The Shen Fu 申甫

Shen Fu was a figure during the reign of Emperor Daizong of the Tang Dynasty.
He was bestowed the title "Mr. Chongxu" (Mr. Profound Emptiness), served as a Taoist priest at the Guangtian Taoist Temple, and held the official post of Jianjiao Dianzhongjian (Assistant Supervisor of the Palace, a mid-level imperial court position).

During the Dali era (766–779 AD), he was ordered by the emperor to travel across the country to collect lost or scattered Taoist scriptures and texts. These collected works were then transported to the imperial capital for transcription, expanding the Taoist scripture collection to 7,000 volumes.

In the 7th year of the Dali era (772 AD), Shen Fu submitted a memorial to the emperor, requesting that an imperial edict be issued to urge Taoist priests across the empire to further study and practice Taoist doctrines. He also proposed that the Xuanzhen Taoist Temple, Kaiyuan Taoist Temple, and Wangtian Taoist Temple should all inscribe the posthumous titles of the former emperors; and that on each anniversary of the former emperors’ deaths, incense-burning rituals and sacrifices should be held in these temples. Emperor Daizong approved all his requests.

In the 13th year of the Dali era (778 AD), the newly built Qianyuan Taoist Temple was completed. The emperor still appointed Shen Fu, who held the position of Daomen Weiyi (a Taoist official in charge of ritual etiquette and discipline), to oversee affairs related to the temple.

He authored Commentaries on the Dao De Jing (the core Taoist scripture), which consists of five volumes.
(Source: Cefu Yuangui [a comprehensive historical compilation of the Song Dynasty], Volume 54)