The Ning Benli 甯本立

Ning Benli (1101-1181) was a native of Kaifeng during the Northern Song Dynasty.

His courtesy name was Daoli, his Taoist name was Quanzhen, and his literary title was Mr. Zanhua (Mr. Praise and Transformation).

Emperor Gaozong of the Song Dynasty conferred upon him the title "Gaoshi of Dongwei" (Virtuous Scholar of Profound Insight); his disciples revered him as "Kaiguang Jiuku Zhenren" (True Person of Opening Light and Relieving Suffering). He had a comprehensive mastery of the teachings of the Hundred Schools of Thought, as well as expertise in medicine, divination, astronomy, and numerology.

He inherited the "Three Caverns" (Sandong) scripture teachings, rituals, and norms passed down by Lu Xiujing, and also obtained the "Lingbao Xuanfan Forty-Nine Categories, Five Mansions Jade Book, Talisman Scripts, and a Set of Seal Secrets" transmitted by Yang Siming. He founded the Lingbao Donghua Sect (Eastern Glory Branch of the Lingbao School) and became a synthesizer of Taoist precepts, rituals, and norms. He compiled works such as Lingbao Lingjiao Jidu Jinshu (Golden Book of the Lingbao School on Leading Teachings and Delivering Salvation) and Shangqing Lingbao Dafa (Great Method of Shangqing Lingbao), which were widely circulated in the world.

(Source: Daofa Huiyuan [Compendium of Taoist Methods], Volume 44)