The Neng Quchen 能去尘
Paul PengShare
Neng Quchen (768–830 AD) was a figure in the mid-to-late Tang Dynasty.
She was a female Taoist priest. Her ancestors were from Huayin (a historical region now part of Shaanxi Province). Her great-grandfather, Neng Changren, served as the Provincial Governor of Shazhou; her grandfather, Neng Yuanhao, held the position of Minister of Rites and also served as the Military Governor of eight prefectures including Zi, Qing, Yan, and Yun; her father, Neng Xian, was awarded the title of Silver-Purple Guanglu Dafu (a high-ranking honorary official title in the Tang Dynasty) and served as the Minister of the Imperial Household (in charge of imperial rituals and supplies).

From a young age, Neng Quchen was intelligent, perceptive, and quiet. When she grew up, she married Yan Zhongli from Henan. After her husband passed away first, she went to the Huanglu Taoist Altar (a ritual site for Taoist ceremonies), became a disciple, and formally entered the Taoist order. She studied authentic Taoist rituals and the method of Taoist ordination certificates (Lulu), and later served as the administrator in charge of general affairs at a Taoist temple.
She died in the 4th year of the Dahe era (830 AD) at the age of 63. She had two sons: the eldest son served as the Assistant Magistrate of Jiangxian County, and the younger son became a Taoist priest.
(Source: Epitaph of Taoist Priest Neng, the Abbot of Yongmu Taoist Temple in the Tang Dynasty)
(Source: Epitaph of Taoist Priest Neng, the Abbot of Yongmu Taoist Temple in the Tang Dynasty)
About the Author
Paul Peng
Paul Peng is a Zhengyi Taoist priest from Longhu Mountain, Jiangxi — the ancestral home of the Celestial Masters' tradition. Ordained at 25 after a dream from the Celestial Master, he has practiced for 25 years under Master Zeng Guangliang. He is one of the curators of this store, which is officially authorized by Tianshi Fu. All items are consecrated at the temple by the resident priest team.
Read his full story →