The Shi Daoyuan 施道渊

Shi Daoyuan (?–1678) was a native of Hengtang Township, Wuxian County (now part of Jiangsu Province) during the early Qing Dynasty. His courtesy name was Liangsheng, and his Taoist title was Tiezhu Daoren (Taoist Priest of Iron Bamboo).

He became a Taoist monk at an early age and served as a Taoist priest at Chaozhen Guan (Chaozhen Temple) in Suzhou. He met an extraordinary person named Zhang Xinfu, who taught him the esoteric formulas for alchemy. At the age of 19, he studied under Xu Yanzhen from Longhu Mountain, from whom he received the Five Thunder Method (a powerful Taoist ritual technique). With this method, he could command ghosts and spirits, and he prayed for the people without accepting any money in return.

Later, he moved to Qionglong Mountain, where he practiced Taoist cultivation every morning and evening.

In the 15th year of the Shunzhi reign (1658), through the memorial request of Zhang Hongren, the 50th Heavenly Master (the hereditary leader of the Zhengyi School of Taoism), the imperial court granted the title of "Shangzhen Guan" (Shangzhen Temple) to the temple where Shi resided, and bestowed upon him the honorary title of "Yangyuan Baoyi Xuanjiao Yanhua Fashi" (Dharma Master of Nourishing Vitality, Embracing Unity, Propagating Teachings, and Transforming Beings). Later, he took charge of the affairs of Yuanmiao Guan (Yuanmiao Temple) and renovated various halls there, including the Hall of the Three Pure Ones and the Hall of Lord Thunder.

In the 15th year of the Kangxi reign (1676), he was summoned by Prince Yu and presided over a Taoist ritual (jiao) in the capital (Beijing).

In the 17th year of the Kangxi reign (1678), he passed away due to illness at the temple on the mountain.

His works include Yuliu Tang Yulu (Recorded Sayings from Yuliu Hall) and (the content included in) Yuanmiao Guanzhi (Records of Yuanmiao Temple), Volume 4.