The Li Quan 李筌

The Li Quan 李筌

Paul Peng
Li Quan, also known by the Taoist title "Daguanzi" (Master of Broad Vision), was a native of Longxi (now part of Gansu Province) during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty.
From a young age, he admired the path of immortality and resided on Shaoshi Mountain of the Songshan Mountain range. He once obtained The Yellow Emperor’s Scripture of Hidden Symbols at Hukou Rock. Though he copied and read the scripture thousands of times, he failed to understand its meaning. Thus, he traveled across famous mountains and great rivers to seek out mentors and fellow practitioners.

According to legend, when he arrived at Lishan Mountain, he encountered an elderly woman who explained the profound principles of The Scripture of Hidden Symbols to him. From that point on, Li Quan comprehended the scripture’s profound essence. Consequently, he wrote three works: Annotations on the Yellow Emperor’s Scripture of Hidden Symbols (3 volumes), Taibai Yin Jing (The Scripture of Yin Strategies by Taibai, 10 volumes), and Biography of the Lishan Elderly Woman: Profound Meaning of the Scripture of Hidden Symbols (1 volume).
During the Kaiyuan era (713-741), he served as Vice Military Governor of Jiangling and Censor-in-Chief. Li Quan possessed military talent and strategic acumen, yet he was repeatedly envied by others of his time. As a result, he retreated to a famous mountain, practiced qifu (absorbing vital energy) and bigu (abstaining from grain)—a Taoist cultivation method—and dedicated himself to cultivating the Dao. His final whereabouts remain unknown.


He also authored other works: Zhongtai Zhi (Records of the Central Platform, 10 volumes), Kun Wai Chun Qiu (Spring and Autumn Annals of Military Affairs Outside the Court, 10 volumes), and Annotations on Sun Tzu (2 volumes).


(Source: Comprehensive Mirror of True Immortals Who Embodied the Dao Through the Ages, Volume 22)
Paul Peng — Zhengyi Taoist Priest, Longhu Mountain

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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