The Huashan Sect 华山派

A branch of Quanzhen Dao, which reveres Hao Datong, one of the Seven Northern Perfect Ones, as its founding patriarch. Hao Datong, styled Taigu and known by the Taoist name Guangningzi, was a disciple of Wang Chongyang, the founder of Quanzhen Sect. He passed away in the first year of Chongqing of the Jin Dynasty (1212). In the sixth year of Zhiyuan of Emperor Shizu of the Yuan Dynasty (1269), he was posthumously awarded the title "Guangning Tongxuan Taigu Zhenren"; in the third year of Zhida of Emperor Wuzong (1310), he was further granted the title "Guangning Tongxuan Miaoji Taigu Zhenjun". There are no systematic records of the activities of this sect, only scattered mentions.

In Volume 7 of Changchun Daojiao Yuanliu (Origin and Development of Changchun Taoism) by Chen Minggui of the Qing Dynasty, it is recorded: Bei Benheng, styled Changji, was from Huaiyang. At the age of seventeen, he paid homage to Yuan Zhengyu of Wudang as his teacher, and later studied precepts under Wang Changyue of the Longmen Sect. In the year of Yihai of the Kangxi era (1695), he built a thatched hut on Gaochi Mountain in Wukang (an old county in Zhejiang, merged into Deqing in 1958). In the year of Yichou of the Qianlong era (1745), people from Yuhang invited him to be in charge of Dongxiao Palace. He passed away in the 23rd year of the Qianlong era. He had considerable attainments in the study of I Ching, and wrote works such as Zhouyi Canyi (An Annotated Interpretation of the Zhouyi) and Huanglao Zhigui (The Essence of Huangdi and Laozi). Here, it is said that he received precepts from Wang Changyue of the Longmen Sect, so he should be a Taoist of the Longmen Sect. However, in Volume 4 of Jingai Xindeng (Records of the Golden Canopy and Heart Lamp), Biography of Lawyer Shen Qingyun, it is stated that he was a descendant of the Huashan Sect, saying: "Bei Changji, whose name was Benheng, was a descendant of the Huashan Sect". He was on good terms with Shen Qingyun, a Taoist of the Longmen Sect. Bei Benheng had a disciple named Li Renning, styled Yunfeng, who, after Shen Qingyun's death, "sealed his niche and buried him in Jinzhu Ping of Dadi Mountain".

Volume 3, Biography of Lawyer Fan Chuyang, also states that Bei Benheng was a descendant of the Huashan Sect, and that he studied under Fan Taichu (styled Chuyang) and "obtained his teachings". Jingu Dongzhi (Records of Jingu Cave) also records the story of Li Renning: "The True Person Yuefeng, also known to the world as the True Person Miaozhong Dingming, whose surname was Li and given name Renning, converted to True Person Bei Changji as his teacher. He lived in seclusion in Yunwo Mountain Cottage, loved tranquility, practiced cultivating his nature and refining his life, and endured all kinds of hardships. He had a fondness for cleanliness, loved flowers and trees, and practiced diligently for thirty years."

Based on this, Bei Benheng was a Taoist of the Huashan Sect and also studied under the Longmen Sect. He and his disciple Li Renning were active in areas such as Deqing and Yuhang in Zhejiang during the Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong eras of the Qing Dynasty. This gives a glimpse of the activities of the Huashan Sect.

The 13th entry in Zhu Zhen Zongpai Zongbu (General Register of All Perfect Ones' Sects) records the generation characters of the Huashan Sect, with the first four lines being: "Zhi yi yuan shang dao, Chong jiao yan quan zhen, Chong he de zheng ben, Ren yi li zhi xin". According to this, Bei Benheng was the 15th generation of the Huashan Sect, and Li Renning was the 16th generation.