The Lin Lingzhen 林灵真

Lin Lingzhen (1239-1302) was a native of Pingyang in Wenzhou (now Pingyang County, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province) during the Song and Yuan dynasties.

His original name was Weifu, his courtesy name was Junzhao, his Taoist religious name was Lingzhen, and his literary name was Shuinan.

He was erudite and knowledgeable, well-versed in the works of the Hundred Schools of Thought, classics and historical records (including Confucian classics and chronological histories), and books on esoteric or otherworldly studies (primarily Taoist texts). He first served as a Lecturer on Xuanxue (Taoist metaphysics) in Wenzhou Circuit, and later was promoted to Daolu (Chief Administrator of Taoist Affairs) of Wenzhou Circuit. He studied under Master Xu Yi (surnamed Lin) and Master Donghua (surnamed Xue), and revived and developed the Donghua Sect (a branch of Taoism). He became a renowned and respected Taoist master of his generation.

He thoroughly collected all ritual texts, Taoist doctrines, and classics of the "Sandong" (Three Grottoes, a major category of Taoist scriptures), as well as the esoteric internal texts and classics written by Taoist patriarchs of past generations. Based on and adhering to the teachings and rituals of the Lingbao School (a core school of Taoism), he compiled these materials into Lingbao Lingjiao Jidu Jinshu (The Golden Book of Lingbao’s Instruction on Salvation Rituals). During the Yuan and Ming dynasties, subsequent Taoists continuously supplemented and expanded this work, eventually forming a 321-volume collection—a comprehensive encyclopedia of the doctrines, rituals, and ceremonial protocols of the Lingbao School.