The Meng Zhiyuan 孟志源

Meng Zhiyuan (1187-1261) was a figure of the Jin and Yuan dynasties. His courtesy name was Deqing, and his Taoist titles included "Chongxuanzi" (Master of Profound Mystery) and "Kaizhenzi" (Master of Initiating Truth). His ancestors originally belonged to the Tanshan clan of Shangjing (the upper capital of the Jin Dynasty). At the end of the Dading era (1189), his family moved to Jiaoshui in Laizhou (now part of Shandong Province) and resided in the mansion of the Meng clan. Thus, they adopted the Meng surname and became registered residents of Jiaoshui, Laizhou.

As recorded in The Stele of Meng, Real Person of Profound Mystery, Vast Virtue, and Spreading the Dao by Li Ding: In the third year of the Taihe era (1203), Meng Zhiyuan’s parents discussed arranging a marriage for him. To avoid this, he fled to Yuqing Taoist Temple in Weizhou and requested to become a disciple of Patriarch Changchun (Qiu Chuji). He then adopted his current given name (Zhiyuan). Meng Zhiyuan also once sought to study under two Taoist masters: Yuyang (Wang Chuyi) and Taigu (Liu Chuxuan), both prominent figures of the Quanzhen School.

Master Yuyang was pleased with Meng Zhiyuan’s eagerness to embrace the Dao and his diligence in study, so he bestowed upon him the Taoist title "Kaizhenzi".

In the first year of the Da’an era (1209), Real Person Changchun (Qiu Chuji) went to the imperial capital by imperial order. After returning, he resided at Yuqing Taoist Temple and awarded Meng Zhiyuan the title "Chongxuanzi" as a reward for his virtue and dedication.

In the first year of the Zhenyou era (1213), Meng Zhiyuan’s parents fled to the temple to escape the chaos of war. Meng Zhiyuan devoted himself to supporting and caring for them with filial piety for three years.

In the third year of the Xingding era (1219), he followed Qiu Chuji on his journey west to the Great Snowy Mountains (referring to the Tianshan Mountains or Altai Mountains).

In the first year of the Zhengda era (1224), Qiu Chuji was ordered by imperial decree to reside at Changchun Taoist Temple in Yanjing (later renamed Dadu, present-day Beijing). He summoned Meng Zhiyuan to come and live there from Longyang.

A few years later, Meng Zhiyuan mastered the Quanzhen School’s alchemical techniques for refining the "Elixir of Immortality" (a core Taoist practice), and he could circulate vital energy freely within his body. When Real Person Qinghe (Yin Zhiping) took charge of the Quanzhen School, Meng Zhiyuan was initially appointed as Deputy Administrator of the Temple.

Shortly after, he was promoted to Administrator of the Temple. In the year of Wuxu (1238), he was appointed as Director of the Temple Gate (a position in charge of temple management and etiquette).

In the first year of the reign of Emperor Dingzong of the Yuan Dynasty (1246), he was promoted to Supervisor of the Temple Gate; in the third year (1248), he was placed in charge of sect affairs on an interim basis; in the fourth year (1249), he was granted a golden crown and a purple robe as a reward for his merits, and was also bestowed the title "Great Master of Supreme Virtue, Profound Void, and Realizing Truth".

In the third year of the reign of Emperor Xianzong of the Yuan Dynasty (1253), he served as the Supervising Master for the Universal Salvation Precepts and Talismans (a role overseeing Taoist initiation rituals); in the sixth year (1256), he was granted the official seal of "Chief Supervisor of the Sect", authorizing him to manage all affairs of the Taoist community.

In the eighth year (1258), at the request of Prime Minister Hu, he presided over the "Huanglu Luotian Grand Ritual" (a large-scale Taoist ceremony for atonement and blessing) in Pingyang. For this, he was awarded the title "Real Person of Profound Mystery, Vast Virtue, and Spreading the Dao".

Meng Zhiyuan passed away due to illness in the second year of the Zhongtong era at the age of 75, and was buried on Wuhua Mountain.

Accounts of his life can also be found in Volume 5 of Ganshui Xianyuan Lu (Records of Immortal Origins by the Sweet Water) and Volume 4 of A Study on the Origin and Development of the Changchun Taoist Tradition.