The Meng Jingsu 孟静素

Meng Jingsu was a native of Jiangxia Anlu (present-day Anlu County, Hubei Province) during the late Sui and early Tang dynasties.

Her family had a tradition of studying Confucianism for generations. In her youth, she became a Taoist nun, devoutly practicing Taoist scriptures and precepts. She delved into the Inner Texts of the Three Emperors (a classic of Taoist esoteric teachings) and the Alchemical Methods of the Nine Cauldrons (a core text on Taoist alchemy). She also expounded on the supplementary theories of the "Golden Slips and Jade Inscriptions" (referring to ancient Taoist sacred texts) and the profound principles of the "Xuánpìn Dao Pivot" (a key concept in Taoist metaphysics, referring to the fundamental pivot of the Dao related to the origin of all things). Her reputation spread widely in her time, and she was regarded as a model and paragon in the Taoist community.

Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty specially issued an imperial edict summoning her to the imperial capital, where she resided in the Zhide Taoist Temple. Nobles and senior officials all showed her respect and attached themselves to her. In the capital, she held large-scale lecture sessions to promote and disseminate Taoist classics, while upholding Taoist rules and precepts. Crowds of people flocked to seek her guidance on the Dao, and students studying under her stood shoulder to shoulder (a sign of a large number of disciples).

After the founding of the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Gaozu and Emperor Taizong of Tang continued to treat her with great courtesy and respect. Among her well-known disciples was Chen Guang.

In the 12th year of the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty (642), Cen Wenben (a renowned official and scholar of the Tang Dynasty) wrote the Stele of Meng Jingsu, the Dharma Master of Zhide Temple, and Chu Suiliang (a famous calligrapher of the Tang Dynasty) inscribed the text on a stone tablet.