The Liu Ao 刘敖

Liu Ao was a figure in the early years of the Southern Song Dynasty.

His Taoist name was Nengzhen, and he was also known by the Taoist title "Real Person of Deer Spring" (Luquan Zhenren).

He became a Taoist priest at an early age, practicing the cultivation of mind and nature, and refining his vital essence to preserve his physical form. In the 20th year of the Shaoxing era (1150 CE), he was ordered to serve as the abbot of Ningshou Taoist Temple (Ningshou Guan) on Wu Mountain. During his tenure, he arranged for administrative staff, maintained the purity of temple affairs (by separating secular matters), and stationed guards.

The Emperor bestowed upon him his Taoist name, granted official certificates for Taoist ordination (Fu Die), and awarded him a purple robe (a symbol of high status for Taoist priests) as well as farmland. In the 30th year of the Shaoxing era (1160 CE), Liu Ao requested to resign from his official post to focus exclusively on tending to the incense and rituals of Ningshou Temple. In response, the Emperor appointed him as the Grand Dao Recorder of the Left and Right Streets (a high-ranking Taoist administrative position), while still allowing him to oversee the affairs of Ningshou Temple. Additionally, he was conferred the title of Junior Preceptor (Shaoshi) and again granted a purple robe.

Later, prompted by an omen in a dream, Liu Ao selected a site to build temples dedicated to Lord Mao (Mao Jun, a revered Taoist deity) and the Jade Pure (Yuqing, one of the Three Pure Ones in Taoism), among other halls. Emperor Gaozong personally wrote the plaque "Tongyuan Guan" (Tongyuan Taoist Temple) and bestowed it upon him for this new complex.

During the Jiading era (1208–1224 CE), Liu Ao also served as the abbot of Mingde Temple in Shangyu.