The Northern Seven True Persons 全真七子

The Northern Seven True Persons refer to the seven direct disciples of Wang Chongyang, the founder of Quanzhen Taoism: Ma Yu (founder of the Yuxian Sect of Quanzhen Taoism); Tan Chuduan (founder of the Nanwu Sect of Quanzhen Taoism); Liu Chuxuan (founder of the Suishan Sect of Quanzhen Taoism); Qiu Chuji (founder of the Longmen Sect of Quanzhen Taoism); Wang Chuyi (founder of the Yushan Sect of Quanzhen Taoism); Hao Datong (founder of the Huashan Sect of Quanzhen Taoism); and Sun Buer (founder of the Qingjing Sect of Quanzhen Taoism). Because all of them made contributions to the spread and development of Quanzhen Taoism, the Yuan court awarded them the titles of "True Person" or "True Lord". In addition, since they were active in the northern regions, they were honored as the Northern Seven True Persons.

Although each of the Northern Seven True Persons founded a separate sect, their religious thoughts and cultivation methods were roughly the same. They advocated the unity of the three teachings (Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism), regarded being quiet and having few desires as the foundation of cultivating Tao, took refining and nourishing qi as the key to cultivation, and aimed at enduring humiliation, enduring hardships for oneself and benefiting others. Their handed-down works are all included in The Daozang of the Zhengtong Reign.