The Mao Ying 茅盈

Mao Ying (145 BC–?), styled Shushen, was a native of Xianyang (now part of Shaanxi Province) in the Western Han Dynasty. According to Records of Maoshan and Biography of Taiyuan Zhenren, the Shangqing Minister of the Eastern Peak and the Director of Destinies, he practiced Taoism in Mount Heng during his youth with extraordinary conduct, and later secluded himself in Mount Gouqu (now known as Maoshan, located in the southwest of Jiangsu Province).

He practiced the arts of qi absorption and grain avoidance, and cured people with medical skills.

Later, his younger brothers Mao Gu and Mao Zhong followed him to practice Taoism, and they were called the Great Mao Lord, the Middle Mao Lord, and the Little Mao Lord by people at that time.

In later generations, the three Mao brothers were referred to as the "Three Mao True Lords". Mao Ying attained the position of the Director of Destinies and Shangqing Minister of the Eastern Peak, and was revered as the founder of the Shangqing School of Maoshan.

The Maoshan School of Taoism mainly focuses on the cultivation of Shangqing Scripture, while also studying Scripture of the Three Sovereigns and Lingbao Scripture. It uses talismans and incantations to control ghosts and gods, impart precepts and registers to disciples, and practices grain avoidance, taking elixirs, and alchemy. It prevailed in the Southern Mountains during the Sui and Tang dynasties and became one of the three major talisman schools of Taoism.