The Ran Yiqi 然逸期
Paul PengShare
Ran Yiqi (1171-1232) was a native of Jingyang in Jingzhao Prefecture during the Jin Dynasty, which is now part of Shaanxi Province.
His courtesy name was Shouyue, and his Taoist title was "Xidengzi" (Master of Cleaning the Lamp).
As recorded in The Stele Inscription on the Daoist Deeds of Master Ran, Xidengzi (Xidengzi Ran Xiansheng Daoxing Beiming): In his youth, Ran Yiqi admired the Taoist tradition. When his parents intended to arrange a marriage for him, he took an oath and refused. He then became a disciple of Chen Taohua, styled Qingyangzi, and was initiated as a Taoist monk.
He devoted himself entirely to laborious tasks in the Taoist community. Even when his master scolded or humiliated him, Ran Yiqi never showed the slightest sign of retreat or laziness. After six years, he initially accomplished his Taoist cultivation. Later, he traveled and resided in the area around Shangyan Mountain, selected a site to build Sanyang Thatched Hermitage, which he also named Huanzhen Hermitage ("Hermitage of Returning to Truth").
He practiced the method of "absorbing true breath step by step" and pursued the Taoist goal of "recognizing the mind and perceiving one’s true nature". After achieving success in his practice, he could emit a divine light that was visible miles away. Over more than a decade, a large number of disciples gathered around him.
Famous figures from local counties earnestly invited him to travel west to propagate Taoist teachings. He thus went to Taibai Yanxiang Taoist Temple in Chang’an and served as its abbot.
Scholars and common people alike visited him, showing utmost sincerity and respect. Ran Yiqi was skilled in calligraphy and proficient in exquisite Taoist practices; he cured the strange illness of Yela Jinzi (a military governor holding the title "Golden and Purple Robe") using Taoist talismans and sacred water.
In the first year of the Kaixing era (1232), he resided in Xichuan County and passed away at the age of 62.
Accounts of his life can be found in Volume 7 of Records of Immortal Origins from Sweet Water (Ganshui Xianyuan Lu).
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 →
