The Li Zhirou 李志柔
Paul PengShare
Li Zhirou (1189-1266) was a native of Mingshui (now part of Hebei Province) during the Jin and Yuan dynasties. His courtesy name was Qianshu, and his Taoist title was Tongchenzi.
As recorded in Neizhuan of Immortal Sages from the Ancestral Courtyard on Zhongnan Mountain, in the first year of the Taihe era (1201), Li Zhirou studied under Li Kaixuan, who imparted all his knowledge to him without reservation.
Li Zhirou practiced diligently and studied assiduously. Later, he lived in seclusion on Xianweng Mountain and Guangyang Mountain, where he chiseled a cave to reside in and kept away from worldly affairs for twelve years.
When wars broke out, he moved to Xingtai and built Tongzhen Taoist Temple to live in.
In the fourth year of the Xingding era (1220), upon hearing that Qiu Changchun (Qiu Chuji, known as Real Person Changchun) was traveling in the Yanzhao region (ancient name for parts of present-day Hebei and Henan), Li Zhirou traveled north to pay homage to him with due ceremony.
In the second year of the Yuanguang era (1223), when Qiu Changchun returned south, Li Zhirou went to Chaoyuan Taoist Temple in Xuande to greet and pay respects to him again.
Qiu Changchun bestowed upon him the Taoist title "Tongchenzi" and instructed him to take building Taoist temples and initiating people into Taoism as his main duties.
Li Zhirou raised funds from all over the country and built Fengtian Changchun Taoist Temple and Qizhen Taoist Temple in Daming Prefecture.
In the third year of the Zhengda era (1226), Li Zhirou went to Baiyun Taoist Temple in Yanjing (later renamed Dadu, present-day Beijing) to visit Qiu Changchun and seek verification of the "heart seal" (a Taoist concept referring to the intuitive understanding of the Dao passed between master and disciple).
In the fourth year (1227), after Qiu Changchun passed away, Li Zhirou returned south. Following the order of Patriarch Yin Qinghe (Yin Zhiping), he went to Louguan (a renowned Taoist site) and renovated the Taoist temples there.
In the ninth year of the reign of Emperor Taizong of the Yuan Dynasty (1237), he was appointed Supervisor of Taoist Affairs for the two circuits of Daming and Xingming.
In the fifth year of the reign of Emperor Dingzong of the Yuan Dynasty (1250), he was granted a golden crown and robe, and was given the additional title "Real Person Tongchen Hongmiao".
In the fourth year of the Zhongtong era during the reign of Emperor Shizu of the Yuan Dynasty (1263), he returned to live at Louguan. He passed away due to illness in the third year of the Zhiyuan era at the age of seventy-eight.
Accounts of his life can be found in The Stele of the Biography of Former Masters at Louguan and Volume 5 of A Study on the Origin and Development of the Changchun Taoist Tradition.
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.
Read his full story →
