The Huang Juqing 黄居庆

Huang Juqing (1279–?) was a native of Anren in Raozhou during the Yuan Dynasty, a place now part of Jiangxi Province.

Her courtesy name was Qingyuan, and her alternative literary name (hao) was Shiting Sanren (the "Recluse of Stone Court").

At the age of thirteen, drawn to the study of "Xuanxu" (profound emptiness, a core concept in Taoism), she was introduced by her uncle to Dongting Taoist Temple, where she became a "nüguan" (Taoist nun) under the guidance of the Administrator, Real Person Zuo.

In the seventh year of the Dade era (1303), the abbot of Dongting Taoist Temple, Real Person Shao, ordered Huang Juqing to travel to the imperial capital for an audience with the emperor. Emperor Chengzong of the Yuan Dynasty then commissioned her to conduct sacrificial rituals to the Big Dipper (a revered celestial entity in Taoist cosmology).

Later, she studied under Real Person Lu, who held the titles "Baozhen Chizheng Yuansu" (Preserving Truth, Upholding Righteousness, Profound Simplicity). Real Person Lu imparted all her Taoist arts and doctrines to Huang Juqing.

In the second year of the Taiding era (1325), Huang Juqing became the abbot of Dongting Taoist Temple and oversaw sacrificial rituals. In 1326 (three years into her tenure), she was assigned to handle ritual services for the imperial court—a role that kept her extremely busy. Thus, she summoned her female disciple Renshi to serve as the abbot of Dongting Taoist Temple and take charge of the sacrificial rituals there.

In the early years of the Tianli era (1328–1330), the Empress held Huang Juqing in exceptional esteem. By imperial decree, Huang was conferred the title "Duanjing Chongcui Tongmiao Zhenren" (Real Person of Serene Quietude, Pure Sincerity, and Profound Mystery) and appointed "Dudidian of Nüguan in Various Regions of Jiangnan" (Chief Administrator of Taoist Nuns in the Jiangnan region). She also took charge of the affairs of Xuanyuan Wanshou Palace in Dadu (the Yuan imperial capital, present-day Beijing), Dongting Taoist Temple in Fuzhou Circuit, and Qianming Taoist Temple in Changde Circuit.

The emperor further ordered civil officials to compose eulogies to praise her virtues, and issued an imperial edict (sealed with the imperial seal) to protect her Taoist temples.

(From Volume Three of Wei Taipu’s Collected Works, Second Series / Weitaipu Xuji Juan San: The Stele for the Tomb of Real Person Huang, Duanjing Chongcui Tongmiao Zhenren)