the practices of the Shangqing (Supreme Pure) and Zhengyi (Orthodox Unity) Taoist schools. He was also granted the "Gaoxuan Zixu Talisman" (High Mysterious Purple Void Talisman) to wear as a symbol of his spiritual attainment.

In the 2nd year of the Dahe era of Emperor Wenzong (828), he traveled to Mount Longhu to receive the "Sanshipin Dadu Gong" (Great Metropolitan Master of the Third Rank)—a high-ranking Taoist ordination—from the Heavenly Master Zhang (leader of the Zhengyi sect).

In the 8th year of the Dahe era (834), he further studied the doctrines and rituals of Lingbao Zhenwen (Genuine Script of the Numinous Treasure), Dongshen (Divine Grotto), and Dongxuan (Mysterious Grotto) traditions.

In the 9th year of the Dahe era (835), he was promoted to the rank of "Xuanfa Shi" (Mysterious Dharma Master).

In the 2nd year of the Huichang era of Emperor Wuzong (842), he obtained and received the esoteric inner teachings of the Shangqing Dadong (Supreme Pure Grotto Heaven) tradition. In the 3rd year of the Huichang era (843), he resided separately at Daoyuan Guan (Daoyuan Taoist Temple) in Tongbai (a region of Mount Tiantai).

He was summoned to the imperial court by imperial decree and was bestowed with a purple robe (a symbol of high honor for Taoist priests in the Tang Dynasty).

He lived in seclusion on the mountain for more than 50 years.

In the 1st year of the Qianning era (894), he passed away without illness at the age of 85.

(From Records of the Three Masters of the Mysterious Grotto and Numinous Treasure [Dongxuan Lingbao Sanshi Ji])