The Mao Yangsu 毛养素

Mao Yangsu (1178-1259) was a native of Pingshui during the Jin and Yuan dynasties, which is now Xinjiang County, Shanxi Province.

His courtesy name was Shouzhi, and his Taoist title was "Chunsuzi" (Master of Pure Simplicity).

After his father passed away, Mao Yangsu abandoned his family to pursue Taoism. He studied under Tian Wuyi, the "Huizhao Zhenren" (Real Person of Wise Illumination) from Mount Taihua, and became a lineage successor of Ma Danyang (one of the core disciples of Quanzhen Taoism’s founder Wang Chongyang). Over two decades, he fully mastered the esoteric teachings recorded in alchemical texts. Later, he resided at Fengyi Taoist Abbey. During the Tianxing era (1232), he took charge of Xuandu Taoist Temple. In the 7th year of the reign of Emperor Taizong of the Yuan Dynasty (1235), he traveled south from Shaanxi together with his fellow Taoist Chang Zhijiu, and they renovated Chaoyuan Palace and Qixia Palace in Luoyang.

In the 9th year of Emperor Taizong’s reign (1237), Mao Yangsu took charge of Beiji Taoist Temple. In the 13th year (1241), he was appointed as the supervisor of Qixia Taoist Temple and concurrently managed the Bagua Bureau for The Xuandu Treasury (a massive collection of Taoist scriptures). In the 16th year (Note: There may be a chronological error here; the 16th year of Yuan Taizong’s reign is 1244, while 1224 belongs to the Jin Dynasty. The year should be verified with historical sources), he was bestowed the title "Master Chongxu" (Master of Void Transcendence), and soon after, further granted the title "Yizhen Chongxu Zhenren" (Real Person of Nourishing Truth and Void Transcendence), becoming the leading figure in the local Taoist community. In the 5th year of the reign of Emperor Dingzong of the Yuan Dynasty (1250), he once again took charge of the affairs of Chaoyuan Palace and Qixia Palace.

Mao Yangsu was well-versed in the study of human nature and cosmic principles, enabling him to thoroughly understand and integrate the authentic lineage of Quanzhen Taoism. He passed away due to illness in the 9th year of the reign of Emperor Xianzong of the Yuan Dynasty (1259) at the age of 82.

His notable disciples included Wang Zhichong, among others. Detailed accounts of his life can be found in The Epitaph of Reverend Mao’s Ascension (Mao Zunshi Tuihua Ming).